Martial Quotes:

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

Topics: Health, Alive, Life Is, Ayurveda, Fitness Motivational

There is no living with thee, nor without thee.

source: - Martial, Andrew Amos (1858). “Martial and the Moderns, by Andrew Amos”, p.117

Topics: Love, Thee, Spleen

Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.

source: - "Epigrams" by Martial, III, 42, c. 80 - 104 AD.

Topics: Caring, World, Flaws, Epigrams, Caregivers

Tomorrow's life is too late. Live today.

source: - 'Epigrammata' bk. 1, no. 15

Topics: Life, Today, Too Late, Tomorrow Is Another Day

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

Topics: Strong, Exercise, Men, Vineyards, Strong Arms

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

Topics: Imagination, Feelings, Intuition

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

source: - Epigrams, X, 23, c. 80 - 104 AD.

Topics: Life, Past, Two

Life is not living, but living in health.

Topics: Fitness, Life Is, Health And Nutrition, Health Nutrition, Healthy Nutrition

There is no glory in outstripping donkeys.

Topics: Glory, Donkey

Wine and women bring misery.

Topics: Wine, Misery, Women And Wine

Your page stands against you and says to you that you are a thief.

Topics: Creative, Pages, Thieves, Creative Process

There is no glory in otustripping donkeys.

Topics: Dignity, Glory, Donkey

My poems are naughty, but my life is pure.

source: - Epigrams, I, 4, c. 80 - 104 AD.

Topics: Life, Naughty, Life Is

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.

Topics: Accomplishment, Age, Praying, Great Accomplishment

A man who lives everywhere lives nowhere.

Topics: Life, Men

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

Topics: Life, Dying, Puff, Accolades

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

Topics: Flaws

You give me nothing during your life, but you promise to provide for me at your death. If you are not a fool, you know what I wish for!

Topics: Giving, Promise, Wish

Those they praise, but they read the others.

Topics: Praise

See, how the liver is swollen larger than a fat goose! In amazement you will exclaim: Where could this possibly grow?

Topics: Eating, Fats, Grows

You praise, in three hundred verses, Sabellus, the baths of Ponticus, who gives such excellent dinners. You wish to dine, Sabellus, not to bathe.

Topics: Giving, Wish, Three, Dine

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

Topics: Men, Good Man, Black

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.

Topics: Life, Thinking, Long, Priam

A good man doubles the length of his existence; to have lived so as to look back with pleasure on our past existence is to live twice.

Topics: Life, Past, Men

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

Topics: Wish, Position

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

Topics: Envy, May

Remember, cobbler, to keep to your leather. [Lat., Memento, in pellicula, cerdo, tenere tuo.]

Topics: Cobblers, Remember, Memento

A vagrant is everywhere at home.

Topics: Home, Vagrants, Walking

To be able to enjoy one's past life is to live twice.

Topics: Past, Able, Life Is

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

Topics: Poverty

You complain, friend Swift, of the length of my epigrams, but you yourself write nothing. Yours are shorter.

Topics: Friendship, Writing, Complaining

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

Topics: Friendship, Book, Made

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

Topics: Needs, Tongue

If fame is to come only after death, I am in no hurry for it.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.225

Topics: Fame, After Death

Fortune gives too much to many, enough to none.

Topics: Giving, Too Much, Wealth

Believing hear, what you deserve to hear: Your birthday as my own to me is dear... But yours gives most; for mine did only lend Me to the world; yours gave to me a friend.

source: - Martial (1907). “Epigrams”

Topics: Birthday, Believe, Giving, Inspirational Birthday

You're obstinate, pliant, merry, morose, all at once. For me there's no living with you, or without you.

Topics: Life, Without You, Morose

Every epigram should resemble a bee; it should have sting, honey, and brevity.

Topics: Should Have, Honey, Bees, Epigrams

For life is only life when blessed with health.

source: - Martial, Andrew AMOS (Professor of Laws, Cambridge.) (1858). “Martial and the Moderns. (A translation into English prose of select epigrams of Martial, arranged under heads, with examples of the modern uses to which they have been applied.) By A. Amos”, p.91

Topics: Fitness, Blessed, Health

Givers of great dinners know few enemies.

Topics: Enemy, Dinner, Giver

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.251

Topics: Life, Wise, Yesterday

Birdes of a feather will flocke togither.

