Cato the Elder Quotes

Woman is a violent and uncontrolled animal, and it is useless to let go the reins and then expect her not to kick over the traces. You must keep her on a tight rein . . . Women want total freedom or rather - to call things by their names - total licence. If you allow them to achieve complete equality with men, do you think they will be easier to live with? Not at all. Once they have achieved equality, they will be your masters . . .

Wise men profit more from fools than fools from wise men; for the wise men shun the mistakes of fools, but fools do not imitate the successes of the wise.

Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters.

I prefer to do right and get no thanks than to do wrong and receive no punishment.

After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.

Furthermore, I think Carthage must be destroyed.

We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them.

The hero saves us. Praise the hero! Now, who will save us from the hero?

I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.

There is a wide difference between true courage and a mere contempt of life.

If you are ruled by mind you are a king; if by body, a slave.

An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.

Anger so clouds the mind that it cannot perceive the truth.

All mankind rules its women, and we rule all mankind, but our women rule us.

The worst ruler is one who cannot rule himself.

It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly since it has no ears.

I can pardon everybody's mistakes except my own.

Patience is the greatest of all virtues.

When you have decided to purchase a farm, be careful not to buy rashly; do not spare your visits and be not content with a single tour of inspection. The more you go, the more will the place please you, if it be worth your attention. Give heed to the appearance of the neighbourhood, - a flourishing country should show its prosperity. "When you go in, look about, so that, when needs be, you can find your way out.

Grasp the subject, the words will follow.

Tis sometimes the height of wisdom to feign stupidity.

Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all your work.

Buy not what you want, but what you have need of; what you do not want is dear at a farthing.

Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.

Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.

He who fears death has already lost the life he covets.

Suffer women once to arrive at an equality with you, and they will from that moment become your superiors.

When you have arrived at your country house and have saluted your household, you should make the rounds of the farm the same day, if possible; if not, then certainly the next day. When you have observed how the field work has progressed, what things have been done, and what remains undone, you should summon your overseer the next day, and should call for a report of what work has been done in good season and why it has not been possible to complete the rest, and what wine and corn and other crops have been gathered.

The public has more interest in the punishment of an injury than he who receives it.

He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.

Between the mouth and the morsel many things may happen.

Lighter is the wound foreseen.

Moreover, I consider that Carthage should be destroyed.

Even though work stops, expenses run on.

Cessation of work is not accompanied by cessation of expenses

From lightest words sometimes the direst quarrel springs.

Be firm or mild as the occasion may require.

After I am dead, I would rather have men ask why Cato has no monument than why he had one.

An orator is a good man who is skilled in speaking.