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We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

Quintilian

The learned understand the reason of art; the unlearned feel the pleasure.
QUINTILIAN

Art Feeling Learning Pleasure Reason Understand
While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it.
QUINTILIAN

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

Beautiful Exact Similar
Nature herself has never attempted to effect great changes rapidly.
QUINTILIAN

Change Greatness Nature
A liar should have a good memory.
QUINTILIAN

Goodness Lying Memory
The mind is exercised by the variety and multiplicity of the subject matter, while the character is moulded by the contemplation of virtue and vice.
QUINTILIAN

Exercise Mindset Subject Vice Virtue
That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.
QUINTILIAN

Arrival Lost Perfection Vanish
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
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

Animal Creation Faculty God Impression Nature Powerful Talk
Lately we have had many losses.
QUINTILIAN

Late Lose One Liner
One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.
QUINTILIAN

Goal Perspective Possible
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
Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.
QUINTILIAN

Change Food Fresh Mindset Stomach
Give bread to a stranger, in the name of the universal brotherhood which binds together all men under the common father of nature.
QUINTILIAN

Father Food Nature Poor Stranger Togetherness
When defeat is inevitable, it is wisest to yield.
QUINTILIAN

Defeat Protection Wisdom

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

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We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

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