Topics: Feathers

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.489

Topics: Men, Hair, Bald Man

A novice always behaves with propriety.

Topics: Novices, Propriety, Behave

It is not he who forms idols in gold or marble that makes them gods, but he who kneels before them.

Topics: Idols, Gold, Form

Genuine is the sorrow endured without anyone else knowing about it.

Topics: Knowing, Sorrow, Genuine

The virtuous man is never a novice in worldly things.

Topics: Men, Novices, Virtuous, Worldly Things, Worldly

Be merry if you are wise.

source: - "Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations" by Jehiel Keeler Hoyt, p. 511-12, Epigrams, II. 41. 1, 1922.

Topics: Wise, Merry, Ifs

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

source: - Martial (1907). “The Epigrams of Martial”

Topics: Riches, Poverty, Poor

He writes nothing whose writings are not read.

Topics: Education, Reading, Writing

The face that cannot smile is never fair.

Topics: Faces, Fairs

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

Topics: Past, Looks, Able

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

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, Delphi Classics

Topics: Joy, Aviation, Flight

This I ask, is it not madness to kill thyself in order to escape death? [Lat., Hic rogo non furor est ne moriare mori?]

Topics: Death, Order, Madness

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

Topics: Fame, After Death, Gloria

While you cannot resolve what you are, at last you may be nothing.

source: - "Epigrams".

Topics: Identity, Lasts, Resolve

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

Topics: Adversity, Brave, Easy

Hidden evils are most dreaded.

Topics: Evil

There is nothing more revolting than an old busybody.

Topics: Busybodies

Generosity during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds from genuine liberality, and benevolence; the other from pride or fear, or from the fact that you cannot take your money with you to the other world.

Topics: Pride, Other Worlds, Generosity, Liberality

He who weighs his burdens, can bear them.

Topics: Bears, Fortitude, Burden

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.

Topics: Love, Hands, Missing

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

Topics: Success, Butterfly, Bulls

Can the fish love the fisherman? [Lat., Piscatorem piscis amare potest?]

Topics: Fisherman, Fishes

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

Topics: Believe, Men, Unhappiness

Whoever makes great presents, expects great presents in return.

source: - "Epigrams". V. 59. 3, c. 80-104 AD.

Topics: Return

Spare the person but lash the vice.

Topics: Vices, Lashes, Persons

You ask what a nice girl will do? She won't give an inch, but she won't say no.

source: - "Epigrams". Book by Martial, IV, 71, c. 80 - 104 AD.

Topics: Girl, Nice, Giving, Nice Girl

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.297

Topics: Blessing, Ungrateful, Doe

Gifts are like fish-hooks; for who is not aware that the greedy char is deceived by the fly which he swallows?

Topics: Hook, Greedy, Deceived

Gifts are like hooks.

source: - Martial, Garry Wills (2008). “Martial's Epigrams: A Selection”, p.80, CUP Archive

Topics: Hook

To the ashes of the dead glory comes too late.

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, p.25, Delphi Classics

Topics: Ashes, Too Late, Reputation

She grieves sincerely who grieves unseen.

Topics: Grief, Grieving, Unseen

You admire, Vacerra, only the poets of old and praise only those who are dead. Pardon me, I beseech you, Vacerra, if I think death too high a price to pay for your praise.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.384

Topics: Thinking, Pay, Praise, Pardon Me

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

source: - "Martial epigrams". Book by Martial, X, 47, 1897.

Topics: Fear, Long

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.

Topics: Husband, Taken, Wife

Joys do not stay, but take wing and fly away.

source: - "Epigrams". Book I. 16. 8, c. 80-104 AD.

Topics: Wings, Joy, Fly Away

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

source: - "Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations" by Jehiel Keeler Hoyt, p. 125-27, Epigrams, I. 17. 1, 1922.

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

Topics: Laughing, Ill

Whoever is not too wise is wise. [Lat., Quisquis plus justo non sapit, ille sapit.]

Topics: Wise, Wisdom, Plus

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.

Topics: Winter, Doors, Giving, Suitors

From no place can you exclude the fates. [Lat., Nullo fata loco possis excludere.]

Topics: Fate

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.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.580

Topics: Granted, Borrowing, Refuse

I do not hate the man, but his vices.

Topics: Hate, Men, Hatred

Make it a point not to be over-fascinating.

