It is difficult to lay aside a confirmed passion.
CATULLUSBetter a sparrow, living or dead, than no birdsong at all.
More Catullus Quotes
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But you shall not escape my iambics.
CATULLUS -
Stop wishing to merit anyone’s gratitude or thinking that anyone can become grateful.
CATULLUS -
Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand more.
CATULLUS -
My mind’s sunk so low, Claudia, because of you, wrecked itself on your account so bad already, that I couldn’t like you if you were the best of women, -or stop loving you, no matter what you do.
CATULLUS -
To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
CATULLUS -
Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
CATULLUS -
What women say to lovers, you’ll agree, One writes on running water or on air.
CATULLUS -
Oh, this age! How tasteless and ill bred it is!
CATULLUS -
I hate and I love. Perchance you ask why I do that. I know not, but I feel that I do and I am tortured. [Lat., Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.]
CATULLUS -
For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.
CATULLUS -
Every one has his faults: but we do not see the wallet on our own backs.
CATULLUS -
So a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she dear to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied body, she remains neither lovely to boys nor dear to girls.
CATULLUS -
Away with you, water, destruction of wine!
CATULLUS -
What woman says to fond lover should be written on air or the swift water. [Lat., Mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.]
CATULLUS -
Better a sparrow, living or dead, than no birdsong at all.
CATULLUS