Juvenal - Satires

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An inveterate and incurable itch for writing besets many, and grows old in their sick hearts.

Juvenal
Our censor's rule condemns the doves while acquitting the ravens.

Juvenal
The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things —bread and circuses!

Juvenal
The misfortunes of poverty carry with them nothing harder to bear than that it makes men ridiculous.

Juvenal
Off you go, madman, and hurry across the horrible Alps, duly to delight schoolboys and become a subject for practising speech-making.
On Hannibal

Juvenal
A child is owed the greatest respect; if you ever have something disgraceful in mind, don't ignore your son's tender years.

Juvenal
Weigh Hannibal: how many pounds will you find in that great general?

Juvenal
Rarely do we meet in one combined, a beauteous body and a virtuous mind.

Juvenal
For revenge is always the delight of a mean spirit, of a weak and petty mind! You may immediately draw proof of this—that no one rejoices more in revenge than a woman.

Juvenal
This is the first of punishments, that no guilty man is acquitted if judged by himself.

Juvenal
The Syrian Orontes has now for long been pouring into the Tiber, with its own language and ways of behaving.

Juvenal
Ask for a valiant heart which has banished the fear of death, which looks upon the length of days as one of the least of nature's gifts; which is able to suffer every kind of hardship, is proof against anger, craves for nothing, and reckons the trials and gruelling labours of Hercules as more desirable blessings than the amorous ease and the banquets and cushions of Sardanapallus. The things that I recommend you can grant to yourself.

Juvenal
There's hardly a case that comes to court that is not inspired by a woman.

Juvenal
Grammarian, rhetorician, geometrician, painter, trainer, soothsayer, rope-dancer, physician, magician—he knows everything. Tell the hungry little Greek to go to heaven; he'll go.

Juvenal
All wish to possess knowledge, but no one is willing to pay the price.

Juvenal
Who would put up with the Gracchi complaining about subversion?

Juvenal
Man, wretched man, whene'er he stoops to sin, Feels, with the act, a strong remorse within.

Juvenal
Trust me no tortures which the poets feign
Can match the fierce unutterable pain
He feels, who night and day devoid of rest
Carries his own accuser in his breast.

Juvenal
Only two things does he [the modern citizen] anxiously wish for—bread and circuses.

Juvenal
Fond man! though all the heroes of your line Bedeck your halls, and round your galleries shine In proud display; yet take this truth from me-- Virtue alone is true nobility!

Juvenal
They do not easily rise out of obscurity whose talents straitened circumstances obstruct at home.

Juvenal
The sweetest pleasures soonest cloy, And its best flavour temperance gives to joy.

Juvenal
But grant the wrath of Heaven be great, 'tis slow.
[Lat., Ut sit magna tamen certe lenta ira deorum est.]

Juvenal
O Poverty, thy thousand ills combined Sink not so deep into the generous mind, As the contempt and laughter of mankind.

Juvenal
If nature refuses, indignation will produce verses.

Juvenal