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
He who lives in solitude may make his own laws.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Solitude
No man is happy who does not think himself so.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Happiness
On the pain involved in most change: There is no fruit that is not bitter before it is ripe.
—Publilius Syrus
Life itself is short, but lasts longer than misfortunes.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Fortune, Misfortunes
Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back.
—Publilius Syrus
A man’s own character is the arbiter of his fortune.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Success, Success & Failure
Trust, like the soul, never returns, once it is gone.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Trust
Friendship neither finds or makes equals.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship
The next day is never so good as the day before.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Past, Time, The Past
What valor cannot win, flattery may.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Flattery
Opportunity is lost by deliberation.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Opportunity
Unless you make allowances for your friend’s foibles, you betray your own.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship
Confidence, like the soul, never returns whence it has once departed
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Confidence
He is foolish to blame the sea who shipwrecked twice.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Failures, Mistakes
Pain will force even the truthful to speak falsely
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Pain
Anyone can steer the ship when the sea is calm.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
When you are at sea, keep clear of the land.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Simple Living, Simplicity
A good reputation is more valuable than money.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Reputation
A wise man never refuses anything to necessity.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Acceptance, Necessity
God looks at clean hands, not full ones.
—Publilius Syrus
Whom Fortune wishes to destroy she first makes mad.
—Publilius Syrus
No one ever lost his honor, except he who had it not.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Honor
We die as often as we lose a friend.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship
To refuse graciously is to confer a favor.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Kindness
Pardon others often, thyself never.
—Publilius Syrus
You should make a woman angry if you wish her to love
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Love
The opportunity is often lost by deliberating.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Opportunity, Decisions, Secrets of Success
We praise old times, but show no curiosity about modern events.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Leadership, Curiosity, Leaders
Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Value
Each succeeding day is the scholar of that which went before it.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Experience
When you confer a benefit on those worthy of it, you confer a favor on all.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Kindness
Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.
—Publilius Syrus
If you wish to reach the highest, begin at the lowest.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Ambition, One Step at a Time, Defects
Take care that no one hates you justly.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Hate, Integrity, Hatred
You should hammer your iron when it is glowing hot.
—Publilius Syrus
Wine has drowned more than the sea.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Wine
It is only the ignorant who despise education.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Education
One ungrateful person, does an injury to all needy people.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Gratitude
Unless you bear with the faults of a friend you betray your own.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship
You need not hang up the ivy branch over the wine that will sell.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Wine
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