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Believe me, the gods spare the afflicted, and do not always
oppress those who are unfortunate.
[Lat., Crede mihi, miseris coelestia numina parcunt;
Nec semper laesos, et sine fine, premunt.]
Topic: Affliction
Source: Epistoloe Ex Ponto (III, 6, 21)
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A field becomes exhausted by constant tillage.
[Lat., Continua messe senescit ager.]
Topic: Agriculture
Source: Are Amatoria (III, 82)
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Birth and ancestry, and that which we have not ourselves
achieved, we can scarcely call our own.
[Lat., Nam genus et proavos et quae non fecimus ipsi
Vix ea nostra voco.]
Topic: Ancestry
Source: Metamorphoses (XIII, 140)
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Anger assists hands however weak.
[Lat., Quamlibet infirmas adjuvat ira manus.]
Topic: Anger
Source: Amorum (I, 7, 66)
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Like fragile ice anger passes away in time.
[Lat., Ut fragilis glacies interit ira mora.]
Topic: Anger
Source: Ara Amatoria (I, 374)
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Thou beginnest better than thou endest.
The last is inferior to the first.
[Lat., Coepisti melius quam desinis. Ultima primis cedunt.]
Topic: Beginnings
Source: Heroides (IX, 23)
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Resist beginnings: it is too late to employ medicine when the
evil has grown strong by inveterate habit.
[Lat., Principiis obsta: sero medicina paratur,
Cum mala per longas convaluere moras.]
Topic: Beginnings
Source: Remedia Amoris (XCI)
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Fortune and love favour the brave.
[Lat., Audentum Forsque Venusque juvant.]
Topic: Bravery
Source: Ars Amatoria (bk. I, 608)
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The brave find a home in every land.
[Lat., Omne solum forti patria est.]
Topic: Bravery
Source: Fasti (I, 493)
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God himself favors the brave.
[Lat., Audentes deus ipse juvat.]
Topic: Bravery
Source: Metamorphoses (X, 586)
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The cause is hidden, but the result is known.
[Lat., Causa latet: vis est notissima.]
Topic: Cause
Source: Metamorphoses (IV, 287)
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That load becomes light which is cheerfully borne.
[Lat., Leve fit quod bene fertur onus.]
Topic: Cheerfulness
Source: Amorum (I, 2, 10)
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According to the state of a man's conscience, so do hope and fear
on account of his deeds arise in his mind.
[Lat., Conscia mens ut cuique sua est, ita concipit intra
Pectora pro facto spemque metumque suo.]
Topic: Conscience
Source: Fasti (I, 485)
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We covet what is guarded; the very care invokes the thief. Few
love what they may have.
[Lat., Quicquid servatur, cupimus magis: ipsaque furem
Cura vocat. Pauci, quod sinit alter, amant.]
Topic: Covetousness
Source: Amorum (III, 4, 25)
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To wish for death is a coward's part.
[Lat., Timidi est optare necem.]
Topic: Cowards
Source: Metamorphoses (IV, 115)
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The punishment can be remitted; the crime is everlasting.
[Lat., Poena potest demi, culpa perennis erit.]
Topic: Crime
Source: Epistoloe Ex Ponto (I, 1, 64)
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Overlook our deeds, since you know that crime was absent from our
inclination.
[Lat., Factis ignoscite nostris
Si scelus ingenio scitis abesse meo.]
Topic: Crime
Source: Fasti (bk. III, 309)
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Where crime is taught from early years, it becomes a part of
nature.
[Lat., Ars fit ubi a teneris crimen condiscitur annis.]
Topic: Crime
Source: Heroides (IV, 25)
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We are always striving for things forbidden, and coveting those
denied us.
[Lat., Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimusque negata.]
Topic: Desire
Source: Amorum (III, 4, 17)
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Sickness seizes the body from bad ventilation.
[Lat., Aere non certo corpora languor habet.]
Topic: Disease
Source: Ara Amatoria (II, 310)
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Diseases of the mind impair the bodily powers.
[Lat., Vitiant artus aegrae contagia mentis.]
Topic: Disease
Source: Tristium (III, 8, 25)
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As the hawk is wont to pursue the trembling doves.
[Lat., Ut solet accipiter trepidas agitare columbas.]
Topic: Doves
Source: Metamorphoses (V, 606)
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Envy feeds on the living. It ceases when they are dead.
[Lat., Pascitur in vivis livor; post fata quiescit.]
Topic: Envy
Source: Amorum (I, 15, 39)
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Envy assails the noblest: the winds howl around the highest
peaks.
[Lat., Summa petit livor: perflant altissima venti.]
Topic: Envy
Source: Remedia Amoris (CCCLXIX)
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Envy depreciates the genius of the great Homer.
[Lat., Ingenium magni detractat livor Homeri.]
Topic: Envy
Source: Remedia Amoris (CCCLXV)
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He who holds the hook is aware in what waters many fish are
swimming.
