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One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.

Quintilian

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

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

Crowd Journey Seclusion
When defeat is inevitable, it is wisest to yield.
QUINTILIAN

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

Complimentary Design Laughter Raise
Verse satire indeed is entirely our own.
QUINTILIAN

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

Beautiful Exact Similar
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
Lately we have had many losses.
QUINTILIAN

Late Lose One Liner
He who speaks evil only differs from his who does evil in that he lacks opportunity.
QUINTILIAN

Evil Himself Opportunity Talk
A religion without mystics is a philosophy.
QUINTILIAN

One Liner Philosophy Religion
While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it.
QUINTILIAN

Examination Expectation Time
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
It is the heart which inspires eloquence.
QUINTILIAN

Heart Inspirational One Liner
From writing rapidly it does not result that one writes well, but from writing well it results that one writes rapidly.
QUINTILIAN

Fast Oneself Result Writing
A liar should have a good memory.
QUINTILIAN

Goodness Lying Memory

One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.

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One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.

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Popular Authors

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