Better a sparrow, living or dead, than no birdsong at all.
CATULLUSThere is nothing more silly than a silly laugh.
More Catullus Quotes
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I write of youth, of love, and have access by these to sing of cleanly wantonness.
CATULLUS -
My lady’s sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady’s delight
CATULLUS -
For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.
CATULLUS -
It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem
CATULLUS -
Give up wanting to deserve any thanks from anyone, or thinking anybody can be grateful.
CATULLUS -
But you shall not escape my iambics.
CATULLUS -
Away with you, water, destruction of wine!
CATULLUS -
I hate and love. And why, perhaps you’ll ask. I don’t know: but I feel, and I’m tormented.
CATULLUS -
What a woman says to an eager lover, write it on running water, write it on air.
CATULLUS -
Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
CATULLUS -
Stop wishing to merit anyone’s gratitude or thinking that anyone can become grateful.
CATULLUS -
We see not our own backs.
CATULLUS -
Godlike the man who sits at her side, who watches and catches that laughter which (softly) tears me to tatters: nothing is left of me, each time I see her.
CATULLUS -
There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh.
CATULLUS -
Every one has his faults: but we do not see the wallet on our own backs.
CATULLUS






