book iv
. chap. xxxviii._
[707-3] See Watts, page 303.
[707-4] And the mind conscious of virtue may bring to thee suitable rewards.--VIRGIL: _Æneid, i. 604._
OF UNKNOWN AUTHORSHIP.
Love thyself, and many will hate thee.
_Frag. 146._
Practice in time becomes second nature.[707-5]
_Frag. 227._
When God is planning ruin for a man, He first deprives him of his reason.[707-6]
_Frag. 379._
When I am dead let fire destroy the world; It matters not to me, for I am safe.
_Frag. 430._
Toil does not come to help the idle.
_Frag. 440._
FOOTNOTES:
[707-5] Custom is almost a second nature.--PLUTARCH: _Rules for the Preservation of Health, 18._
[707-6] See Dryden, page 269.
This may have been the original of the well known (but probably post-classical) line, "Quem Jupiter vult perdere, dementat prius." Publius Syrus has, "Stultum facit fortuna quem vult perdere."
PUBLIUS SYRUS.[708-1] 42 B. C.
(_Translation by Darius Lyman. The numbers are those of the translator._)
As men, we are all equal in the presence of death.
_Maxim 1._
To do two things at once is to do neither.
_Maxim 7._
We are interested in others when they are interested in us.[708-2]
_Maxim 16._
Every one excels in something in which another fails.
_Maxim 17._
The anger of lovers renews the strength of love.[708-3]
_Maxim 24._
A god could hardly love and be wise.[708-4]
_Maxim 25._
The loss which is unknown is no loss at all.[708-5]
_Maxim 38._
He sleeps well who knows not that he sleeps ill.
_Maxim 77._
A good reputation is more valuable than money.[708-6]
_Maxim 108._
It is well to moor your bark with two anchors.
_Maxim 119._
Learn to see in another's calamity the ills which you should avoid.[708-7]
_Maxim 120._
An agreeable companion on a journey is as good as a carriage.
_Maxim 143._
Society in shipwreck is a comfort to all.[708-8]
_Maxim 144._
Many receive advice, few profit by it.
_Maxim 149._
Patience is a remedy for every sorrow.[709-1]
_Maxim 170._
While we stop to think, we often miss our opportunity.
_Maxim 185._
Whatever you can lose, you should reckon of no account.
_Maxim 191._
Even a single hair casts its shadow.
_Maxim 228._
It is sometimes expedient to forget who we are.
_Maxim 233._
We may with advantage at times forget what we know.
_Maxim 234._
You should hammer your iron when it is glowing hot.[709-2]
_Maxim 262._
What is left when honour is lost?
_Maxim 265._
A fair exterior is a silent recommendation.
_Maxim 267._
Fortune is not satisfied with inflicting one calamity.
_Maxim 274._
When Fortune is on our side, popular favour bears her company.
_Maxim 275._
When Fortune flatters, she does it to betray.
_Maxim 277._
Fortune is like glass,--the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.
_Maxim 280._
It is more easy to get a favour from fortune than to keep it.
_Maxim 282._
His own character is the arbiter of every one's fortune.[709-3]
_Maxim 283._
There are some remedies worse than the disease.[709-4]
_Maxim 301._
Powerful indeed is the empire of habit.[709-5]
_Maxim 305._
Amid a multitude of projects, no plan is devised.[709-6]
_Maxim 319._
It is easy for men to talk one thing and think another.
_Maxim 322._
When two do the same thing, it is not the same thing after all.
_Maxim 338._
A cock has great influence on his own dunghill.[710-1]
_Maxim 357._
Any one can hold the helm when the sea is calm.[710-2]
_Maxim 358._
No tears are shed when an enemy dies.
_Maxim 376._
The bow too tensely strung is easily broken.
_Maxim 388._
Treat your friend as if he might become an enemy.
_Maxim 401._
No pleasure endures unseasoned by variety.[710-3]
_Maxim 406._
The judge is condemned when the criminal is acquitted.[710-4]
_Maxim 407._
Practice is the best of all instructors.[710-5]
_Maxim 439._
He who is bent on doing evil can never want occasion.
_Maxim 459._
One man's wickedness may easily become all men's curse.
_Maxim 463._
Never find your delight in another's misfortune.
_Maxim 467._
It is a bad plan that admits of no modification.
