Horace Quotes

Poet

Horace, a renowned Roman poet, is celebrated for his elegant Latin style and profound philosophical thoughts. His works span a variety of genres, from satire to odes, and have had a profound impact on literature throughout history.

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All Men Ifs Latin Literature Mind May Virtue Life Wine Fortune

Famous Horace Quotes

“Punishment closely follows guilt as its companion.”

Guilt Punishment Companion

Author:Horace

“When a man is just and firm in his purpose, The citizens burning to approve a wrong Or the frowning looks of a tyrant Do not shake his fixed mind, nor the Southwind. Wild lord of the uneasy Adriatic, Nor the thunder in the mighty hand of Jove: Should the heavens crack and tumble down, As the ruins crushed him he would not fear.”

Men Should Mind Looks Hands Purpose Heaven Justice Lord Citizens Ruins Burning Firm Fixed Shakes Cracks Tyrants Thunder Crushed Uneasy Frowning

Book:Odes and Epodes

Source: Odes and Epodes

“I am not bound over to swear allegiance to any master; where the storm drives me I turn in for shelter.”

Turns Masters Bounds Storm Loyalty Shelter Swear Allegiance

Author:Horace

“Few cross the river of time and are able to reach non-being. Most of them run up and down only on this side of the river. But those who when they know the law follow the path of the law, they shall reach the other shore and go beyond the realm of death.”

Knows Running Able Law Death Literature Sides Path Rivers Crosses Realms Shore Up And Down Dhammapada

Author:Horace

“It's a good thing to be foolishly gay once in a while.”

Gay Good Things

Author:Horace

“Great effort is required to arrest decay and restore vigor. One must exercise proper deliberation, plan carefully before making a move, and be alert in guarding against relapse following a renaissance.”

Moving Literature Effort Plans Advice Exercise Following Decay Renaissance Vigor Deliberation Guarding Great Effort Relapse Italian Renaissance

Author:Horace

“Remember you must die whether you sit about moping all day long or whether on feast days you stretch out in a green field, happy with a bottle of Falernian from your innermost cellar.”

Long Remember Dies Fields Green Bottles Carpe Diem Remember You Remembers You Carpe Cellars Green Fields

Author:Horace

“That destructive siren, sloth, is ever to be avoided.”

Destructive Laziness Avoided Sloth Sirens

Author:Horace

“There is a proper measure in all things, certain limits beyond which and short of which right is not to be found. Who so cultivates the golden mean avoids the poverty of a hovel and the envy of a palace.”

Mean Certain Found Poverty Limits All Things Envy Golden Moderation Palaces Golden Mean

Author:Horace

“If you drive nature out with a pitchfork, she will soon find a way back.”

Ifs Way Nature Pitchforks

Book:Horace for English Readers: Being a Translation of the Poems of Quintus Horatius Flaccus Into English Prose

Source: Horace for English Readers: Being a Translation of the Poems of Quintus Horatius Flaccus Into English Prose

“While we're talking, time will have meanly run on... pick today's fruits, not relying on the future in the slightest.”

Running Today Attitude Talking Picks Fruit

Author:Horace

“Of writing well the source and fountainhead is wise thinking.”

Thinking Writing Wells Wise Source Fountainhead Writing Well

Author:Horace

“Drive Nature out with a pitchfork, yet she hurries back, And will burst through your foolish contempt, triumphant.”

Science Nature Natural Foolish Contempt Triumphant Pitchforks

Author:Horace

About the Author

Born: December 8, 65 BC
Died: November 27, 8 BC
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 913

Books & Sources

Delphi Complete Works of Horace (Illustrated)Related source material

Horace for English Readers: Being a Translation of the Poems of Quintus Horatius Flaccus Into English ProseRelated source material

The Complete Works of HoraceRelated source material

Complete WorksRelated source material

Horace on the Art of Poetry: Latin Text, English Prose Translation, Introduction and Notes, Together with Ben Jonson's English Verse RenderingRelated source material

The Odes of HoraceRelated source material

The Works of HoraceRelated source material

A Poetical Translation of the Works of Horace: With Notes Collected from His Best Latin and French CommentatorsRelated source material

Epistles Book II and Epistle to the PisonesRelated source material

Horace in EnglishRelated source material

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