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Epigrams need no crier, but are content with their own tongue.

Martial

You importune me, Tucca, to present you with my books. I shall not do so; for you want to sell, not to read, them.
MARTIAL

Book Myself Present Reading Yourself
Whoever makes great presents, expects great presents in return.
MARTIAL

Greatness Present Return
A good man enlarges the term of his own existence.
MARTIAL

Existence Goodness Himself Man Term
I do not love thee, Sabidius, nor can I say why; I can only say this, “I do not love thee.”
MARTIAL

Love Myself
Our days pass by, and are scored against us.
MARTIAL

Day Ourselves Pass Score
Man loves malice, but not against one-eyed men nor the unfortunate, but against the fortunate and proud.
MARTIAL

Eyes Love Man Proud Unfortunate
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
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
In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a wretched life.
MARTIAL

Adversity Brave Himself Life True
If I remember right, Aelia, you had four teeth; a cough displaced two, another two more. You can now cough without anxiety all the day long. A third cough can find nothing to do in your mouth.
MARTIAL

Anxiety Mouth Remember Right Yourself
No man is quick enough to enjoy life.
MARTIAL

Enough Life Man Quick
A novice always behaves with propriety.
MARTIAL

Beginning Behavior Novice
It is folly to waste labour about trifles.
MARTIAL

Fools Labour Wasted
The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved in amber, so that it seems enshrined in its own nectar.
MARTIAL

Nectar Preserve Shine Shrine
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
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
Spare the person but lash the vice.
MARTIAL

One Liner Person Vice
Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that’s how a book of poems is made, my Friend.
MARTIAL

Book Creation Goodness Literature Myself Poem Writing
To have nothing is not poverty.
MARTIAL

One Liner Poverty
No amount of misfortune will satisfy the man who is not satisfied with reading a hundred epigrams.
MARTIAL

Misfortune Reading Satisfaction
Remember, cobbler, to keep to your leather.
MARTIAL

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

Friendship Short Writing Yourself
I do not hate the man, but his vices.
MARTIAL

Hate Himself Man One Liner Vice
Genuine is the sorrow endured without anyone else knowing about it.
MARTIAL

Endurance Genuine Known Sorrow
There is no glory in outstripping donkeys.
MARTIAL

Animal Glory
Life consists not merely in existing, but in enjoying health.
MARTIAL

Enjoyment Existence Health Life
You are so pure in mind and heart, In aspect, too, so mild, I wonder that you ever could Implant your wife with child.
MARTIAL

Children Heart Mindset Myself Purity Wife

Epigrams need no crier, but are content with their own tongue.

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Epigrams need no crier, but are content with their own tongue.

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Popular Authors

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