Horace Quotes | GloryQuotes

Horace Quotes About Life

Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience, which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life.

We rarely find anyone who can say he has lived a happy life, and who, content with his life, can retire from the world like a satisfied guest.

He who postpones the hour of living is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses.

It is courage, courage, courage, that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity.

Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.

The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.

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

Life is largely a matter of expectation.

Horace Quotes About Writing

I never think at all when I write. Nobody can do two things at the same time and do them both well.

Good sense is both the first principal and the parent source of good writing.

He tosses aside his paint-pots and his words a foot and a half long.

Words will not fail when the matter is well considered.

Lawyers are men who hire out their words and anger.

A picture is a poem without words.

More Quotes by Horace

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

Whoever cultivates the golden mean avoids both the poverty of a hovel and the envy of a palace.

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

Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor.

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

It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, as long as he be a man of merit.

Cease to inquire what the future has in store, and take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.

The power of daring anything their fancy suggest, as always been conceded to the painter and the poet.

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

Sad people dislike the happy, and the happy the sad; the quick thinking the sedate, and the careless the busy and industrious.

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

Pale Death beats equally at the poor man's gate and at the palaces of kings.

Money is a handmaiden, if thou knowest how to use it; a mistress, if thou knowest not.

Why do you hasten to remove anything which hurts your eye, while if something affects your soul you postpone the cure until next year?

Let your literary compositions be kept from the public eye for nine years at least.

Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment.

You may drive out nature with a pitchfork, yet she'll be constantly running back.

Always keep your composure. You can't score from the penalty box; and to win, you have to score.

Knowledge without education is but armed injustice.

He is armed without who is innocent within, be this thy screen, and this thy wall of brass.

Refrain from asking what going to happen tomorrow, and everyday that fortune grants you, count as gain.

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.

If a man's fortune does not fit him, it is like the shoe in the story; if too large it trips him up, if too small it pinches him.

Usually the modest person passes for someone reserved, the silent for a sullen person.

The one who cannot restrain their anger will wish undone, what their temper and irritation prompted them to do.

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

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

No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water.

One wanders to the left, another to the right. Both are equally in error, but, are seduced by different delusions.

Clogged with yesterday's excess, the body drags the mind down with it.

This is a fault common to all singers, that among their friends they will never sing when they are asked; unasked, they will never desist.

If you would have me weep, you must first of all feel grief yourself.

Mountains will go into labour, and a silly little mouse will be born.

Who then is free? The wise man who can command himself.

What we learn only through the ears makes less impression upon our minds than what is presented to the trustworthy eye.

It is the false shame of fools to try to conceal wounds that have not healed.

Choose a subject equal to your abilities; think carefully what your shoulders may refuse, and what they are capable of bearing.

A portion of mankind take pride in their vices and pursue their purpose; many more waver between doing what is right and complying with what is wrong.

Why harass with eternal purposes a mind to weak to grasp them?

Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.

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

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

The lofty pine is oftenest shaken by the winds; High towers fall with a heavier crash; And the lightning strikes the highest mountain.

He who would begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin.

It is your business when the wall next door catches fire.

A shoe that is too large is apt to trip one, and when too small, to pinch the feet. So it is with those whose fortune does not suit them.

A good and faithful judge ever prefers the honorable to the expedient.

It is a sweet and seemly thing to die for one's country.

Browse 109 quotes attributed to Horace, listed in the source data as a Roman Poet, organized around themes such as Life, Writing, Wisdom. Use the topic links to explore similar quotes, or browse the full author collection in one place.