_Maxim 469._
It is better to have a little than nothing.
_Maxim 484._
It is an unhappy lot which finds no enemies.
_Maxim 499._
The fear of death is more to be dreaded than death itself.[711-1]
_Maxim 511._
A rolling stone gathers no moss.[711-2]
_Maxim 524._
Never promise more than you can perform.
_Maxim 528._
A wise man never refuses anything to necessity.[711-3]
_Maxim 540._
No one should be judge in his own cause.[711-4]
_Maxim 545._
Necessity knows no law except to conquer.[711-5]
_Maxim 553._
Nothing can be done at once hastily and prudently.[711-6]
_Maxim 557._
We desire nothing so much as what we ought not to have.
_Maxim 559._
It is only the ignorant who despise education.
_Maxim 571._
Do not turn back when you are just at the goal.[711-7]
_Maxim 580._
It is not every question that deserves an answer.
_Maxim 581._
No man is happy who does not think himself so.[711-8]
_Maxim 584._
Never thrust your own sickle into another's corn.[711-9]
_Maxim 593._
You cannot put the same shoe on every foot.
_Maxim 596._
He bids fair to grow wise who has discovered that he is not so.
_Maxim 598._
A guilty conscience never feels secure.[712-1]
_Maxim 617._
Every day should be passed as if it were to be our last.[712-2]
_Maxim 633._
Familiarity breeds contempt.[712-3]
_Maxim 640._
Money alone sets all the world in motion.
_Maxim 656._
He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.
_Maxim 673._
You should go to a pear-tree for pears, not to an elm.[712-4]
_Maxim 674._
It is a very hard undertaking to seek to please everybody.
_Maxim 675._
We should provide in peace what we need in war.[712-5]
_Maxim 709._
Look for a tough wedge for a tough log.
_Maxim 723._
How happy the life unembarrassed by the cares of business!
_Maxim 725._
They who plough the sea do not carry the winds in their hands.[712-6]
_Maxim 759._
He gets through too late who goes too fast.
_Maxim 767._
In every enterprise consider where you would come out.[712-7]
_Maxim 777._
It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity.
_Maxim 780._
The highest condition takes rise in the lowest.
_Maxim 781._
It matters not what you are thought to be, but what you are.
_Maxim 785._
No one knows what he can do till he tries.
_Maxim 786._
The next day is never so good as the day before.
_Maxim 815._
He is truly wise who gains wisdom from another's mishap.
_Maxim 825._
Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings.
_Maxim 827._
It matters not how long you live, but how well.
_Maxim 829._
It is vain to look for a defence against lightning.[713-1]
_Maxim 835._
No good man ever grew rich all at once.[713-2]
_Maxim 837._
Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it.[713-3]
_Maxim 847._
It is better to learn late than never.[713-4]
_Maxim 864._
Better be ignorant of a matter than half know it.[713-5]
_Maxim 865._
Better use medicines at the outset than at the last moment.
_Maxim 866._
Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them.
_Maxim 872._
Whom Fortune wishes to destroy she first makes mad.[713-6]
_Maxim 911._
Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.
_Maxim 914._
He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.
_Maxim 930._
You need not hang up the ivy-branch over the wine that will sell.[714-1]
_Maxim 968._
It is a consolation to the wretched to have companions in misery.[714-2]
_Maxim 995._
Unless degree is preserved, the first place is safe for no one.[714-3]
_Maxim 1042._
Confession of our faults is the next thing to innocency.
_Maxim 1060._
I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.[714-4]
_Maxim 1070._
Keep the golden mean[714-5] between saying too much and too little.
_Maxim 1072._
Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he.
_Maxim 1073._
FOOTNOTES:
[708-1] Commonly called Publius, but spelled Publilius by Pliny (Natural History, 35, sect. 199).
[708-2] We always like those who admire us.--ROCHEFOUCAULD: _Maxim 294._
[708-3] See Edwards, page 21.
[708-4] It is impossible to love and be wise.--BACON: _Of Love_ (quoted).
[708-5] See Shakespeare, page 154.
[708-6] A good name is better than riches.--CERVANTES: _Don Quixote, part ii . book ii . chap. xxxiii._
[708-7] The best plan is, as the common proverb has it, to profit by the folly of others.--PLINY: _Natural History,