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God, that all-powerful Creator of nature and architect of the world, has impressed man with no character so proper to distinguish him from other animals, as by the faculty of speech.

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
A liar ought to have a good memory.
QUINTILIAN

Goodness Lying Memories
A mediocre speech supported by all the power of delivery will be more impressive than the best speech unaccompanied by such power.
QUINTILIAN

Accompany Average Impression Support
Everything that has a beginning comes to an end.
QUINTILIAN

Advice Beginning End Proverb
A liar should have a good memory.
QUINTILIAN

Goodness Lying Memory
Ambition is a vice, but it may be the father of virtue.
QUINTILIAN

Ambition Father Vice Virtue
If you direct your whole thought to work itself, none of the things which invade eyes or ears will reach the mind.
QUINTILIAN

Direct Eyes Mindset Reach Work
Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.
QUINTILIAN

Agriculture Profit Student Talent Work
One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.
QUINTILIAN

Goal Perspective Possible
There is no one who would not rather appear to know than to be taught.
QUINTILIAN

Appearance Teaching
Nothing can be pleasing which is not also becoming.
QUINTILIAN

Deep Please
Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.
QUINTILIAN

Appearance Fools Virtue Wisdom
While we ponder when to begin, it becomes too late to do.
QUINTILIAN

Action Beginning Late
In a crowd, on a journey, at a banquet even, a line of thought can itself provide its own seclusion.
QUINTILIAN

Crowd Journey Seclusion
Vain hopes are like certain dreams of those who wake.
QUINTILIAN

Awake Dreams Hope
When defeat is inevitable, it is wisest to yield.
QUINTILIAN

Defeat Protection Wisdom

God, that all-powerful Creator of nature and architect of the world, has impressed man with no character so proper to distinguish him from other animals, as by the faculty of speech.

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God, that all-powerful Creator of nature and architect of the world, has impressed man with no character so proper to distinguish him from other animals, as by the faculty of speech.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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