[Lat., Qui sustinet hamos,
Novit, quae multo pisce natentur aquae.]
Topic: Fishermen
Source: Ars Amatoria (bk. I, l. 47)
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Bear and forbear.
Topic: Forgiveness
Source: also attributed to Epictetus
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The love of glory gives an immense stimulus.
[Lat., Immensum gloria calcar habet.]
Topic: Glory
Source: Epistoloe Ex Ponto (IV, 2, 36)
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Truly now is the golden age; the highest honour comes by means of
gold; by gold love is procured.
[Lat., Aurea nunc vere sunt saecula; plurimus auto
Venit honos; auro concilatur amor.]
Topic: Gold
Source: Ars Amatoria (bk. II, 277)
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You do not know it but you are the talk of all the town.
[Lat., Fabula (nec sentis) tota jactaris in urba.]
Topic: Gossip
Source: Art of Love (III, 1, 21)
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Thanks are justly due for things got without purchase.
[Lat., Gratia pro rebus merito debetur inemtis.]
Topic: Gratitude
Source: Amorum (I, 10, 43)
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It is a pleasure appropriate to man, for him to save a
fellow-man, and gratitude is acquired in no better way.
[Lat., Conveniens homini est hominem servare voluptas.
Et melius nulla quaeritur arte favor.]
Topic: Gratitude
Source: Epistoloe Ex Ponto (II, 9, 39)
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Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is
forced to multiply its strength.
[Lat., Strangulat inclusus dolor, atque exaestuat intus,
Cogitur et vires multiplicare suas.]
Topic: Grief
Source: Tristium (V, 1, 63)
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Alas! How difficult it is to prevent the countenance from
betraying guilt!
[Heu! quam difficile est crimen non prodere vultu.]
Topic: Guilt
Source: Metamorphoses (II, 447)
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Nothing is stronger than habit.
[Lat., Nil consuetudine majus.]
Topic: Habit
Source: Ars Amatoria (II, 345)
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Pursuits become habits.
[Lat., Abeunt studia in mores.]
Topic: Habit
Source: Heroides (XV, 83)
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Ill habits gather by unseen degrees,
As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.
Topic: Habit
Source: Metamorphoses (bk. XV, l. 155), (Dryden's translation)
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Habit had made the custom.
[Lat., Morem fecerat usus.]
Topic: Habit
Source: Metamorphoses (II, 345)
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Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is
corrupted unless it moves.
[Lat., Cernis ut ignavum corrumpant otia corpus
Ut capiant vitium ni moveantur aquae.]
Topic: Idleness
Source: Epistoloe Ex Ponto (I, 5, 5)
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If it were in my power, I would be wiser; but a newly felt power
carries me off in spite of myself; love leads me one way, my
understanding another.
[Lat., Si possem sanior essem.
Sed trahit invitam nova vis; aliudque Cupido,
Mens aliud.]
Topic: Influence
Source: Metamorphoses (VII, 18)
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The judge's duty is to inquire about the time, as well as the
facts.
[Lat., Judicis officium est ut res ita tempora rerum
Quaerere.]
Topic: Judges
Source: Tristium (I, 1, 37)
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We do not bear sweets; we are recruited by a bitter potion.
[Lat., Dulcia non ferimus; succo renovamus amaro.]
Topic: Medicine
Source: Ara Amatoria (III, 583)
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The need has gone; the memorial thereof remains.
[Lat., Factum abiit; monumenta manent.]
Topic: Monuments
Source: Fasti (bk. IV, 709)
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Then the Omnipotent Father with his thunder made Olympus tremble,
and from Ossa hurled Pelion.
Topic: Mountains
Source: Metamorphoses (I)
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Nor is there any law more just, than that he who has plotted
death shall perish by his own plot.
[Lat., Neque enim lex est aequior ulla,
Quam necis artifices arte perire sua.]
Topic: Murder
Source: Ars Amatoria (I, 655)
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We have ploughed the vast ocean in a fragile bark.
[Lat., Nos fragili vastum ligno sulcavimus aequor.]
Topic: Navigation
Source: Epistoloe Ex Ponto (I, 14, 35)
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He who has lived obscurely and quietly has lived well.
[Lat., Bene qui latuit, bene vixit.]
Topic: Obscurity
Source: Tristium (III, 4, 25)
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The good of other times let people state;
I think it lucky I was born so late.
[Lat., Prisca juvent alios; ego me nunc denique natum Gratulor.]
Topic: Past
Source: Ars Amatoria (III, 121), (translation by Sydney Smith)
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Have patience and endure; this unhappiness will one day be
beneficial.
[Lat., Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim.]
Topic: Patience
Source: Amorum (III, 11, 7)
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Our native land charms us with inexpressible sweetness, and never
never allows us to forget that we belong to it.
[Lat., Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine captos
Ducit, et immemores non sinit esse sui.]
Topic: Patriotism
Source: Epistoloe Ex Ponto (I, 3, 35)
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