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Quote by Publilius Syrus

Author

Publilius Syrus
Publilius Syrus

Publilius Syrus was a Roman writer and moralist born around 85 BC in Syria. Originally a slave brought to Rome, he gained his freedom and became a celebrated playwright and author of witty maxims. He was renowned for his mimes (dramatic performances) and his collection of moral sayings, which were widely used in Roman education. Syrus's concise and insightful aphorisms covered topics ranging from ethics to everyday wisdom, making him one of the most influential literary figures of the Roman Republic. He died around 43 BC. more

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“A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she not fruitful?" holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and well made. "Yet," added he, "none of you can tell where it pinches me.''”

“Among the most disheartening and dangerous of . . . advisors, you will often find those closest to you, your dearest friends, members of your own family, perhaps, loving, anxious, and knowing nothing whatever . . .”

“A short term view will lead to a partial and perhaps twisted view of the whole picture. A crucial element may be missing. We may not be running the entire race. A friend of mine described a colleague as great at running the "ninety-five yard dash." That is a distinction I can do without. Lacking the last five yards makes the first ninety-five pointless. In fact, serious runners thing of it as a 110 yard dash so that no one will best them in the last few yards. You've got to think beyond the whole.”