Ovid Quotes

There is a god within us.
It is when he stirs us that our bosom warms ; it is
his impulse that sows the seeds of inspiration.

Intret amicitiae nomine tectus amor.

It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe that there are.

When all the other animals, downcast looked upon the earth, he [Prometheus] gave a face raised on high to man, and commanded him to see the sky and raise his high eyes to the stars.

My hopes are not always realized, but I always hope.

Et ignotas animum dimittit in artes.

Thence are we a hardy generation, and able to endure fatigue, and we give proofs from what original we are sprung.

Philemon counselled with old Baucis first;
and then discovered to the listening Gods
their hearts' desire, ‘We pray you let us have
the care of your new temple; and since we
have passed so many years in harmony,
let us depart this life together — Let
the same hour take us both — I would not see
the tomb of my dear wife; and let me not
be destined to be buried by her hands!’
At once their wishes were fulfilled. So long
as life was granted they were known to be
the temple's trusted keepers, and when age
had enervated them with many years,
as they were standing, by some chance, before
the sacred steps, and were relating all
these things as they had happened, Baucis saw
Philemon, her old husband, and he, too,
saw Baucis, as their bodies put forth leaves;
and while the tops of trees grew over them,
above their faces, — they spoke each to each;
as long as they could speak they said, ‘Farewell,
farewell, my own’ — and while they said farewell;
new leaves and branches covered both at once.

Iamque opus exegi, quod nec Iovis ira nec ignes
nec poterint ferrum nec edax abolere vetustas.
cum volet, illa dies, quae nil nisi corporis huius
ius habet, incerti spatium mihi finiat aevi:
parte tamen meliore mei super alta perennis
astra ferar, nomenque erit indelibile nostrum,
quaque patet domitis Romana potentia terris,
ore legar populi, perque omnia saecula fama,
siquid haben veri vatum praesagia, vivam.

Greatly he failed, but he had greatly dared.

Heu quantum scelus est in viscera viscera condi
ingestoque avidum pinguescere corpore corpus
alteriusque animans animantis vivere leto!
Scilicet in tantis opibus, quas, optima matrum,
terra parit, nil te nisi tristia mandere saevo
vulnera dente iuvat ritusque referre Cyclopum,
nec, nisi perdideris alium, placare voracis
et male morati poteris ieiunia ventris!

He gazes at her lips, and knows that gazing Is not enough. He marvels at her fingers, Her hands, her wrists, her arms, bare to the shoulder, And what he does not see he thinks is better. But still she flees him, swifter than the wind,

I grabbed a pile of dust, and holding it up, foolishly asked for as many birthdays as the grains of dust, I forgot to ask that they be years of youth.

Today is truly the Golden Age: gold buys hornor, gold procures love

Forma bonum fragile est.