The Gods being good and making all things, there is no positive evil, it only comes by absence of good; just as darkness itself does not exist, but only comes about by absence of light.
SALLUSTThe soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.
More Sallust Quotes
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Since we have received everything from the Gods, and it is right to pay the giver some tithe of his gifts, we pay such a tithe of possessions in votive offering, of bodies in gifts of (hair and) adornment, and of life in sacrifices.
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Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible.
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Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light.
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Prosperity tries the souls even of the wise.
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Of the bodies in the cosmos, some imitate mind and move in orbits; some imitate soul and move in a straight line, fire and air upward, earth and water downward.
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In victory even the cowardly like to boast, while in adverse times even the brave are discredited.
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Small endeavours obtain strength by unity of action: the most powerful are broken down by discord.
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The glory of riches and of beauty is frail and transitory; virtue remains bright and eternal.
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As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.
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To desire the same things and to reject the same things, constitutes true friendship.
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All men who would surpass the other animals should do their best not to pass through life silently like the beasts whom nature made prone, obedient to their bellies.
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But assuredly Fortune rules in all things; she raised to eminence or buries in oblivion everything from caprice rather than from well-regulated principle.
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The glory of wealth and of beauty is fleeting and frail; virtue is illustrious and everlasting.
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It is sweet to surve one country by deeds, and it is not absurd to surve her by words.
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In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.
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Of the cosmic Gods some make the world be, others animate it, others harmonize it, consisting as it does of different elements; the fourth class keep it when harmonized.
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He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.
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The renown which riches or beauty confer is fleeting and frail mental excellence is a splendid and lasting possession.
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When the prizes fall to the lot of the wicked, you will not find many who are virtuous for virtue’s sake.
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It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.
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Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.
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Sovereignty is easily preserved by the very arts by which it was originally created. When, however, energy has given place to indifference, and temperance and justice to passion and arrogance, then as the morals change so changes fortune.
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The poorest of men are the most useful to those seeking power.
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Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.
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One can ever assume to be what he is not, and to conceal what he is.
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All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.
SALLUST