Horace was a celebrated Roman poet, philosopher, and satirist, born in 65 BCE. His works have influenced Western literature for centuries, with his poetry remaining popular among scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike. He was renowned for his insightful and witty observations on life, which he expressed through his famous quotes. Horace quotes cover a wide range of themes, from friendship and love to wisdom and self-improvement.
Horace’s profound insights, poetic language, and timeless wisdom make his quotes an invaluable source of inspiration for anyone seeking to live a fulfilling life. In this blog post, we will explore some of Horace’s most famous quotes and examine their relevance to our lives today.
65 Horace Quotes
- “Rule your mind or it will rule you.”
2. “Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.”
3. “Who has self-confidence will lead the rest.”
4. “Don’t waste the opportunity.”
5. “Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts”
6. “Whatever advice you give, be brief.”
7. “Remember when life’s path is steep to keep your mind even.”
8. “Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.”
9. “He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin!”
10. “He who postpones the hour of living rightly is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses.”
Inspiring Wisdom: Uncovering the Best Horace Quotes of All Time
11. “Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.”
13. “Subdue your passion or it will subdue you.”
14. “He wants to pretend he knows what he and I don’t.”
15. “Think to yourself that every day is your last; the hour to which you do not look forward will come as a welcome surprise.”
16. “Get money first; virtue comes after.”
17. “Undeservedly you will atone for the sins of your fathers.”
18. “He will always be a slave who does not know how to live upon a little.”
19. “Good sense is both the first principal and the parent source of good writing.”
20. “We rarely find anyone who can say he has lived a happy life, and who, content with his life, can retire from the world like a satisfied guest.”
Horace Quotes of Wisdom: Lessons for Living a Fulfilling Life
21. “Either stick to tradition or see that your inventions be consistent.”
22. “The pleasure hides the austerity of the toil.”
23. “Without love and laughter there is no joy; live amid love and laughter.”
24. “Anger is a brief madness.”
25. “Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow.”
26. “The more a man denies himself, the more he shall obtain from God.”
27. “Let him live under the open sky, and dangerously.”
28. “Humour is often stronger and more effective than sharpness in cutting knotty issues.”
29. “Capture your reader, let him not depart, from dull beginnings that refuse to start”
30. “He who speaks ill of an absent friend, or fails to take his part if attacked by another, that man is a scoundrel.”
Horace’s Inspirational Quotes on Life and Love
31. “I shall not wholly die and a great part of me will escape the grave”
32. “It is good to labor; it is also good to rest from labor.”
33. “No one is content with his own lot.”
34. “Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone”
35. “Life is largely a matter of expectation.”
36. “In love there are two evils: war and peace.”
37. “Mistakes are their own instructors.”
38. “If you wish people to weep, you must weep first.”
39. “If nothing is delightful without love and jokes, then live in love and jokes.”
40. “How slight and insignificant is the thing which casts down or restores a mind greedy for praise.”
Short Horace Quotes
41. “A word once let out of the cage cannot be whistled back again.”
42. “In peace, as a wise man, he should make suitable preparation for war.”
43. “Fortune makes a fool of those she favors too much.”
44. “Remember to preserve a calm soul amid difficulties.”
45. “Help a man against his will and you do the same as murder him.”
46. “What you have not published, you can destroy. The word once sent forth can never be recalled.”
47. “The more a man denies himself, the more shall he obtain from God.”
48. “Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.”
49. “He appears mad indeed but to a few because the majority is infected with the same disease.”
50. “He who feared that he would not succeed sat still.”
51. “What we read with pleasure we read again with pleasure.”
52. “Remember to be calm in adversity.”
53. “If matters go badly now, they will not always be so.”
54. “Be modest in speech, but excel in action.”
55. “Fortune makes a fool of those she favors too much.”
Motivational Horace Quotes
56. “Make money, money by fair means if you can, if not, but any means money. ”
57. “It is not enough for poems to be beautiful; they must be affecting, and must lead the heart of the hearer as they will.”
58. “The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor.”
59. “A good scare is worth more than good advice.”
60. “Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you.”
61. “Adversity reveals the genius of a general; good fortune conceals it.”
62. “Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience, which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life.”
63. “He who is greedy is always in want.”
64. “Who then is free? The wise man who can govern himself.”
65. “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.”
Horace’s quotes have stood the test of time and continue to inspire us to this day. Whether it’s his wisdom on love, friendship, or the pursuit of happiness, Horace’s words offer us a roadmap for living a fulfilling life.
Through his poetic insights, he encourages us to strive for excellence, to embrace change, and to appreciate the beauty in the world around us. As we reflect on Horace’s quotes, we are reminded of the power of words and the impact they can have on our lives. May his words continue to inspire us and guide us on our journey through life.
Additional Read: Horace | Poetry Foundation