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Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.

Quintilian

One thing, however, I must premise, that without the assistance of natural capacity, rules and precepts are of no efficacy.
QUINTILIAN

Assistance Capacity Natural Rule
For all the best teachers pride themselves on having a large number of pupils and think themselves worthy of a bigger audience.
QUINTILIAN

Audience Best Big Pride Teacher Worth
Without natural gifts technical rules are useless.
QUINTILIAN

Gift Natural Rule Technical
A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.
QUINTILIAN

Cost Expense Laughter Virtue
Write quickly and you will never write well; write well, and you will soon write quickly.
QUINTILIAN

Poet Quick Writing Yourself
When we cannot hope to win, it is an advantage to yield.
QUINTILIAN

Advantage Hope Protection Win
A great part of art consists in imitation. For the whole conduct of life is based on this: that what we admire in others we want to do ourselves.
QUINTILIAN

Admire Art Consist Greatness Life Ourselves
In a crowd, on a journey, at a banquet even, a line of thought can itself provide its own seclusion.
QUINTILIAN

Crowd Journey Seclusion
Men of quality are in the wrong to undervalue, as they often do, the practise of a fair and quick hand in writing; for it is no immaterial accomplishment.
QUINTILIAN

Accomplishment Man Quality Value Wrong
To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.
QUINTILIAN

Exception Honor Man Necessary
It is much easier to try one’s hand at many things than to concentrate one’s powers on one thing.
QUINTILIAN

Easy Hand Oneself Power Try
Fear of the future is worse than one’s present fortune.
QUINTILIAN

Fear Fortune Future Present
Nothing can be pleasing which is not also becoming.
QUINTILIAN

Deep Please
A religion without mystics is a philosophy.
QUINTILIAN

One Liner Philosophy Religion
The perfection of art is to conceal art.
QUINTILIAN

Art Hide Perfection
There is no one who would not rather appear to know than to be taught.
QUINTILIAN

Appearance Teaching

Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.

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Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.

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