black
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Every epigram should resemble a bee; it should have sting, honey, and brevity.

Martial

To the ashes of the dead glory comes too late.
MARTIAL

Death Glory Late
You puff the poets of other days, The living you deplore. Spare me the accolade: your praise Is not worth dying for.
MARTIAL

Death Live Poet Praise Worth
A good man enlarges the term of his own existence.
MARTIAL

Existence Goodness Himself Man Term
He who prefers to give Linus the half of what he wishes to borrow, rather than to lend him the whole, prefers to lose only the half.
MARTIAL

Borrow Himself Lose Preference
You give me nothing during your life, but you promise to provide for me at your death. If you are not a fool, you know what I wish for!
MARTIAL

Death Fools Life Promise Yourself
A man who lives everywhere lives nowhere.
MARTIAL

Deep Existence Live Man
Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.
MARTIAL

Bad Goodness
Be content to be what you are, and prefer nothing to it, and do not fear or wish for your last day.
MARTIAL

Content Preference Yourself
Be satisfied, and pleased with what thou art, Act cheerfully and well thou allotted part; Enjoy the present hour, be thankful for the past, And neither fear, nor wish, the approaches of the last.
MARTIAL

Cheer Enjoyment Fear Past Satisfaction Thankful
Red-haired, black-lipped, club-footed, and blink-eyed; if you’re a good man, you’re a wonder!
MARTIAL

Goodness Man Yourself
Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door always open tempts no suitor.
MARTIAL

Charm Prize Rare Suit
Genuine is the sorrow endured without anyone else knowing about it.
MARTIAL

Endurance Genuine Known Sorrow
You praise, in three hundred verses, Sabellus, the baths of Ponticus, who gives such excellent dinners. You wish to dine, Sabellus, not to bathe.
MARTIAL

Excellence Praise Verse Yourself
It is easy in adversity to despise death; he has real fortitude who dares to live and be wretched.
MARTIAL

Adversity Death Easy Live Reality
Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men.
MARTIAL

Arms Exercise Man Strong Worthy
Virtue extends our days: he lives two lives who relives his past with pleasure.
MARTIAL

Day Himself Past Pleasure Virtue

Every epigram should resemble a bee; it should have sting, honey, and brevity.

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Every epigram should resemble a bee; it should have sting, honey, and brevity.

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Popular Authors

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