1.
Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well.
Martial
2.
Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men.
Martial
3.
There is nothing more revolting than an old busybody.
Martial
4.
Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door always open tempts no suitor.
Martial
5.
I would not miss your face, your neck, your hands, your limbs, your bosom and certain other of your charms. Indeed, not to become boring by naming them all, I could do without you, Chloe, altogether.
Martial
6.
Tomorrow's life is too late. Live today.
Martial
7.
There is no living with thee, nor without thee.
Martial
8.
Remember, cobbler, to keep to your leather.
[Lat., Memento, in pellicula, cerdo, tenere tuo.]
Martial
9.
Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.
Martial
10.
He who writes distichs, wishes, I suppose, to please by brevity. But, tell me, of what avail is their brevity, when there is a whose book full of them?
Martial
11.
Wine and women bring misery.
Martial
12.
There is no glory in outstripping donkeys.
Martial
13.
The African lions rush to attack bulls; they do not attack butterflies.
[Lat., In tauros Libyci ruunt leones;
Non sunt papilionibus molesti.]
Martial
14.
He who weighs his burdens, can bear them.
Martial
15.
Be merry if you are wise.
Martial
16.
You're obstinate, pliant, merry, morose, all at once. For me there's no living with you, or without you.
Martial
17.
Givers of great dinners know few enemies.
Martial
18.
The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved in amber, so that it seems enshrined in its own nectar.
Martial
19.
Believing hear, what you deserve to hear:
Your birthday as my own to me is dear...
But yours gives most; for mine did only lend
Me to the world; yours gave to me a friend.
Martial
20.
He writes nothing whose writings are not read.
Martial
21.
It is easy in adversity to despise death; he has real fortitude who dares to live and be wretched.
Martial
22.
Virtue extends our days: he lives two lives who relives his past with pleasure.
Martial
23.
A man who lives everywhere lives nowhere.
Martial
24.
It is feeling and force of imagination that make us eloquent.
Martial
25.
If fame is to come only after death, I am in no hurry for it.
Martial
26.
If your slave commits a fault, do not smash his teeth with your fists; give him some of the (hard) biscuit which famous Rhodes has sent you.
Martial
27.
Spare the person but lash the vice.
Martial
28.
She grieves sincerely who grieves unseen.
Martial
29.
Whoever makes great presents, expects great presents in return.
Martial
30.
I believe that man to be wretched whom none can please.
Martial
31.
He who prefers to give Linus the half of what he wishes to borrow, rather than to lend him the whole, prefers to lose only the half.
Martial
32.
A good man enlarges the term of his own existence.
Martial
33.
My poems are naughty, but my life is pure.
Martial
34.
Can the fish love the fisherman?
[Lat., Piscatorem piscis amare potest?]
Martial
35.
Live thy life as it were spoil and pluck the joys that fly.
Martial
36.
All your female friends are either old or ugly; nay, more ugly than old women usually are. These you lead about in your train, and drag with you to feasts, porticos and theaters. Thus, Fabulla, you seem handsome, thus you seem young.
Martial
37.
Whoever is not too wise is wise.
[Lat., Quisquis plus justo non sapit, ille sapit.]
Martial
38.
Fortune gives too much to many, enough to none.
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39.
The face that cannot smile is never fair.
Martial
40.
If fame comes after death, I'm in no hurry for it.
[Lat., Si post fata venit gloria non propero.]
Martial
41.
The swan murmurs sweet strains with a flattering tongue, itself the singer of its own dirge.
Martial
42.
However great the dish that holds the turbot, the turbot is still greater than the dish.
Martial
43.
Your page stands against you and says to you that you are a thief.
Martial
44.
The flaw which is hidden is deemed greater than it is.
Martial
45.
Fortune gives many too much, but none enough.
Martial
46.
In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a writeched life
Martial
47.
Service cannot be expected from a friend in service; let him be a freeman who wishes to be my master.
Martial
48.
There is nothing more contemptible than a bald man who pretends to have hair.
Martial
49.
In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a wretched life.
[Lat., Rebus in angustis facile est contemnere vitam;
Fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest.]
Martial
50.
When your crowd of attendants so loudly applaud you, Pomponius, it is not you, but your banquet, that is eloquent.
Martial
