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That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.

Quintilian

When we cannot hope to win, it is an advantage to yield.
QUINTILIAN

Advantage Hope Protection Win
A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.
QUINTILIAN

Cost Expense Laughter Virtue
Nothing is more dangerous to men than a sudden change of fortune.
QUINTILIAN

Change Dangerous Fortune
A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in equaling in not actually surpassing him, but one who merely follows can never quite come up with him: a follower, necessarily, is always behind.
QUINTILIAN

Equality Follow Himself Man Quite Success
Without natural gifts technical rules are useless.
QUINTILIAN

Gift Natural Rule Technical
We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.
QUINTILIAN

Difficult Excuse Ourselves
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
Usage is the best language teacher.
QUINTILIAN

Language One Liner Teacher
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
While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin. The opportunity is lost.
QUINTILIAN

Beginning Lost Mindset Opportunity Time
It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.
QUINTILIAN

Children Himself Imitation Nurse
Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.
QUINTILIAN

Appearance Fools Virtue Wisdom
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
Fear of the future is worse than one’s present fortune.
QUINTILIAN

Fear Fortune Future Present
While we ponder when to begin, it becomes too late to do.
QUINTILIAN

Action Beginning Late
That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.
QUINTILIAN

Admission Ear Easy Mindset Offend

That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.

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That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.

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