Martial Quotes

Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are bald. Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are carrotty. Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are one-eyed. He who kisses you, Philaenis, sins against nature.

You may envy every one, but no one envies you.

I would not miss your face, your neck, your hands, your limbs, your bosom and certain other of your charms. Indeed, not to become boring by naming them all, I could do without you, Chloe, altogether.

Your seventh wife, Phileros, is now being buried in your field. No man's field brings him greater profit than yours, Phileros.

Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well.

Life consists not merely in existing, but in enjoying health.

He who thinks that the lives of Priam and of Nestor were long is much deceived and mistaken. Life consists not in living, but in enjoying health.

Life is not living, but living in health.

Givers of great dinners know few enemies.

It is as good as second life to be able to look back upon our past life with pleasure

A vagrant is everywhere at home.

A jar of wine so priceless did not deserve to die. and
Never think of leaving perfume or wines to your heir. Administer these youself and let him have the money.

I believe that man to be wretched whom none can please.

Glory comes too late when we are nought but ashes.

I do not hate the man, but his vices.

You importune me, Tucca, to present you with my books. I shall not do so; for you want to sell, not to read, them.

One genius has made many clever artists.

Wish to be what you are, and wish for no other position.

You are so pure in mind and heart,
In aspect, too, so mild,
I wonder that you ever could
Implant your wife with child.

However great the dish that holds the turbot, the turbot is still greater than the dish.

There is nothing more contemptible than a bald man who pretends to have hair.

Be merry if you are wise.

Of no day can the retrospect cause pain to a good man.

He who writes distichs, wishes, I suppose, to please by brevity. But, tell me, of what avail is their brevity, when there is a whose book full of them?

Do you ask what sort of a maid I desire or dislike, Flaccus? I dislike one too easy and one too coy. The just mean, which lies between the two extremes, is what I approve; I like neither that which tortures nor that which cloys.

He writes nothing whose writings are not read.

You command my desire for the queen of cities to be mitigated: you alone are a Rome to me.

If my opinion is of any worth, the fieldfare is the greatest delicacy among birds, the hare among quadrupeds.

Our days pass by, and are scored against us.

There is nothing more revolting than an old busybody.

If you want him to mourn, you had best leave him nothing.

He who weighs his burdens, can bear them.

You puff the poets of other days, The living you deplore. Spare me the accolade: your praise Is not worth dying for.

Be cheerful, if you are wise.

What quick wit is found in sudden straits!

I'm what I seem; not any dyer gave, But nature dyed this colour that I have.

To have nothing is not poverty.
[Lat., Non est paupertas, Nestor, habere nihil.]

Virtue extends our days: he lives two lives who relives his past with pleasure.

The shameless Chloe placed on the tombs of her seven husbands the inscription, "The work of Chloe." How could she have expressed herself more plainly?

I know all that better than my own name.

Live thy life as it were spoil and pluck the joys that fly.

Man loves malice, but not against one-eyed men nor the unfortunate, but against the fortunate and proud.

There is no glory in otustripping donkeys.

Be satisfied, and pleased with what thou art, Act cheerfully and well thou allotted part; Enjoy the present hour, be thankful for the past, And neither fear, nor wish, the approaches of the last.

My poems are naughty, but my life is pure.

I commend you, Postumus, for kissing me with only half your lip; you may, however, if you please, withhold even the half of this half. Are you inclined to grant me a boon still greater, and even inexpressible? Keep this whole half entirely to yourself, Postumus.

Life's not just about being alive, but being well.

The African lions rush to attack bulls; they do not attack butterflies.
[Lat., In tauros Libyci ruunt leones;
Non sunt papilionibus molesti.]

Be not too thick with anybody; your joys will be fewer, and so will pains.

A fisherman's walk: three steps and overboard.

If I remember right, Aelia, you had four teeth; a cough displaced two, another two more. You can now cough without anxiety all the day long. A third cough can find nothing to do in your mouth.

For wealth's now given to none but to the rich.

No man is quick enough to enjoy life.

The swan murmurs sweet strains with a flattering tongue, itself the singer of its own dirge.

Do you ask why I am unwilling to marry a rich wife? It is because I am unwilling to be taken to husband by my wife. The mistress of the house should be subordinate to her husband, for in no other way, Priscus, will the wife and husband be on an equality.

Nothing is more ill-timed than an ill-timed laugh.

Red-haired, black-lipped, club-footed, and blink-eyed; if you're a good man, you're a wonder!

The present joys of life we doubly taste,
By looking back with pleasure to the past.

Short is the life of those who possess great accomplishments, and seldom do they reach a good old age. Whatever thou lovest, pray that thou mayest not set too high a value on it.

If you are poor now, Aemilianus, you will always be poor. Riches are now given to none but the rich.

If fame comes after death, I'm in no hurry for it.
[Lat., Si post fata venit gloria non propero.]

Hidden evils are most dreaded.

All your female friends are either old or ugly; nay, more ugly than old women usually are. These you lead about in your train, and drag with you to feasts, porticos and theaters. Thus, Fabulla, you seem handsome, thus you seem young.

A good man enlarges the term of his own existence.

The flaw which is hidden is deemed greater than it is.

It is to live twice when we can enjoy the recollections of our former life.

The swifter hand doth the swift words outrun: Before the tongue hath spoke the hand hath done.

Gifts are like hooks.

For life is only life when blessed with health.

Neither fear your death's day nor long for it.

They let out on hire their passions and eloquence. [Referring to lawyers.]

While you remain at home your hair is at the hairdresser's; you take out your teeth at night and sleep tucked away in a hundred cosmetics boxes - even your face does not sleep with you.

To-morrow I will live, the fool does say;
To-day itself's too late, the wise lived yesterday.

I have granted you much that you asked: and yet you never cease to ask of me. He who refuses nothing, Atticilla, will soon have nothing to refuse.

It is feeling and force of imagination that make us eloquent.

You are sad in the midst of every blessing. Take care that Fortune does not observe
or she will call you ungrateful.

In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a writeched life

If pale beans bubble for you in a red earthenware pot, you can often decline the dinners of sumptuous hosts.

Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.

Epigrams need no crier, but are content with their own tongue.

Service cannot be expected from a friend in service; let him be a freeman who wishes to be my master.

Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that's how a book of poems is made, my Friend.

Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door always open tempts no suitor.

Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men.