Publilius Syrus Quotes:

From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own.

Topics: Wise, Wisdom, Men, My Mistakes, Wise Man Once Said

How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself.

Topics: Forgiveness, Forgiving, Unhappy

The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body.

Topics: Pain, Mind, Body, Mental Pain

Never promise more than you can perform.

Topics: Accountability, Promise

It matters not what you are thought to be, but what you are.

Topics: Matter

The wounds of love can only be healed by the one who made them

Topics: Love, Family, Happiness

Each day should be passed as though it were our last.

Topics: Life, Time, Each Day

Powerful indeed is the empire of habit.

Topics: Powerful, Empires, Habit

No pleasure endures unseasoned by variety.

Topics: Pleasure, Endure, Variety

We must give lengthy deliberation to what has to be decided once and for all.

Topics: Giving, Deliberation, Lengthy

There is but a step between a proud man's glory and his disgrace.

Topics: Pride, Men, Proud, Proud Man

Do not despise the bottom rungs in the ascent to greatness.

Topics: Greatness, Ascent, Despise, Getting Started

Observation, not old age, brings wisdom.

Topics: Wisdom, Age, Observation

It matters not how long you live, but how well.

Topics: Life, Long, Matter

You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.

Topics: Kindness, Force, Accomplish, Random Kindness, Inspirational Kindness

Every vice has its excuse ready.

Topics: Vices, Excuse, Virtue, Making Excuses, Vice And Virtue

Debt is the slavery of the free.

Topics: Debt, Slavery, Debt Free

The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.

Topics: Eye, Mind, Vision, Eyes Looking, Eyes That See

Many receive advice, few profit by it.

Topics: Advice, Profit

It is better to learn late than never.

Topics: Honesty, Better Late Than Never, Teachability

A good reputation is more valuable than money.

Topics: Reputation, Valuable, Good Reputation, Good Money, Success And Money

One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.

Topics: People, Ungrateful, Doe, Ungrateful People, Needy People

No one knows what it is that he can do until he tries.

Topics: Positive Thinking, Thinking, Trying

He who spares the bad injures the good.

Topics: Justice

I often regret that I have spoken; never that I have been silent.

Topics: Regret, Silence, Silent

A rolling stone can gather no moss.

Topics: Change, Stones, Moss

No one reaches a high position without daring.

Topics: Confidence, Courage, Fear

Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back.

Topics: Courage, Holding Back, Daring

A fair exterior is a silent recommendation.

Topics: Character, Silent, Recommendations, Exterior

Only the bold get to the top.

A wise man will be master of his mind, a fool will be its slave.

Topics: Wise, Men, Mind

Some remedies are worse than the disease.

Topics: Disease, Medical, Remedy

While we stop to think, we often miss our opportunity

Topics: Attitude, Thinking, Opportunity, Missed Opportunity

Ready tears are a sign of treachery, not of grief

Topics: Grief, Tears, Ready, Treachery

You cannot put the same shoe on every foot.

Topics: Shoes, Feet, Old Shoes, If The Shoe Fits, New Shoes

A gift in season is a double favor to the needy.

Topics: Double Standard, Favors, Needy

It is a bad plan that cannot be altered.

Topics: Plans

Practice is the best of all instructors.

source: - "The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus, a Roman Slave: From the Latin". Book by Darius Lyman. Maxim 439, 1856.

Topics: Perseverance, Practice, Instructors, Music Practice

The remedy for wrongs is to forget them.

source: - "Maxims". No. 383,

Topics: Past, Forget The Past, Forget

In doubtful matters boldness is everything.

Topics: Matter, Doubtful, Boldness

Treat your friend as if he might become an enemy.

Topics: Enemy, Might, Treats

It is only the ignorant who despise education.

Topics: Education, Educational, Ignorant, Teachability

God looks at the clean hands, not the full ones.

Topics: Change, Hands, Looks, Clean Hands

When you are at sea, keep clear of the land.

Topics: Land, Sea, Clear

Pain forces even the innocent to lie.

Topics: Pain, Lying, Innocent

Speech is the mirror of the soul.

Topics: Mirrors, Soul, Speech

As men, we are all equal in the presence of death.

Topics: Men, Dying, Equal

What is left when honor is lost?

Topics: Integrity, Honor, Lost, Honor And Integrity

To confess a fault freely is the next thing to being innocent of it.

