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Those they praise, but they read the others.

Martial

You admire, Vacerra, only the poets of old and praise only those who are dead. Pardon me, I beseech you, Vacerra, if I think death too high a price to pay for your praise.
MARTIAL

Admire Death Old Pay Poet Praise Price Thinking Yourself
They let out on hire their passions and eloquence. [Referring to lawyers.]
MARTIAL

Elegant Hire Passion
Those they praise, but they read the others.
MARTIAL

One Liner Praise Reading
The shameless Chloe placed on the tombs of her seven husbands the inscription, “The work of Chloe.” How could she have expressed herself more plainly?
MARTIAL

Expression Inscription Place Shame
Life consists not merely in existing, but in enjoying health.
MARTIAL

Enjoyment Existence Health Life
It is to live twice when we can enjoy the recollections of our former life.
MARTIAL

Enjoyment Former Life Live
It is folly to waste labour about trifles.
MARTIAL

Fools Labour Wasted
He who writes distichs, wishes, I suppose, to please by brevity. But, tell me, of what avail is their brevity, when there is a whose book full of them?
MARTIAL

Book Himself Writing
Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well.
MARTIAL

Alive Life One Liner
Your seventh wife, Phileros, is now being buried in your field. No man’s field brings him greater profit than yours, Phileros.
MARTIAL

Bury Death Profit Wife Yourself
The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved in amber, so that it seems enshrined in its own nectar.
MARTIAL

Nectar Preserve Shine Shrine
To be able to enjoy one’s past life is to live twice.
MARTIAL

Enjoyment Life Live Past
Givers of great dinners know few enemies.
MARTIAL

Enemy Food Greatness
Joys do not stay, but take wing and fly away.
MARTIAL

Fly Happiness Wings
The African lions rush to attack bulls; they do not attack butterflies.
MARTIAL

Advice Attack Deep Lion Rush
A fisherman’s walk: three steps and overboard.
MARTIAL

Man Walk

Those they praise, but they read the others.

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Those they praise, but they read the others.

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