Catullus Quotes

53 Sourced Quotes

Godlike the man who
sits at her side, who
watches and catches
that laughter
which (softly) tears me
to tatters: nothing is
left of me, each time
I see her...

Catullus
It is not fit that men should be compared with gods.

Catullus
Here's my small book out, nice and new, Fresh-bound — whom shall I give it to?

Catullus
It is difficult suddenly to lay aside a long-cherished love. It is difficult; but you should accomplish it, one way or another.

Catullus
What a woman says to a passionate lover
should be written in the wind and the running water.

Catullus
Catullus gives you warmest thanks,
And he the worst of poets ranks;
As much the worst of bards confessed,
As you of advocates the best.
Letter of thanks to cicero

Catullus
Mourn, you powers of Charm and Desire, and all you who are endowed with charm. My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's darling.

Catullus
To whom am I to present my pretty new book, freshly smoothed off with dry pumice stone? To you, Cornelius: for you used to think that my trifles were worth something, long ago.

Catullus
Leave off wishing to deserve any thanks from anyone, or thinking that anyone can ever become grateful.

Catullus
If a man can take any pleasure in recalling the thought of kindnesses done, when he thinks that he has been a true friend.

Catullus
What is given by the gods more desirable than the fortunate hour?

Catullus
Not unknown am I to the goddess [Venus] who mingles with her cares a sweet bitterness.

Catullus
Directly when I see you, nothing is left from the voice in my mouth, but my tongue is paralyzed, in my limbs flows a delicate flame, By their own sound sing my ears, my eyes are being covered by a double night.

Catullus
As a flower grows concealed in an enclosed garden, unknown to the cattle, bruised by no plough, which the breezes caress, the sun makes strong, and the rain brings out; many boys and many girls long for it.

Catullus
If anything has happened to one who ever yearned and wished but never hoped, that is a rare pleasure of the soul.

Catullus
He seems to me to be equal to a god, he, if it may be, seems to surpass the very gods, who sitting opposite you again gazes at you and hears you sweetly laughing.

Catullus
Now he goes along the darksome road, thither whence they say no one returns.

Catullus
Wandering through many countries and over many seas, I come, my brother, to these sorrowful obsequies, to present you with the last guerdon of death, and speak, though in vain, to your silent ashes.

Catullus
And let her not look to find my love, as before; my love, which by her fault has dropped like a flower on the meadow's edge, when it has been touched by the plow passing by.

Catullus
To whom shall I give my nice new little book polished dry with pumice?

Catullus
But what a woman says to her lusting lover it is best to write in wind and swift-flowing water.

Catullus
Give up wanting to deserve any thanks from anyone, or thinking that anybody can be grateful.

Catullus
Poor Catullus, you should cease your folly.

Catullus