Titus Maccius Plautus
Sometime around 254 BC in the tiny mountain village of Sarsina high in the Apennines of Umbria, ancient Rome's best-known playwright was born, Titus Maccius Plautus.
Born "Plautus" or "splay-foot", he apparently managed to escape his backwoods village at a young age, perhaps by joining one of the itinerant theatrical troupes which commonly travelled from village to village performing short boisterous farces.
Plautus was of course King of the pithy quote, and despite being written over 2000 years ago many of them are as relevant today as they probably were then.
A contented mind is the best source for trouble.
A mouse never entrusts his life to only one hole.
A word to the wise is enough.
Bad conduct soils the finest ornament more than filth.
Conquered, we conquer.
Courage easily finds its own eloquence.
Courage in danger is half the battle.
Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the affairs of life.
Friendship is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
A mouse never entrusts his life to only one hole.
A word to the wise is enough.
Bad conduct soils the finest ornament more than filth.
Conquered, we conquer.
Courage easily finds its own eloquence.
Courage in danger is half the battle.
Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the affairs of life.
Friendship is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
Good courage in a bad affair is half of the evil overcome.
Good merchandise, even hidden, soon finds buyers.
He who seeks for gain, must be at some expense.
He whom the gods favour dies in youth.
He whom the gods love dies young, while he is in health, has his senses and his judgments sound.
How great in number are the little minded men.
I am always afraid of your 'something shall be done'.
I much prefer a compliment, even if insincere, to sincere criticism.
I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within.
If you are content, you have enough to live comfortably.
If you have overcome your inclination and not been overcome by it, you have reason to rejoice.
In everything the middle course is best: all things in excess bring trouble to men.
It is well for one to know more than he says.
It well becomes a young man to be modest.
Keep what you have; the known evil is best.
Laws are subordinate to custom.
Let deeds match words.
Man is no man, but a wolf.
Man is not man, but a wolf to those he does not know.
No blessing lasts forever.
No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days.
No man is wise enough by himself.
Not by age but by capacity is wisdom acquired.
Not every age is fit for childish sports.
Nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt.
One eye witness is better than ten hear sayers.
Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.
Persevere in virtue and diligence.
Man is not man, but a wolf to those he does not know.
No blessing lasts forever.
No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days.
No man is wise enough by himself.
Not by age but by capacity is wisdom acquired.
Not every age is fit for childish sports.
Nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt.
One eye witness is better than ten hear sayers.
Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.
Persevere in virtue and diligence.
Property is unstable, and youth perishes in a moment. Life itself is held in the grinning fangs of Death, Yet men delay to obtain release from the world. Alas, the conduct of mankind is surprising.
The evil that we know is best.
The greatest talents often lie buried out of sight.
The poor man who enters into a partnership with one who is rich makes a risky venture.
Things we do not expect happen more frequently than we wish.
The evil that we know is best.
The greatest talents often lie buried out of sight.
The poor man who enters into a partnership with one who is rich makes a risky venture.
Things we do not expect happen more frequently than we wish.
Things which you do not hope happen more frequently than things which you do hope.
This is the great fault of wine; it first trips up the feet: it is a cunning wrestler.
Where there are friends there is wealth.
Wisdom is not attained by years, but by ability.
You must spend money to make money.This is the great fault of wine; it first trips up the feet: it is a cunning wrestler.
Where there are friends there is wealth.
Wisdom is not attained by years, but by ability.
Your wealth is where your friends are.
