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Advise well before you begin, and when you have maturely considered, then act with promptitude.

Sallust

All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.
SALLUST

Angry Doubt Friendship Offering Opinion
It is always easy enough to take up arms, but very difficult to lay them down; the commencement and the termination of war are not necessarily in the same hands; even a coward may begin, but the end comes only when the victors are willing.
SALLUST

Coward Difficult Easy Enough Hands Necessary War Willing
No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.
SALLUST

Best Interest Man Mortal Passion Serve Time
Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.
SALLUST

Counsel Energy God Help Prayer Promise Success Vow Wisdom
Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure.
SALLUST

Bad Measurement Origin
It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of prophecy and of healing, which are part of the cosmos, come of the good providence of the Gods.
SALLUST

Cosmos Detail God Healing Impossible Principle
Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.
SALLUST

Ambition Drive Fake Lock Man Ready Thinking
The fame which is based on wealth or beauty is a frail and fleeting thing; but virtue shines for ages with undiminished lustre.
SALLUST

Age Fame Luster Virtual Wealth
But assuredly Fortune rules in all things; she raised to eminence or buries in oblivion everything from caprice rather than from well-regulated principle.
SALLUST

Assurance Bury Fate Fortune Principle Raise Rule
The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.
SALLUST

Friendship Identity Nature
Each man the architect of his own fate.
SALLUST

Architect Fate Himself Man
It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.
SALLUST

Brave Defeat Himself Human Law Nature Reputation Victory
Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself.
SALLUST

Greatness Reward
There were few who preferred honor to money.
SALLUST

Honor Money Preference
A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.
SALLUST

Defeat Goodness Justice Man
Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord.
SALLUST

Community Discord Greatness Harmony Oneself Pieces Small

Advise well before you begin, and when you have maturely considered, then act with promptitude.

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Advise well before you begin, and when you have maturely considered, then act with promptitude.

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