Topics: Faults, Next, Innocent, Confessing

He who lives only for himself is truly dead to others.

Topics: Army

Fortune is like glass - the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.

Topics: Glasses, Broken, Glitter, Broken Glass

Through indecision opportunity is often lost.

Topics: Opportunity, Indecision, Lost

For a good cause, wrongdoing is virtuous.

Topics: Causes, Virtuous, Wrongdoing, Good Causes

When innocence trembles, it condemns the judge.

Topics: Judging, Innocence, Injustice

Man's life is short; and therefore an honorable death is his immortality.

Topics: Life Is Short, Men, Immortality, Honorable Death

When the bad imitate the good, there is no knowing what mischief is intended.

Topics: Knowing, Imitation, Mischief

When two do the same thing, it is not the same thing after all.

Topics: Two, Individuality

Humility neither falls far, nor heavily.

Topics: Fall, Humility

It is a bitter dose to be taught obedience after you have learned to rule.

Topics: Taught, Bitter, Obedience

Great hatred can be concealed in the countenance, and much in a kiss.

Topics: Kissing, Hatred, Countenance

There is no fruit which is not bitter before it is ripe.

Topics: Fruit, Bitter, Ripe

When Gold argues the cause, eloquence is impotant.

Topics: Gold, Causes, Arguing

A frog would leap from a throne of gold into a puddle.

Topics: Gold, Frogs, Puddles

The future struggles that it may not become the past.

Topics: Future, Struggle, Past

We simply rob ourselves when we make presents to the dead.

Friendship either finds or makes equals.

Topics: Friendship

Life is short, but its ills make it seem long.

Topics: Life, Long, Life Is Short

They pass peaceful lives who ignore mine and thine.

Topics: Peaceful, Peaceful Life

A suspicious mind always looks on the black side of things.

Topics: Mind, Black, Sides

Death laughs when old women frolic.

Topics: Laughing, Age, Old Woman

What greater evil could you wish a miser, than long life?

Topics: Evil, Long, Wish, Misers

Look for a tough wedge for a tough log.

Topics: Looks, Tough, Method, Wedges

Man has been lent, not given, to life.

Topics: Men, Given

We may with advantage at times forget what we know.

Topics: May, Forget, Advantage

Whom Fortune wishes to destroy she first makes mad.

Topics: Mad, Wish, Firsts

Pardon one offence, and you encourage the commission of many.

Topics: Leniency, Pardon, Offence

If you refuse where you have always granted you invite to theft.

Topics: Granted, Theft, Refuse

Friendship neither finds nor makes equals.

Lovers know what they want, but not what they need.

Topics: Want, Needs, Lovers, Need Love

An angry lover tells himself many lies.

Topics: Lying, Lovers, Angry

Love, like a tear, rises in the eye and falls upon the breast.

Topics: Love, Fall, Eye

A god could hardly love and be wise.

Topics: Love, Wise, Being Wise

When you are in love you are not wise; or, when you are wise you are not in love.

Topics: Love, Wise, Love You

The friendship that can come to an end, never really began.

Topics: Friendship, Ends

It is more easy to get a favor from fortune than to keep it.

Topics: Favors, Easy, Fortune

Would you be known by everybody? Then you know nobody.

Topics: Fame

Always shun whatever may make you angry.

Topics: Anger, May, Angry

Conversation is the image of the mind. As the man is, so is his talk.

Topics: Men, Mind, He Man

An end to our getting is the only end to our losses.

Topics: Loss, Acquisition, Ends

In excess altercation, truth is lost.

Topics: Excess, Argument, Truth Is

Agreement is made more precious by disagreement.

Topics: Agreement, Made, Disagreement

All delay is helpful, but it does produce wisdom.

Topics: Procrastination, Delay, Doe

We die as often as we lose a friend.

Topics: Friendship, Friends, Feelings

When you confer a benefit on those worthy of it, you confer a favor on all.

Topics: Kindness, Benefits, Favors

That should be considered long which can be decided but once.

Topics: Long, Should

Frugality is misery in disguise.

Topics: Misery, Disguise, Frugality, Thrift

Mighty rivers can easily be leaped at their source.

Topics: Inspirational, Rivers, Source

They who plough the sea do not carry the winds in their hands.

Topics: Sea, Hands, Wind

There is no fortune so good that you can find nothing in it to complain of.

