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Gifts are like fish-hooks; for who is not aware that the greedy char is deceived by the fly which he swallows?

Martial

If your slave commits a fault, do not smash his teeth with your fists; give him some of the (hard) biscuit which famous Rhodes has sent you.
MARTIAL

Biscuit Commitment Mistake Slave Yourself
He who thinks that the lives of Priam and of Nestor were long is much deceived and mistaken. Life consists not in living, but in enjoying health.
MARTIAL

Enjoyment Health Mistake Thinking
Service cannot be expected from a friend in service; let him be a freeman who wishes to be my master.
MARTIAL

Friendship Master Service Yourself
The face that cannot smile is never fair.
MARTIAL

Face Fair Happiness Smile
If you have any shame, forbear to pluck the beard of a dead lion.
MARTIAL

Death Shame Yourself
Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.
MARTIAL

Flaw Imagination World Worst
What’s a wretched man? A man whom no man pleases.
MARTIAL

Man Please Satisfaction
The present joys of life we doubly taste, By looking back with pleasure to the past.
MARTIAL

Doubt Ourselves Pleasure Present Taste
Work divided is in that manner shortened.
MARTIAL

Division Short Work
I believe that man to be wretched whom none can please.
MARTIAL

Believe Man Myself Please
I seem to you cruel and too much addicted to gluttony, when I beat my cook for sending up a bad dinner. If that appears to you too trifling a cause, say for what cause you would have a cook flogged.
MARTIAL

Addiction Appearance Cruelty Yourself
Spare the person but lash the vice.
MARTIAL

One Liner Person Vice
This I ask, is it not madness to kill thyself in order to escape death?
MARTIAL

Death Escape Kill Madness Order
Your page stands against you and says to you that you are a thief.
MARTIAL

Page Stand Thief Yourself
A fisherman’s walk: three steps and overboard.
MARTIAL

Man Walk
Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are bald. Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are carrotty. Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are one-eyed. He who kisses you, Philaenis, sins against nature.
MARTIAL

Bald Kiss Myself Nature Sin Yourself

Gifts are like fish-hooks; for who is not aware that the greedy char is deceived by the fly which he swallows?

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Gifts are like fish-hooks; for who is not aware that the greedy char is deceived by the fly which he swallows?

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Popular Authors

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