Great Throughts Treasury

A database of quotes

Ennius, fully Quintus Ennius NULL

Roman Writer, considered the father of Roman poetry.

"No sooner said than done, so acts your man of worth."

"A little moralizing's good - a little: I like a taste, but not a bath of it."

"He hath freedom whoso beareth a clean and constant heart within."


"A true friend is tested in adversity."

"He who civilly shows the way to one who has missed it, is as one who has lighted another's lamp from his own lamp; it none the less gives light to himself when it burns for the other."

"Don't ask of your friends what you yourself can do."

"He who conquers is not the victor unless the loser considers himself beaten."

"He whose wisdom cannot help him, gets no good from being wise."

"He who knows not how to use his leisure has more work than when he is working at work."

"He who is not wise for himself is not wise in anything."

"One man by delay restored the state, for he preferred the public safety to idle report."

"One man by delaying saved the state for us."

"Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men"

"No one regards what is before his feet; we all gaze at the stars."

"The idle mind knows not what it wants."

"The victor is not victorious if the vanquished does not consider himself so."

"The sure friend is discerned in unsure circumstances."

"One man restored our fortunes by delay."

"That is true liberty, which bears a pure and firm breast."

"The wise man is wise in vain who cannot be wise to his own advantage."

"The Roman state stands by ancient customs, and its manhood."

"Whatever you give, give quickly."

"Without friendship life is nothing."

"To open his lips is crime in a plain citizen."

"Whom men fear they hate, and whom they hate, they wish dead."

"By delaying he preserved the state."

"Fortune favors the bold."

"Here is he laid to whom for daring deed, nor friend nor foe could render worthy meed."

"How like us is that ugly brute, the ape!"

"Let no one honor me with tears, or bury me with lamentation. Why? Because I fly hither and thither, living in the mouths of me."

"Let no one pay me honor with tears, nor celebrate my funeral rites with weeping."

"May his body rest free from evil."

"O friend unseen, unborn, unknown, Student of our sweet English tongue, I never indulge in poetics - Unless I am down with rheumatics."

"They hate whom they fear."

"On the traditions and heroes of ancient times stands firm the Roman state."

"The ape, vilest of beasts, how like to us."