Topics: Fascinating

You should not fear, nor yet should you wish for your last day.

Topics: Death, Wish, Lasts

While an ant was wandering under the shade of the tree of Phaeton, a drop of amber enveloped the tiny insect; thus she, who in life was disregarded, became precious by death.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.268

Topics: Tree, Amber, Shade, Disregarded

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.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.55

Topics: Lying, Mean, Two

What's a wretched man? A man whom no man pleases.

Topics: Men, Please, Wretched

Too late is tomorrow's life; live for today.

Topics: Live For Today, Too Late, Tomorrow

A good man enlarges the term of his own existence.

Topics: Men, Good Man, Goodness

Fortune gives many too much, but none enough.

Topics: Giving, Too Much, Enough

Who gives to friends so much from Fate secures, That is the only wealth for ever yours. [Lat., Extra fortunam est, quidquid donatur amicis; Quas dederis, selas semper habebis opes.]

Topics: Fate, Giving, Wealth

If you have any shame, forbear to pluck the beard of a dead lion.

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, Delphi Classics

Topics: Respect, Lions, Beard

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

Topics: Passion, Lawyer, Eloquence

He truly sorrows who sorrows unseen.

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, p.33, Delphi Classics

Topics: Sorrow, Unseen

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

Topics: Enjoy

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?

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.400

Topics: Husband, Chloe, Shameless, Inscriptions, Tombs

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.

Topics: Sarcastic, Home, Sleep, Hairdresser

It is folly to waste labour about trifles.

Topics: Waste, Trifles, Folly

Work divided is in that manner shortened.

source: - "Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations" by Jehiel Keeler Hoyt, p. 907-11, Epigrams, Book IV. 83. 8, 1922.

Topics: Work, Divided

The world is blessed most by men who do things, and not by those who merely talk about them. -James Oliver 'Tomorrow I will live,' the fool does say; tomorrow itself is late; the wise live yesterday.

Topics: Wise, Blessed, Men

When your crowd of attendants so loudly applaud you, Pomponius, it is not you, but your banquet, that is eloquent.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.283

Topics: Crowds, Banquets, Eloquent

I do not love thee, Sabidius, nor can I say why; I can only say this, "I do not love thee."

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.39

Topics: Life, Thee, I Can

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

Topics: Sarcastic, Children, Heart, Implants

A fisherman's walk: three steps and overboard.

Topics: Three, Steps, Overboard

I wont let a wife lead me to the altar. [I will not have a wife that shall be my master.]

Topics: Wife, Masters, Leading Me

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.339

Topics: Book, Want, Sells

Glory comes too late when we are nought but ashes.

Topics: Ashes, Too Late, Glory

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

Topics: Men, Proud, Malice

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.630

Topics: Hands, Done, Tongue, Outrun

Tis easy to write epigrams nicely, but to write a book is hard.

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, Delphi Classics

Topics: Book, Writing, Easy

You'll get no laurel crown for outrunning a burrow.

Topics: Crowns, Laurels

No amount of misfortune will satisfy the man who is not satisfied with reading a hundred epigrams.

Topics: Reading, Men, He Man, Epigrams

What quick wit is found in sudden straits!

Topics: Quick Wit, Found, Wit

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

Topics: Pain, Men, Good Man

I have not hated the man, but his faults.

Topics: Men, Faults, He Man

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

Topics: Wealth, Rich, Given

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

Topics: Funny, Money, Want

Laugh, if thou art wise.

Topics: Wise, Art, Laughing

Be cheerful, if you are wise.

Topics: Wise, Cheerful, Ifs

A cook should double one sense have: for he Should taster for himself and master be.

source: - Martial, Henry George Bohn (1914). “The Epigrams of Martial: Translated Into English Prose. Each Accompanied by One Or More Verse Translations, from the Works of English Poets, and Various Other Sources”

Topics: Should, Masters, Cooks, Cookery

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

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, Delphi Classics

Topics: Food, Cooking, Dinner, Sumptuous

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

source: - "Epigrams" by Martial, II. 32. 7, c. 80-104 AD.

Topics: Freedom, Wish, Masters

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.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.91

Topics: Kissing, Half, May

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.

