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

black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

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

Related Topics

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

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
For it would have been better that man should have been born dumb, nay, void of all reason, rather than that he should employ the gifts of Providence to the destruction of his neighbor.

QUINTILIAN

For it would have been better that man should have been born dumb, nay, void of all reason, rather than that he should employ the gifts of Providence to the destruction of his neighbor.
QUINTILIAN

Destruction Dumb
To my mind the boy who gives least promise is one in whom the critical faculty develops in advance of the imagination.

QUINTILIAN

To my mind the boy who gives least promise is one in whom the critical faculty develops in advance of the imagination.
QUINTILIAN

Development Mindset
While we ponder when to begin, it becomes too late to do.

QUINTILIAN

While we ponder when to begin, it becomes too late to do.
QUINTILIAN
A religion without mystics is a philosophy.

QUINTILIAN

A religion without mystics is a philosophy.
QUINTILIAN
The perfection of art is to conceal art.

QUINTILIAN

The perfection of art is to conceal art.
QUINTILIAN
Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. Laughter is never far removed from derision.

QUINTILIAN

Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. Laughter is never far removed from derision.
QUINTILIAN

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

QUINTILIAN

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

Deliberate
Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.

QUINTILIAN

Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.
QUINTILIAN
In a crowd, on a journey, at a banquet even, a line of thought can itself provide its own seclusion.

QUINTILIAN

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

Crowd Seclusion
We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

QUINTILIAN

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.
QUINTILIAN
Too exact, and studious of similitude rather than of beauty.

QUINTILIAN

Too exact, and studious of similitude rather than of beauty.
QUINTILIAN

Exact Similar
Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire.

QUINTILIAN

Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire.
QUINTILIAN

Excite
Everything that has a beginning comes to an end.

QUINTILIAN

Everything that has a beginning comes to an end.
QUINTILIAN

End Proverb
To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.

QUINTILIAN

To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.
QUINTILIAN

Honor
Nothing can be pleasing which is not also becoming.

QUINTILIAN

Nothing can be pleasing which is not also becoming.
QUINTILIAN

Created by Minimalist Quotes

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.

Related Topics

More Quintilian Quotes