Martial Quotes

68 Sourced Quotes

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

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

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

Martial
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.

Martial
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.

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

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

Martial
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.

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

Martial
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.

Martial
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.

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

Martial
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.

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

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

Martial
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.

Martial
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.

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

Martial
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.

Martial
Thais has black, Laecania snowy teeth. What is the reason? One has those she purchased, the other her own.

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

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

Martial
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?

Martial
Thais' teeth are black, Laecania's snow-white. The reason? The one has those she bought, the other her own.

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

Martial
Fair Concord, ever abide by their couch, and to so well-matched a pair may Venus ever be propitious.

Martial
Let a defect, which is possibly but small, appear undisguised.
A fault concealed is presumed to be great.

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

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

Martial
Give me a well-fed slave: a wife that's not too clever:
Sound sleep at night, and days from quarrels free.

Martial