Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Publilius Syrus (Syrian-born Latin Writer)

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

It is a bad plan that admits of no modification.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Planning

Never promise more than you can perform.
Publilius Syrus

The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Pain

Society in shipwreck is comfort to all.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Society

He who flees from trial confesses his guilt.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Guilt

Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship, Prosperity, Success & Failure, Adversity

Friendship neither finds or makes equals.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Friendship

It is bad advice that cannot be changed.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Advice

Better to be ignorant of a matter than half know it.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Ignorance

At daybreak, when loath to rise, have this thought in thy mind: I am rising for a man’s work.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Work

To confess a fault freely is the next thing to being innocent of it.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Honesty

Every vice has its excuse ready.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Virtue, Vice, Excuses

To do two things at once is to do neither.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Concentration, Focus and Priorities, Focus, Time Management, Effort

An angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Anger

It is well to learn caution by the misfortunes of others.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Caution

The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Pleasure

Each day should be passed as though it were our last.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Time Management

Practice is the best of all instructors.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Practice

You cannot put the same shoe on every foot.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Rightness, Right

If you share your friend’s crime, you make it your own.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Proverbs, Crime

It is vain to look for a defense against lightning.
Publilius Syrus

All delay is helpful, but it does produce wisdom.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Procrastination

From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Failures, Mistakes, Role models, Wisdom

One is not exposed to danger who, even when in safety is always on their guard.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Danger

They live ill who expect to live always.
Publilius Syrus

Audacity augments courage; hesitation, fear.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Risk, Courage

How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Unhappiness, Happiness, One liners, Forgiveness, Guilt

The loss which is unknown is no loss at all.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Loss

There are some remedies worse than the disease.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Medicine

In a heated argument we are apt to lose sight of the truth.
Publilius Syrus
Topics: Arguments

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