Publilius Syrus (fl.first-century BCE) was a Latin writer of mimes and dramatic sketches presenting scenes from daily life. He is best known for his Sententiae, aphorisms that express moral teaching and advocate pragmatism.
Born in Syria, Publilius Syrus was brought to Italy as a slave. Because of his wit and talent, he won the favor of his master, who emancipated and educated him. He was invited by Julius Caesar to perform at the 46 BCE celebrations of the Gallic Triumph. Publilius Syrus challenged other mime-writers to extemporize on a specified scenario and was proclaimed winner by Caesar over his chief rival.
In the first century CE, apothegms of a variety of characters in the mimes were selected and ordered alphabetically, often organized without context. As a result, it is difficult to distinguish original Publilian sententiae from accretions, paraphrases, distortions, and misattributions of other authors’ maxims.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Publilius Syrus
All delay is helpful, but it does produce wisdom.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Procrastination
You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Kindness
Unless you bear with the faults of a friend you betray your own.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship
We desire nothing so much as what we ought not to have.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Desire
No one knows what he can do till he tries.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Doing Your Best, Potential, Possibilities
Unless you make allowances for your friend’s foibles, you betray your own.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship
It is easy to defend the innocent; but who is eloquent enough to defend the guilty?
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Guilt
The next day is never so good as the day before.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Past, The Past, Time
To do two things at once is to do neither.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Focus, Time Management, Effort, Concentration, Focus and Priorities
A hasty judgment is a first step to recantation.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Judgment, Judges, Justice, Judging
He who flees from trial confesses his guilt.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Guilt
The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Eyes
I often regret that I have spoken; never that I have been silent.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Silence, Regret
When you are at sea, keep clear of the land.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Simplicity, Simple Living
He gives twice who gives promptly.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Compassion, Kindness, Service
Take care that no one hates you justly.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Hatred, Hate, Integrity
There is no fortune so good that you can find nothing in it to complain of.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Fortune
To confess a fault freely is the next thing to being innocent of it.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Honesty
Every delay is hateful, but it gives wisdom.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Delay
He who has a mind to do mischief will always find a pretense.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: The Mind, Mind
You need not hang up the ivy branch over the wine that will sell.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Wine
Pardon others often, thyself never.
—Publilius Syrus
No one knows what he can to do until he tries.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Decisions, Ignorance
Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Health, Blessings
Do not despise the bottom rungs in the ascent to greatness.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Greatness, Greatness & Great Things, Beginnings
The prompter the refusal, the less the disappointment.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Belief
Audacity augments courage; hesitation, fear.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Courage, Risk
No man is happy who does not think himself so.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Happiness
Opportunity is lost by deliberation.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Opportunity
We are born princes and the civilizing process makes us frogs.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Growth, Civilization
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