Boethius Quotes

He who is virtuous is wise; and he who is wise is good; and he who is good is happy.
BOETHIUS

Goodness Happiness Virtue Wisdom Wise
Nothing is miserable unless you think it so; and on the other hand, nothing brings happiness unless you are content with it.
BOETHIUS

Happiness Misery Positive Stress Thinking
As far as possible, join faith to reason.
BOETHIUS

Faith Possible Reason
As far as possible, join faith to reason.
BOETHIUS

Faith Possible Reason
As far as possible, join faith to reason.
BOETHIUS

Faith Possible Reason
I scarcely know the meaning of your question; much less can I answer it.
BOETHIUS

Knowledge Wisdom Yourself
Good men seek it by the natural means of the virtues; evil men, however, try to achieve the same goal by a variety of concupiscences, and that is surely an unnatural way of seeking the good. Don’t you agree?
BOETHIUS

Achievement Evil God Goodness Men Nature Seek Virtue
So nothing is ever good or bad unless you think it so, and vice versa. All luck is good luck to the man who bears it with equanimity.
BOETHIUS

Bad Equality Goodness Men Thinking
Nothing is miserable but what is thought so, and contrariwise, every estate is happy if he that bears it be content.
BOETHIUS

Happiness Himself Misery Place Satisfaction
If there is a God, whence proceed so many evils? If there is no God, whence cometh any good?
BOETHIUS

Deep Evil God Goodness Philosophy
If there is anything good about nobility it is that it enforces the necessity of avoiding degeneracy.
BOETHIUS

Avoid Goodness Necessary
In every adversity of fortune, to have been happy is the most unhappy kind of misfortune.
BOETHIUS

Adversity Happiness Kind Kindness Misfortune
The science of numbers ought to be preferred as an acquisition before all others, because of its necessity and because of the great secrets and other mysteries which there are in the properties of numbers. All sciences partake of it, and it has need of none.
BOETHIUS

Greatness Mathematics Mystery Necessary Need Science
He who has calmly reconciled his life to fate … can look fortune in the face.
BOETHIUS

Acceptance Face Fate Fortune Himself Life
No man can ever be secure until he has been forsaken by Fortune.
BOETHIUS

Fortune Men Security
One’s virtue is all that one truly has, because it is not imperiled by the vicissitudes of fortune.
BOETHIUS

Fortune Money Oneself True Virtue
Nothing is miserable unless you think it so.
BOETHIUS

Misery Sad Thinking Yourself
Music is part of us, and either ennobles or degrades our behavior.
BOETHIUS

Attitude Music Ourselves
All fortune is good fortune; for it either rewards, disciplines, amends, or punishes, and so is either useful or just.
BOETHIUS

Discipline Fortune Goodness Punishment Reward
Inconsistency is my very essence; it is the game I never cease to play as I turn my wheel in its ever changing circle, filled with joy as I bring the top to the bottom and the bottom to the top.
BOETHIUS

Change Consistency Essence Game Joy Play
He who has calmly reconciled his life to fate, and set proud death beneath his feet, can look fortune in the face, unbending both to good and bad; his countenance unconquered.
BOETHIUS

Bad Death Destiny Fate Goodness Life Proud
And no renown can render you well-known: For if you think that fame can lengthen life By mortal famousness immortalized, The day will come that takes your fame as well, And there a second death for you awaits.
BOETHIUS

Death Fame Life Mortal Thinking Wait Yourself
Give me Thy light, and fix my eyes on Thee!
BOETHIUS

Eyes God Light Myself
In other living creatures the ignorance of themselves is nature, but in men it is a vice.
BOETHIUS

Confidence Ignorance Men Nature Vice
Music is so naturally united with us that we cannot be free from it – even if we so desired.
BOETHIUS

Freedom Music Nature Unity
The now that passes produces time, the now that remains produces eternity.
BOETHIUS

Forever Present Time
Whose souls, albeit in a cloudy memory, yet seek back their good, but, like drunk men, know not the road home.
BOETHIUS

Drink Goodness Home Man Memories Road Seek Soul

Famous Roman Philosophers