WIST Quotations

Terence -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:19:48 +0000

Human nature is so constituted, that all see and judge better in the affairs of other men than in their own.

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
(Attributed)

Terence -- Eunuchus, Act 3, sc. 5, l. 2 (l. 550)

Dave — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:44:31 +0000

Jupiter, now assuredly is the time when I could readily consent to be slain, lest life should sully this ecstasy with some disaster.

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Eunuchus, Act 3, sc. 5, l. 2 (l. 550)

Terence -- Eunuchus, Act 4, l. 5

Dave — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:16:43 +0000

Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus freezes.

[Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Eunuchus, Act 4, l. 5

Ceres=bread, Bacchus=wine.

Terence -- Eunuchus, Act 4, sc. 7, l. 19 (l. 789)

Dave — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:15:06 +0000

He is wise who tries everything before arms.

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Eunuchus, Act 4, sc. 7, l. 19 (l. 789)

Alt. trans.: "It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms."

Terence -- Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], Act 3, sc. 1, l. 12 (l. 421)

Dave — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:24:54 +0000

Time removes distress.

[Diem adimere aegritudinem hominibus.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], Act 3, sc. 1, l. 12 (l. 421)

Alt. trans.: "Time heals all wounds", "Time assuages sorrow." Referred to as an old saying.

Terence -- Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], Act 4, sc. 5, l. 48 (l. 796)

Dave — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:52:37 +0000

Extreme law is often extreme injustice.

[Ius summum saepe summa malitia est.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], Act 4, sc. 5, l. 48 (l. 796)

Alternate translations:

"The highest law is often the greatest wrong."
"Extreme justice is often extreme malice."
"Rigorous law is often rigorous injustice."

Terence -- Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], Act 4, sc. 7, l. 11 (l. 839)

Dave — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:55:16 +0000

How many things, both just and unjust, are sanctioned by custom!

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], Act 4, sc. 7, l. 11 (l. 839)

Terence -- Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], l. 77

Dave — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:04:51 +0000

I am human, I consider nothing human is alien to me.

[Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], l. 77

Alt. trans.:

"I am human [being], I consider nothing human to be alien to me."
"I am a human being, so there is nothing human I do not feel to be my concern."
"I am a human being; nothing human is alien to me."

Terence -- Heuton timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], l. 806 [tr. J. Sergeaunt (1912)]

Dave — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:56:32 +0000

Nothing is so easy but it is difficult when you do it reluctantly.

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Heuton timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor], l. 806 [tr. J. Sergeaunt (1912)]

Alt trans: "There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly."

Terence -- Phormio, Act I, sc. 4, l. 25 (l. 203)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Fortune favors the bold.

[Fortis fortuna adiuvat.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Phormio, Act I, sc. 4, l. 25 (l. 203)

Alt trans.:

"Fortune favors the brave."
"Fortune helps the brave."

Terence -- Phormio, Act ii, sc. 4, l.14 (l. 454)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

There are as many opinions as there are people: to each his own custom.

[Quot homines, tot sententiæ: suo quoque mos.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
Phormio, Act ii, sc. 4, l.14 (l. 454)

Alt trans.:

"There are as many opinions as there are people: everyone has their own way of doing things."
"So many men, so many opinions: to each his own way."
"As many men, so many minds; every one his own way."

Terence -- The Eunuch [Eunuchus], l. 41, Prologue (161 BC) [tr. Bolton (2019)]

Dave — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:32:14 +0000

In fact, nothing is ever said that has not been said before.

[Nullum est iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
The Eunuch [Eunuchus], l. 41, Prologue (161 BC) [tr. Bolton (2019)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

"In short, there's Nothing say'd , but what before / May have been say'd." [tr. Cooke (1755)]
"In fine, nothing can be said now, that may not have been said before." [tr. Patrick (1767)]
"Nothing's said now, but has been said before." [tr. Coleman (1768)]
"In fine, nothing is said now that has not been said before." [tr. Riley (1853)]
"Ah, there is nothing new beneath the sun, / Whatever is, or may be, has been done." [tr. Rose (1870)]
"In fact nothing is said that has not been said before." [tr. Sargeaunt (1918)]
"The bottom line: you can't say anything that's never been said before." [tr. Christenson (2012)]
There's nothing ever said, unsaid before. [tr. Bolton (2019), shortened Prologue]

Terence -- The Lady of Andros [Andria]

Dave — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 14:53:40 +0000

We all, when we are well, give good advice to the sick.

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
The Lady of Andros [Andria]

Terence -- The Lady of Andros [Andria], l. 61

Dave — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:11:02 +0000

Moderation in all things.

[Ne quid nimis.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
The Lady of Andros [Andria], l. 61

See Cleobulus.