Horace

Horace

32 quotes

Known primarily as a Roman lyric poet, Horace also happens to be one of the most quotable figures in our collection. The range of their thinking — from Death to Great — speaks to an intellectual restlessness that shows in every quote. Our collection holds 38 quotes from Horace, each offering a different angle on Death, Great, Anger, Wisdom, and Truth. As Horace put it: "The one who cannot restrain their anger will wish undone, what their temper and irritation prompted them to do."

“Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone.”

— Horace

Alone

All Quotes by Horace

“Lawyers are men who hire out their words and anger.”

— Horace

Anger

“To have a great man for a friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it those who have, fear it.”

— Horace

Fear

“No poems can please for long or live that are written by water drinkers.”

— Horace

Poetry

“Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even.”

— Horace

Life

“Undeservedly you will atone for the sins of your fathers.”

— Horace

Dad

“The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor.”

— Horace

Success

“Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the road Which to discover we must travel too.”

— Horace

Travel

“He has not lived badly whose birth and death has been unnoticed by the world.”

— Horace

Death

“Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow.”

— Horace

Trust

“Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone.”

— Horace

Alone

“You traverse the world in search of happiness, which is within the reach of every man. A contented mind confers it on all.”

— Horace

Happiness

“A heart well prepared for adversity in bad times hopes, and in good times fears for a change in fortune.”

— Horace

Change

“It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say when one has nothing to say, however, and none the less writes a whole book and makes truth into a liar - that I call an achievement.”

— Horace

Art

“We are free to yield to truth.”

— Horace

Truth

“Life is largely a matter of expectation.”

— Horace

Life

“Knowledge without education is but armed injustice.”

— Horace

Education

“Pale death, with impartial step, knocks at the hut of the poor and the towers of kings.”

— Horace

Death

“Great effort is required to arrest decay and restore vigor. One must exercise proper deliberation, plan carefully before making a move, and be alert in guarding against relapse following a renaissance.”

— Horace

Great

“A picture is a poem without words.”

— Horace

Art

“Anger is a short madness.”

— Horace

Anger