WIST Quotations

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 1, ch. 15 (1.15) / sec. 34 (1.34) (45 BC) [tr. Habinek (1996)]

Dave — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:18:15 +0000

MARCUS: Don’t our friends, the philosophers, put their names on the very books they write condemning the quest for fame?

[Quid? Nostri philosophi nonne in his libris ipsis, quos scribunt de contemnenda gloria, sua nomina inscribunt?]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 1, ch. 15 (1.15) / sec. 34 (1.34) (45 BC) [tr. Habinek (1996)]

Cicero suggests a proof of there being an afterlife is that a lot of folk seek after eternal glory and recognition for their actions, from statesmen to poets to craftsmen to, finally, philosophers. He used a similar line in Pro Archia 11/26 (62 BC).

In some sources, the punctuation varies: "Quid nostri philosophi? Nonne ...."

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

Nay our own Philosophers, do they not set their Names to those very Books which they write upon contemning Glory?
[tr. Wase (1643)]

What did our philosophers mean, when they put their names to those very books they wrote on the contempt of glory?
[tr. Main (1824)]

What of our philosophers? Do they not install their names in front of the very books where they inculcate the contempt of glory?
[tr. Otis (1839)]

What do our philosophers think on the subject? do not they put their names to those very books which they write on the contempt of glory?
[tr. Yonge (1853)]

What do our philosophers have in mind? Do they not inscribe their names in the very books that they write about the contempt of fame?
[tr. Peabody (1886)]

What! Do not our philosophers inscribe their names upon those very books which they write about despising glory?
[tr. Black (1889)]

What shall we say of our philosophers? Do they not put their names on the title-page of the very books which they write in deprecation of vainglory?
[ed. Harbottle (1897)]

Then there are our philosophers. Do they not inscribe their names on the very books they write on the subject of despising fame?
[tr. Davie (2017)]

Ebner-Eschenbach, Marie von -- Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 293 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]

Dave — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:58:12 +0000

Of what value is fame, when one cannot enjoy posthumous fame?

[Was liegt am Ruhm, da man den Nachruhm nicht erleben kann?]

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 293 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]

(Source (German)).

Serling, Rod -- Letter to the Editor, Los Angeles Times (8 Apr 1968)

Dave — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 15:36:31 +0000

There is a bitter sadness and special irony that attends the passing of Martin Luther King. Quickly and with ease, we offer up a chorus of posthumous praise — the ritual dirge so time-honored and comfortable and undemanding of anything but rhetoric. In death, we offer the acknowledgement of the man and his dream that we denied him in life.

In his grave, we praise him for his decency — but when he walked amongst us, we responded with no decency of our own. When he suggested that all men should have a place in the sun — we put a special sanctity on the right of ownership and the privilege of prejudice by maintaining that to deny homes to Negroes was a democratic right.

Now we acknowledge his compassion — but we exercised no compassion of our own. When he asked us to understand that men take to the streets out of anguish and hopelessness and a vision of that dream dying, we bought guns and speculated about roving agitators and subversive conspiracies and demanded law and order.

We felt anger at the effects, but did little to acknowledge the causes. We extol all the virtues of the man — but we chose not to call them virtues before his death. And now, belatedly, we talk of this man’s worth — but the judgment comes late in the day as part of a eulogy when it should have been made a matter of record while he existed as a living force.

Rod Serling (1924–1975) American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, narrator
Letter to the Editor, Los Angeles Times (8 Apr 1968)

Quoted in Anne Serling, As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling (2013).

Martial -- Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 5, epigram 10 (5.10.11-12) (AD 90) [tr. Pott & Wright (1921)]

Dave — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:10:30 +0000

Yet soft, my books, no haste, nor hurry fate;
If fame must wait on death, then let it wait.

[Vos tamen o nostri ne festinate libelli:
Si post fata venit gloria, non propero.]

Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis]
Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 5, epigram 10 (5.10.11-12) (AD 90) [tr. Pott & Wright (1921)]

Compare to Epigram 1.25.

"To Regulus." (Source (Latin)). Other translations:

But haste not you (my Bookes) for Fame, to whom
Tis soone enough if after death it come.
[tr. May (1629)]

Let others to the Printing Presse run fast.
Since after death comes glory, Ile not haste.
[tr. Herrick (1648)]

O my small books, ne'er hasten to go out:
If praise come after death, I'll not go on.
[tr. Fletcher (1656)]

Yet you (my Bookes!) hast not to much, I pray:
If fame come not till after death, I'll stay.
[British Library MS Add. 27343]

With patience then, my Muse, to glory hy:
If after death she come, I shall not dy.
[tr. Elphinston (1782), 3.62]

Do not, however, you little books of mine, be in haste for fame:
if glory comes only after death, I am in no hurry for it.
[tr. Bohn's Classical (1859)]

If I gain fame after my death, I am content to wait.
[tr. Paley/Stone (1890), ep. 221]

Therefore, little books of mine,
Haste not; if glory comes but after death,
I'll wait awhile for glory.
[ed. Harbottle (1897)]

Pray, my impatient Muse, don't worry.
If death's due first, I'm in no hurry.
[tr. Francis & Tatum (1924), ep. 221]