Topics: Complaining, Fortune

Necessity gives the law and does not itself receive it.

Topics: Law, Giving, Doe

Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present.

Topics: Women, Believe, Trying, Humorous Christmas, Merry Christmas Images

Anger would inflict punishment on another; meanwhile, it tortures itself.

Topics: Anger, Punishment, Torture

The best remedy for an injury is to forget it.

Topics: Forget, Injury, Forget It

There is no safety in regaining the favor of an enemy.

Topics: Safety, Enemy, Favors

The end always passes judgement on what has gone before.

Topics: Judgement, Gone, Ends

Shun an angry man for a moment-your enemy forever.

Topics: Men, Forever, Enemy, Angry Man

Each succeeding day is the scholar of that which went before it.

Topics: Experience, Succeed, Scholar

There is no need of spurs when the horse is running away.

Topics: Running, Horse, Needs

Discord gives a relish for concord.

Topics: Giving, Discord, Relish

It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.

Topics: Deception, Deceived

Even when there is no law, there is conscience.

Topics: Law, Conscience

There is no pain in the wound received in the moment of victory.

Topics: Pain, Victory, Moments, No Pain

Confession of our faults is the next thing to innocence.

Topics: Next, Faults, Innocence

It is folly to censure him whom all the world adores.

Topics: Criticism, World, Adore

He can best avoid a snare who knows how to set one.

Topics: Snares

He who conquers his wrath overcomes his greatest enemy.

Topics: Wrath, Enemy, Overcoming

There is no gain so certain as that which arises from sparing what you have.

Topics: Gains, Wealth, Economy

To have the universe bear one company would be a great consolation in death.

Topics: Bears, Would Be, Company

He bids fair to grow wise who has discovered that he is not so.

Topics: Wise, Discovery, Grows

It is an unhappy lot which finds no enemies.

Topics: Enemy, Unhappy, Popularity

Fortune makes many loans, but gives no presents.

Topics: Giving, Loan, Fortune

A disorderly patient makes the physician cruel.

Topics: Medicine, Physicians, Patient

When Providence favors, you can make a safe voyage on a twig.

Topics: Safe, Voyages, Favors

A friend must not be injured, even in jest.

Topics: Friends, Jest

Suspicion cleaves to the dark side of things.

Topics: Dark, Sides, Dark Side

It is easy for men to talk one thing and think another.

Topics: Thinking, Men, Hypocrisy

He gets through too late who goes too fast.

Topics: Haste, Too Late

Successful guilt is the bane of society

Topics: Successful, Guilt, Bane

He who flees from trial confesses his guilt.

Topics: Guilt, Trials

A guilty conscience never feels secure.

Topics: Guilt, Feels, Conscience, Guilty Conscience

A homely woman is one of the most comely of apes.

Topics: Women, Apes, Homely

It is easy to defend the innocent; but who is eloquent enough to defend the guilty?

Topics: Guilt, Innocent, Enough

An evil gain equals a loss.

Topics: Loss, Evil, Gains

Gain cannot be made without some other person's loss.

Topics: Loss, Gains, Made

It is fraud to accept what you cannot repay.

Topics: Accepting, Fraud

It is sometimes expedient to forget what you know.

Topics: Forget, Sometimes, Forgetfulness, Forgetful

It is vain to look for a defense against lightning.

Topics: Looks, Lightning, Defense

Better use medicines at the outset than at the last moment.

Topics: Medicine, Lasts, Use

The evil you do to others you may expect in return.

Topics: Evil, Return, May

He confesses his crime who flees the tribunal.

Topics: Crime

To spare the guilty is to injure the innocent.

Topics: Guilt, Guilty, Innocent

It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity. / No one knows what he can do till he tries.

Topics: Maturity, Long, Excellence

Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.

Topics: Modification, Plans

The wickedness of the few makes the calamity of the many.

Topics: Wickedness, Calamity

Past happiness augments present wretchedness.

Topics: Happiness, Past, Past Happiness, Wretchedness

No good man ever became suddenly rich.

Topics: Men, Good Man, Wealth, No Good Men

The losing side is full of suspicion.

Topics: Sides, Losing, Suspicion

The hope of reward is the solace of labor.

Topics: Rewards, Solace, Labor

He wrongly accuses Neptune, who makes shipwreck a second time.

Topics: Neptune, Shipwreck

Every rumor is believed against the unfortunate.