Topics: Female, Ugly, Handsome, Female Friends

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

source: - Martial (1904). “The Epigrams of Martial”

Topics: Bird, Delicacy, Opinion

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

Topics: Life, Inspirational Life, Alive

The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved, in a tear of the sisters of Phaeton, so that it seems enshrined in its own nectar. It has obtained a worthy reward for its great toils; we may suppose that the bee itself would have desired such a death.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.192

Topics: Shining, Tears, Toil, Nectar

No hero to me is the man who, by easy shedding of his blood, purchases fame: my hero is he who, without death, can win praise.

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, p.8, Delphi Classics

Topics: Hero, Winning, Men

Be content to be what you are, and prefer nothing to it, and do not fear or wish for your last day.

Topics: Individuality, Wish, Lasts

Every bird that upwards swings Bears the Cross upon its wings.

Topics: Swings, Bird, Bears

He who prefers to give Linus the half of what he wishes to borrow, rather than to lend him the whole, prefers to lose only the half.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.63

Topics: Giving, Wish, Half

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

Topics: Past, Joy, Taste

Our days pass by, and are scored against us.

It is not, believe me, the act of a wise man to say, "I will live." To-morrow's life is too late; live to-day.

source: - "Epigrams" (c. 80-104 AD), I. 16. 11 in "Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations" by Jehiel Keeler Hoyt, (pp. 440-455), 1922.

Topics: Life, Wise, Believe

If your slave commits a fault, do not smash his teeth with your fists; give him some of the (hard) biscuit which famous Rhodes has sent you.

source: - Martial (1907). “The Epigrams of Martial”

Topics: Food, Giving, Teeth, Cookery

No man is quick enough to enjoy life.

source: - Martial (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Martial (Illustrated)”, Delphi Classics

Topics: Life, Men, Inspire

Non est, crede mihi, sapientis dicere 'Vivam': Sera nimis vita est crastina: vive hodie. Believe me, wise men don't say 'I shall live to do that', tomorrow's life is too late; live today. Variant translation: Tomorrow will I live, the fool does say; Today itself's too late; the wise lived yesterday.

source: - 'Epigrammata' bk. 1, no. 15

Topics: Wise, Time, Believe

I know all that better than my own name.

source: - "Epigrams". IV. 37. 7 (c. 80-104 AD). Quote reported in "Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations", p. 419-423, 1922.

Topics: Knowledge, Names, My Own

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.

Topics: Wine, Thinking, Leaving

Such are thou and I: but what I am thou canst not be; what thou art any one of the multitude may be.

source: - "Epigrams". V. 13. 9, c. 80-104 AD.

Topics: Art, May, Multitudes

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.621

Topics: Nature, Colour, Seems

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

Topics: Past, Former Life, Enjoy

Some things are good, some middling, more bad.

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.

Topics: Two, Long, Anxiety

That which prevents disagreeable flies from feeding on your repast, was once the proud tail of a splendid bird.

source: - Martial, Henry George Bohn (1914). “The Epigrams of Martial: Translated Into English Prose. Each Accompanied by One Or More Verse Translations, from the Works of English Poets, and Various Other Sources”

Topics: Bird, Tails, Proud

I do not like the man who squanders life for fame; give me the man who living makes a name. [Lat., Nolo virum facili redimit qui sanquine famam; Hunc volo laudari qui sine morte potest.]

Topics: Men, Names, Giving

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.468

Topics: Men, Wife, Fields

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.

Topics: Kissing, Sin

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

Topics: Sweet, Swans, Singers

It is easy in adversity to despise death; he has real fortitude who dares to live and be wretched.

Topics: Real, Adversity, Fortitude

I seem to you cruel and too much addicted to gluttony, when I beat my cook for sending up a bad dinner. If that appears to you too trifling a cause, say for what cause you would have a cook flogged.

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.359

Topics: Dinner, Too Much, Causes, Trifling, Cookery

I am a shell-fish just come from being saturated with the waters of the Lucrine lake, near Baiae; but now I luxuriously thrust for noble pickle.

Topics: Lakes, Water, Noble

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?

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.362

Topics: Book, Writing, Wish

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.

Topics: Art, Past, Being Thankful

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

source: - Martial (1871). “The Epigrams of Martial”, p.598

Topics: Eating, Dishes, Stills

You crystal break, for fear of breaking it: Careless and careful hands like faults commit.

Topics: Hands, Crystals, Faults

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

Topics: Pain, Joy, Fewer

One genius has made many clever artists.

Topics: Clever, Artist, Genius