Horace May Quotations

Choose a subject equal to your abilities; think carefully what your shoulders may refuse, and what they are capable of bearing.

You may drive out nature with a pitchfork, yet she'll be constantly running back.

Busy not yourself in looking forward to the events of to-morrow; but whatever may be those of the days Providence may yet assign you neglect not to turn them to advantage.

Abridge your hopes in proportion to the shortness of the span of human life; for while we converse, the hours, as if envious of our pleasure, fly away: enjoy, therefore, the present time, and trust not too much to what to-morrow may produce.

Be brief, that the mind may catch thy precepts, and the more easily retain them.

The populace may hiss me, but when I go home and think of my money, I applaud myself.

Who can hope to be safe? who sufficiently cautious? Guard himself as he may, every moment's an ambush.

Let me posses what I now have, or even less, so that I may enjoy my remaining days, if Heaven grant any to remain.

The poets aim is either to profit or to please, or to blend in one the delightful and the useful. Whatever the lesson you would convey, be brief, that your hearers may catch quickly what is said and faithfully retain it. Every superfluous word is spilled from the too-full memory.

Even virtue followed beyond reason's rule May stamp the just man knave, the sage a fool.

Poverty urges us to do and suffer anything that we may escape from it, and so leads us away from virtue.

In a long work sleep may be naturally expected.

If things look badly to-day they may look better tomorrow.

There is need of brevity, that the thought may run on.

You may suppress natural propensities by force, but they will be certain to re-appear.

You may see me, fat and shining, with well-cared for hide, . . . a hog from Epicurus' herd. [Lat., Me pinguem et nitidum bene curata cute vises, . . . Epicuri de grege porcum.]

The mob may hiss me, but I congratulate myself while I contemplate my treasures in their hoard.

What may not be altered is made lighter by patience.

Catch the opportunity while it lasts, and rely not on what the morrow may bring.

He that has given today may, if he so please, take away tomorrow.

Patience makes lighter / What sorrow may not heal. ("sed levius fit patientia quidquid corrigere est nefas")