Topics: Rumor, Unfortunate

Take care not to begin anything of which you may repent.

Topics: Care, May, Repentance

Repentance follows hasty counsels.

Topics: Repentance, Hasty

To become rich is easy. Much harder is to solve the riddles of of the heart.

Topics: Heart, Rich, Easy, Become Rich

If you can walk, you can run.

Topics: Running, Effort, Walks, Jazz And Life, Winners And Winning

Yesterday should be the teacher of today.

Topics: Teacher, Yesterday, Today

Why do we not hear the truth? Because we do not speak it.

Topics: Truth, Speak, Truth Is

He sleeps well who knows not that he sleeps ill.

Topics: Sleep, Sleep Well, Ill

Venus yields to caresses, not to compulsion.

Topics: Yield, Venus, Seduction

Divide the fire, and you will the sooner put it out.

Topics: Fire, Strategy

Give your friend cause to blush, and you will be likely to lose him.

Topics: Giving, Causes, Shame

Excessive severity misses its own aim.

Topics: Missing, Aim, Severity

He who boasts of a favor bestowed, would like it back again.

Topics: Favors, Boast

Tears gratify a savage nature, they do not melt it.

Topics: Tears, Sadism, Savages

The master is a slave when he fears those whom he rules.

Topics: Slave, Masters

It is easier to add to a great reputation than to get it.

Topics: Add, Reputation, Easier

It is well to moor your bark with two anchors.

Topics: Anchors, Two, Moors

The wounds of conscience always leave a scar.

Topics: Scar, Conscience, Wounds

Even when we get what we wish, it is not ours.

Topics: Wish

Hares can gambol over the body of a dead lion.

Topics: Power, Lions, Body, Hares

He who wrongs one threatens many.

Union gives strength to the humble.

Topics: Humble, Giving, Unity

The wretched reflect either too much or too little.

Topics: Too Much, Littles, Unhappiness

We desire nothing so much as what we ought not to have.

Topics: Desire

The circumstances of others seem good to us, while ours seem good to others.

Topics: Circumstances

The highest condition takes rise in the lowest.

Topics: Lowest

There are men steady and wise whose body, words and mind are self-controlled. They are the men of supreme self-control.

Topics: Wise, Men, Self

How happy the life unembarrassed by the cares of business!

Topics: Business, Care

You are in a pitiable condition if you have to conceal what you wish to tell.

Topics: Wish

The further the fall, the greater the hurt.

Topics: Hurt, Fall

One day treats us like a hireling nurse, another like a mother.

Topics: Mother, Nurse, One Day, Like A Mother

What valor cannot win, flattery may.

Topics: Winning, May, Flattery

A great man may commence life in a hovel.

Topics: Men, May, Great Men

Who would recognize the unhappy if grief had no language?

Topics: Grief, Unhappy, Language, Weeping

Money does not sate Avarice, but stimulates it.

Topics: Doe, Avarice

Men will judge your past deeds by your last.

Topics: Men, Past, Judging

Wisdom had rather be buffeted than not listened to.

Topics: Wisdom

The little vices of the great must needs be accounted very great.

Topics: Littles, Vices, Needs

Prosperity has no power over adversity.

Topics: Adversity, Prosperity

A small loan makes a debt; a great one an enemy.

Topics: Enemy, Debt, Loan, Great Ones

The greater a man is in power above others, the more he ought to excel them in virtue. None ought to govern who is not better than the governed.

Topics: Leadership, Men, Virtue

Deliberando saepe perit occasio

Topics: Procrastination

To lose a friend is the greatest of all losses.

Topics: Loss, Losing Friends, Losing Friendship

He whom many fear, has himself many to fear.

Topics: Peace, War

Necessity knows no law except to conquer.

Topics: Law, Conquer

We must master our good fortune, or it will master us.

Topics: Destiny, Masters, Fortune, Good Fortune

Where destiny blunders, human prudence will not avail.

Topics: Destiny, Blunders, Prudence

A good opportunity is seldom presented, and is easily lost.

Topics: Opportunity, Lost, Lost Opportunity, Good Opportunity

An agreeable companion on a journey is as good as a carriage.

Topics: Kindness, Journey, Carriages

Do not turn back when you are just at the goal.

Topics: Inspiration, Goal, Turns

It is a good thing to learn caution from the misfortunes of others.

Topics: Good Things, Misfortunes Of Others, Caution