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We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.

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

Action Beginning Late
Although virtue receives some of its excellencies from nature, yet it is perfected by education.
QUINTILIAN

Excellence Nature Perfection Virtue
In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept.
QUINTILIAN

Experience Value
It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.
QUINTILIAN

Arrival Genius Maturity
Medicine for the dead is too late.
QUINTILIAN

Death Medicine One Liner
There is no one who would not rather appear to know than to be taught.
QUINTILIAN

Appearance Teaching
Men, even when alone, lighten their labors by song, however rude it may be.
QUINTILIAN

Alone Light Man Rude
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
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
A liar should have a good memory.
QUINTILIAN

Goodness Lying Memory
Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.
QUINTILIAN

Beginning Herself Learning Nature Touch Virtue
It is easier to do many things than to do one thing continuously for a long time.
QUINTILIAN

Different Easy Time
Where evil habits are once settled, they are more easily broken than mended.
QUINTILIAN

Break Easy Evil Habit Repair Settle
Write quickly and you will never write well; write well, and you will soon write quickly.
QUINTILIAN

Poet Quick Writing Yourself
The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it to acquire something, even when separated from any one.
QUINTILIAN

Kind Natural Oneself Separate Soul

We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.

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We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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