He who speaks evil only differs from his who does evil in that he lacks opportunity.
QUINTILIANWe should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.
More Quintilian Quotes
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The mind is exercised by the variety and multiplicity of the subject matter, while the character is moulded by the contemplation of virtue and vice.
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That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.
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For the mind is all the easier to teach before it is set.
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In a crowd, on a journey, at a banquet even, a line of thought can itself provide its own seclusion.
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Vain hopes are like certain dreams of those who wake.
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The obscurity of a writer is generally in proportion to his incapacity.
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Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.
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Without natural gifts technical rules are useless.
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To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.
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The gifts of nature are infinite in their variety, and mind differs from mind almost as much as body from body.
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It is the heart which inspires eloquence.
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Suffering itself does less afflict the senses than the apprehension of suffering.
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Where evil habits are once settled, they are more easily broken than mended.
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In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept.
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Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire.
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Ambition is a vice, but it may be the father of virtue.
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A liar ought to have a good memory.
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From writing rapidly it does not result that one writes well, but from writing well it results that one writes rapidly.
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Lately we have had many losses.
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The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it to acquire something, even when separated from any one.
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It is worth while too to warn the teacher that undue severity in correcting faults is liable at times to discourage a boy’s mind from effort.
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Nature herself has never attempted to effect great changes rapidly.
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When we cannot hope to win, it is an advantage to yield.
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She abounds with lucious faults.
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A Woman who is generous with her money is to be praised; not so, if she is generous with her person.
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A great part of art consists in imitation. For the whole conduct of life is based on this: that what we admire in others we want to do ourselves.
QUINTILIAN