Horace Quotes

Sapere aude

Non satis est puris versum perscribere verbis.

Et quae
Desperat tractata nitescere posse relinquit.

Often must you turn your pencil to erase, if you hope to write something worth a second reading.

Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio.

Whatever advice you give, be brief.

So, if you don't summon a book and a light before dawn,
If you don't set your mind on honest aims and pursuits,
On waking, you'll be tortured by envy or lust.
Why so quick to remove a speck from your eye, when
If it's your mind, you put off the cure till next year?
Who's started has half finished: dare to be wise: begin!

Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet.

Expel nature with a pitchfork, but every time it will return as conqueress to stealthily break through bilious aversions.

... Siquid tamen olim scripseris, in Maeci descendat iudicis auris et patris et nostras, nonumque prematur in annum membranis intus positis; delere licebit quod non edideris; nescit uox missa reuerti.

Subdue your passion or it will subdue you.

my observations are for my own improvement (137–8); and my writings are just an amusing pastime (138–9).

Auream quisquis mediocritatem diligit, tutus caret obsoleti sordibus tecti, caret invidenda sobrius aula.

Nec satis apparet, cur versus factitet.

Natales grate numeras?

(Do you count your birthdays with gratitude?)