Lucan Quotes

The gods conceal from men the happiness of death, that they may endure life

Poverty, the mother of manhood. Also, the mother of prostitution.

The abode of God, too, is wherever is earth and sea and air, and sky and virtue. Why further do we seek the Gods of heaven? Whatever thou dost behold and whatever thou dost touch, that is Jupiter.

As far as the stars are from the earth, and as different as fire is from water, so much do self-interest and integrity differ.

The prosperous man does not know whether he is loved.

An idle life always produces varied inclinations.

Not a stone but has its history.

There stands the shadow of a glorious name.

A crime which is the crime of many none avenge.

As great edifices collapse of their own weight, so Heaven sets a similar limit to the growth of prosperous states.

By boldness great fears are cancealed.

Thus each person by his fears gives wings to rumor, and, without any real source of apprehension, men fear what they themselves have imagined.

The mere apprehension of a coming evil has put many into a situation of the utmost danger.

Some men by ancestry are only the shadow of a mighty name.

...Men fear what they themselves have imagined.

Deep-seated are the wounds of civil brawls.

Make us enemies of every people on earth, but save us from civil war.

A show of daring oft conceals great fear.

To strictest justice many ills belong, And honesty is often in the wrong.

Learn on how little man may live, and how small a portion nature requires.

As far as the earth is from the stars, and fire from the sea, so is the useful from the right. Power over men perishes completely if justice begins to be observed, and respect for individual rights overcomes strongholds.

Delay is ever fatal to those who are prepared.

All go free when multitudes offend.

How blind men are to Heaven's gifts!

Every great man inevitable resents a partner in greatness.

Let him leave the imperial court, who wishes to be virtuous. Virtue and absolute power cannot coexist.

The remaining liberty of the world was to be destroyed in the place where it stood.

Deny a strong man his due, and he will take all he can get.

Poverty fled, she who gives birth to virile men.

Why seek the Deity further? Whatever we see is God, and wherever we go.

Nobody ever chooses the already unfortunate as objects of his loyal friendship.

Among those who share a throne there can be no loyalty; Dominion's ever impatient consort.

Neither side is guiltless if its adversary is appointed judge.

I have a wife, I have sons: all of them hostages given to fate.

He is covered by the heavens who has no sepulchral urn.

No man is ever innocent when his opponent is the judge.

Believing nothing does whilst there remained anything else to be done.