Impatient little books of verse
For the plaudits of the universe,
If fame comes only after death,
Let's pause and rest, and catch our breath.
[tr. Marcellino (1968)]

But there's no cause, my little books, to worry:
If glory must be posthumous, why hurry?
[tr. Michie (1972)]

So, little books, let's not rush to our fate.
Since death comes before glory, let's be late.
[tr. Matthews (1992)]

So be calm, my Muse -- no need to rush or fret:
If death must precede fame, I'll not be famous yet.
[tr. Ericsson (1995)]

If I must die to get my fame,
I gladly will put off the same.
[tr. Wills (2007)]

Then be content, my books, to be slow paced;
Death before glory means -- no need for haste.
[tr. Pitt-Kethley (2008)]

But you, my little books, don’t hurry:
if glory comes only after death, I will not rush.
[tr. Robinson (2022)]

If glory comes after death, I hurry not.
[tr. Rush]

Martial -- Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 1, epigram 25 (1.25.5-8) (AD 85-86) [tr. Wills (2007)]

Dave — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 18:30:32 +0000

Why fight off fame now beating at your door?
What other writers dare to promise more?
You must make immortality start now,
Not make it wait to give your corpse a bow.

[Ante fores stantem dubitas admittere Famam
Teque piget curae praemia ferre tuae?
Post te victurae per te quoque vivere chartae
Incipiant: cineri gloria sera venit.]

Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis]
Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 1, epigram 25 (1.25.5-8) (AD 85-86) [tr. Wills (2007)]

"To Faustinus." (Source (Latin)). Some early writers number this as ep. 26, as noted. Other translations:

Wilt not admit fame standing at thy doore?
And take the fruit of all thy paines before?
Fame to the Urne comes late; let those Books live
With thee, which after life to thee must give.
[tr. May (1629), 1.26]

Dost doubt t'admit Fame standing at thy gate?
Thy labour's just reward to bear, dost hate?
That which will after, in thy time let live:
Too late men praise unto our ashes give.
[tr. Killigrew (1695)]

Fame at your portal waits; the door why barr'd?
Why loth to take your labour's just reward?
Let works live with you, which will long survive;
For honours after death too late arrive.
[tr. Hay (1755), 1.26]

Admit fair fame, who dances at thy door;
And dain to reap thyself thy toil's reward.
The strains that shall survive thee, give to soar;
Nor to thine ashes leave the late record.
[tr. Elphinston (1782), 2.34]

Do you hesitate to let in Fame when standing for admittance before your threshold, and does it grieve you to reap the rewards of your own diligence? May your poems, which will survive you, begin to live by your means. The glory which is shed upon ashes arrives full late.
[tr. Amos (1858), 1.26 "Posthumous Works"]

Do you hesitate to admit Fame, who is standing before your door; and does it displease you to receive the reward of your labour? Let the writings, destined to live after you, begin to live through your means. Glory comes too late, when paid only to our ashes.
[tr. Bohn's Classical (1859)]

If after thee thy verses are to live,
Let them begin whilst thou'rt alive. Too late
The glory that illumines but they tomb.
[ed. Harbottle (1897)]

Do you hesitate to admit Fame that stands before your doors, and shrink from winning the reward of your care? Let writings that will live after you by your adi also begin to live now; to the ashes of the dead glory comes too late.
[tr. Ker (1919)]

Nay, doth it irk you that reward is nigh?
Why bar out fame who standeth at the gate?
Give birth to what must live, before you die,
For honour paid to ashes comes too late.
[tr. Pott & Wright (1921)]

Fame stands before your threshold, let her in;
Are you ashamed your meed of praise to win?
Your books will long outlive you in their fame;
Come then, begin, for ashes have no name.
[tr. Francis & Tatum (1924), #14]

Tell me why you hesitate;
Fame is standing at your door.
Take the prize she long has offered,
Long has held for you in store!
Let works that will survive you after
You have trod the path so dread
Live now, while you still are living.
Fame comes too late to the dead.
[tr. Marcellino (1968)]

Fame is at the door,
and you keep her waiting.
You can't bring yourself to accept
the reward of your worry?
Hurry!
Let those pages begin to live -- show your face.
They will live on after you're gone in any case.
[tr. Bovie (1970)]

Do you hesitate to let Fame in when she stands at your door? Are you reluctant to take the reward for your pains? Your pages will live after you; let them also begin to live through you. Glory comes late to the grave.
[tr. Shackleton Bailey (1993)]

Amos (above) provides a number of examples where the last line has inspired other writers. Byron wrote, in the same vein, in "Martial, Lib. I, Epig. I" (c. 1821):

He unto whom thou art so partial,
O reader! is the well-known Martial,
The Epigrammatist: while living
Give him the fame thou wouldst be giving;
So shall he hear, and feel, and know it --
Post-obits rarely reach a poet.

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 314 (1820)

Dave — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 17:55:38 +0000

Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness, when bequeathed by those who, when alive, would part with nothing.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780–1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 314 (1820)

Heywood, Thomas -- The Hierarchie of the Blesed Angells (1635)

Dave — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 12:52:11 +0000

Seven cities warr’d for Homer, being dead;
Who, living, had no roof to shroud his head.

Thomas Heywood (1570s-1641) English playwright, actor, author
The Hierarchie of the Blesed Angells (1635)