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No hero to me is the man who, by easy shedding of his blood, purchases fame: my hero is he who, without death, can win praise.

Martial

You’ll get no laurel crown for outrunning a burrow.
MARTIAL

Run Yourself
What’s a wretched man? A man whom no man pleases.
MARTIAL

Man Please Satisfaction
While an ant was wandering under the shade of the tree of Phaeton, a drop of amber enveloped the tiny insect; thus she, who in life was disregarded, became precious by death.
MARTIAL

Ant Death Life Precious Shade Value
Life consists not merely in existing, but in enjoying health.
MARTIAL

Enjoyment Existence Health Life
The flaw which is hidden is deemed greater than it is.
MARTIAL

Flaw Greatness Hide
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
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
Some things are good, some middling, more bad.
MARTIAL

Bad Goodness
The African lions rush to attack bulls; they do not attack butterflies.
MARTIAL

Advice Attack Deep Lion Rush
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
Epigrams need no crier, but are content with their own tongue.
MARTIAL

Content Language Need
For wealth’s now given to none but to the rich.
MARTIAL

Rich Wealth
I do not like the man who squanders life for fame; give me the man who living makes a name.
MARTIAL

Fame Life Man Name Yourself
Of no day can the retrospect cause pain to a good man.
MARTIAL

Day Goodness Man Pain
Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.
MARTIAL

Flaw Imagination World Worst
You complain, friend Swift, of the length of my epigrams, but you yourself write nothing. Yours are shorter.
MARTIAL

Friendship Short Writing Yourself

No hero to me is the man who, by easy shedding of his blood, purchases fame: my hero is he who, without death, can win praise.

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No hero to me is the man who, by easy shedding of his blood, purchases fame: my hero is he who, without death, can win praise.

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Popular Authors

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