Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

92 Great Quotes By Horace, The Celebrated Roman Poet And Satirist

Famous As: Leading Roman Lyric Poet During the Time of Augustus
Born On: December 8, 65
Died On: November 27, 8
Born In: Venosa, Italy
Died At Age: -58
Quintus Horatius Flaccus, who is popularly referred to as Horace by English speaking people was a Roman poet, soldier and government servant in ancient Rome, who lived between 65 BC and 8 BC. He rose to prominence during the rule of Augustus. Horace is famous for writing satires, epistles and iambic poetry in Latin that made him an extremely well-known poet during his lifetime. However, poetry was not his life’s ambition. He had been in the republican army that had been defeated and was granted asylum by Augustus. He managed to get a job as a public notary in Rome that gave him ample time to work on his poems. Horace became a renowned poet in ancient Rome due to his refreshingly sardonic and sarcastic style. Persius, who had also been a Satirist in ancient Rome, praised Horace’s style in effusive terms. Some of his most distinguished works include ‘Odes’, ‘The Art Of Poetry’ and Satires. Horace was indeed a man of dry wit and a great sense of humor. Many of his words have become quite famous as his quotes and thoughts and are quoted extensively. His thoughts and quotations tackle the most serious and sensitive topics in a lighter tone. Here are few of Horace’s notable quotes and sayings.
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Pulvis et umbra sumus. (We are but dust and shadow.)

Pulvis et umbra sumus. (We are but dust and shadow.)

Horace
Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.

Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.

Horace
Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt.
(They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea.)

Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt. (They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea.)

Horace
Rule your mind or it will rule you.

Rule your mind or it will rule you.

Horace
Anger is a brief madness.

Anger is a brief madness.

Horace
Pactum serva

Pactum serva" - "Keep the faith

Horace
He who is greedy is always in want

He who is greedy is always in want

Horace
In love there are two evils: war and peace.

In love there are two evils: war and peace.

Horace
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.

Horace
A picture is a poem without words.

A picture is a poem without words.

Horace
Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone

Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone

Horace
Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.

Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.

Horace
Dimidium facti qui coepit habet: sapere aude

Dimidium facti qui coepit habet: sapere aude" ("He who has begun is half done: dare to know!").

Horace
He will always be a slave who does not know how to live upon a little.

He will always be a slave who does not know how to live upon a little.

Horace
Without love and laughter there is no joy; live amid love and laughter.

Without love and laughter there is no joy; live amid love and laughter.

Horace
He who postpones the hour of living rightly is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses.

He who postpones the hour of living rightly is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses.

Horace
Whatever advice you give, be brief.

Whatever advice you give, be brief.

Horace
He who feared that he would not succeed sat still.

He who feared that he would not succeed sat still.

Horace
Capture your reader, let him not depart, from dull beginnings that refuse to start

Capture your reader, let him not depart, from dull beginnings that refuse to start

Horace
Virtue, dear friend, needs no defense,
The surest guard is innocence: 
None knew, till guilt created fear, 
What darts or poisoned arrows were

Virtue, dear friend, needs no defense, The surest guard is innocence: None knew, till guilt created fear, What darts or poisoned arrows were

Horace
Now is the time to drink!

Now is the time to drink!

Horace
Even as we speak, time speeds swiftly away.

Even as we speak, time speeds swiftly away.

Horace
Mingle a little folly with your wisdom; a little nonsense now and then is pleasant.

Mingle a little folly with your wisdom; a little nonsense now and then is pleasant.

Horace
Cease to ask what the morrow 
will bring forth, 
and set down as gain
each day that fortune grants.

Cease to ask what the morrow will bring forth, and set down as gain each day that fortune grants.

Horace
You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back.

You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back.

Horace
What we read with pleasure we read again with pleasure.

What we read with pleasure we read again with pleasure.

Horace
How slight and insignificant is the thing which casts down or restores a mind greedy for praise.

How slight and insignificant is the thing which casts down or restores a mind greedy for praise.

Horace
Pale Death with impartial tread beats at the poor man's cottage door and at the palaces of kings.

Pale Death with impartial tread beats at the poor man's cottage door and at the palaces of kings.

Horace
Leave off asking what tomorrow will bring, and
whatever days fortune will give, count them
as profit.

Leave off asking what tomorrow will bring, and whatever days fortune will give, count them as profit.

Horace
Faults are soon copied.

Faults are soon copied.

Horace