Horace Quotes

Of writing well the source and fountainhead is wise thinking.
HORACE

Think Wise Write
Rule your mind or it will rule you.
HORACE

Inspirational Life Motivational
Who’s started has half finished.
HORACE

Finish Half Start
Let the character as it began be preserved to the last; and let it be consistent with itself.
HORACE

Character Consistent Last
One cannot know everything.
HORACE

Everything Know Knowledge
Leuconoe, close the book of fate, For troubles are in store, . . . . Live today, tomorrow is not.
HORACE

Book Fate Live Today
He makes himself ridiculous who is for ever repeating the same mistake.
HORACE

Mistake Ridiculous Same
What impropriety or limit can there be in our grief for a man so beloved?.
HORACE

Grief Limit Men
Not gods, nor men, nor even booksellers have put up with poets’ being second-rate.
HORACE

Men Poetry Rate
The short span of life forbids us to spin out hope to any length. Soon will night be upon you, and the fabled Shades, and the shadowy Plutonian home.
HORACE

Home Life Night
Seize the day, put no trust in the morrow!
HORACE

Day Morrow Seize Trust
A word, once sent abroad, flies irrevocably.
HORACE

Irrevocably Literature People Word
He will often have to scratch his head, and bite his nails to the quick. [To succeed he will have to puzzle his brains and work hard.]
HORACE

Brain Hard Work Nail
Nor has he spent his life badly who has passed it in privacy.
HORACE

Badly Life People Privacy
Death’s dark way Must needs be trodden once, however we pause.
HORACE

Dark Death Needs
In adversity, remember to keep an even mind.
HORACE

Adversity Inspirational Motivational
Superfluous words simply spill out when the mind is already full.
HORACE

Mind Spill Superfluous
With you I should love to live, with you be ready to die.
HORACE

Love Ready Sweet
Do not try to find out – we’re forbidden to know – what end the gods have in store for me, or for you.
HORACE

Destiny End Try
I would not exchange my life of ease and quiet for the riches of Arabia.
HORACE

Country Ease People Rich
The wolf dreads the pitfall, the hawk suspects the snare, and the kite the covered hook.
HORACE

Cover Lake Rivers Sea
Who prates of war or want after his wine? [Lat., Quis post vina gravem militiam aut pauperiem crepat?]
HORACE

Gravem Need War Wine
People hiss at me, but I applaud myself in my own house, and at the same time contemplate the money in my chest.
HORACE

Country House People
What we learn only through the ears makes less impression upon our minds than what is presented to the trustworthy eye.
HORACE

Eye Mind Trust
Where there are many beauties in a poem I shall not cavil at a few faults proceeding either from negligence or from the imperfection of our nature.
HORACE

Fault Imperfection Poetry
Punishment follows close on crime.
HORACE

Crime Follow Punishment
It is your concern when your neighbor’s wall is on fire.
HORACE

Fire Neighbor Wall

Other Famous Personalities