“The virtuous man is never a novice in worldly things.”

I am a shell-fish just come from being saturated with the waters of the Lucrine lake, near Baiae; but now I luxuriously thrust for noble pickle.

You should not fear, nor yet should you wish for your last day.

Our days pass by, and are scored against us.

In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a wretched life.

Fortune gives too much to many, enough to none.

This I ask, is it not madness to kill thyself in order to escape death?

Life is not living, but living in health.

You ask what a nice girl will do? She won’t give an inch, but she won’t say no.

Genuine is the sorrow endured without anyone else knowing about it.

Birds of a feather will flock together.

Tomorrow’s life is too late. Live today.

Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.

Too late is tomorrow’s life; live for today.

Be cheerful, if you are wise.

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

You complain, friend Swift, of the length of my epigrams, but you yourself write nothing. Yours are shorter.