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
No one reaches a high position without daring.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Success, Bravery, Risk, Courage, Virtues
If you share your friend’s crime, you make it your own.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Proverbs, Crime
Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: The Future, Silence
No man is happy unless he believes he is.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Happiness
Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.
—Publilius Syrus
An unruly patient makes a harsh physician.
—Publilius Syrus
Never promise more than you can perform.
—Publilius Syrus
You should hammer your iron when it is glowing hot.
—Publilius Syrus
The prompter the refusal, the less the disappointment.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Belief
Unless you bear with the faults of a friend you betray your own.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship
God looks at clean hands, not full ones.
—Publilius Syrus
It is more easy to get a favor from fortune than to keep it.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Luck
A good reputation is more valuable than money.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Reputation
No man is happy who does not think himself so.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Happiness
An angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Anger
I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Conversation, Speech
A cock has great influence on his own dunghill.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Power
How unhappy are they who cannot forgive themselves”. Whether dealing with others or with ourselves, it usually helps to err on the side of grace.
—Publilius Syrus
On the pain involved in most change: There is no fruit that is not bitter before it is ripe.
—Publilius Syrus
The madman thinks the rest of the world crazy.
—Publilius Syrus
Admonish your friends privately, but praise them openly.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Praise, One liners
It matters not how long you live, but how well.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Life
Pain of mind is worse than pain of body.
—Publilius Syrus
They live ill who expect to live always.
—Publilius Syrus
A rolling stone can gather no moss.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Change
Powerful indeed is the empire of habit.
—Publilius Syrus
When we speak evil of others, we generally condemn ourselves.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Criticism
It is well to learn caution by the misfortunes of others.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Caution
It is vain to look for a defense against lightning.
—Publilius Syrus
Whom Fortune wishes to destroy she first makes mad.
—Publilius Syrus
Necessity knows no law except to conquer.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Necessity
Opportunity is lost by deliberation.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Opportunity
Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back.
—Publilius Syrus
When Fortune flatters, she does it to betray.
—Publilius Syrus
He gives twice who gives promptly.
—Publilius Syrus
Topics: Kindness, Compassion, Service
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