Marcus Valerius Martial Quotes

Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant read more

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.

Philo swears that he has never dined at home, and it is so; he
does not dine at all, read more

Philo swears that he has never dined at home, and it is so; he
does not dine at all, except when invited out.

Such are thou and I: but what I am thou canst not be; what thou
art any one of read more

Such are thou and I: but what I am thou canst not be; what thou
art any one of the multitude may be.
[Lat., Hoc ego, tuque sumus: set quod sum, non potes esse:
Tu quod es, e populo quilibet esse potest.]

Every bird that upwards swings
Bears the Cross upon its wings.

Every bird that upwards swings
Bears the Cross upon its wings.

While an ant was wandering under the shade of the tree of
Phaeton, a drop of amber enveloped the read more

While an ant was wandering under the shade of the tree of
Phaeton, a drop of amber enveloped the tiny insect; thus she, who
in life was disregarded, became precious by death.

He who prefers to give Linus the half of what he wishes to
borrow, rather than to lend him read more

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.

In whatever place you meet me, Postumus, you cry out immediately,
and your very first words are, "How do read more

In whatever place you meet me, Postumus, you cry out immediately,
and your very first words are, "How do you do?" You say this,
even if you meet me ten times in one single hour: you, Postumus,
have nothing, I suppose, to do.

If you wish, Faustinus, a bath of boiling water to be reduced in
temperature,--a bath, such as scarcely Julianus read more

If you wish, Faustinus, a bath of boiling water to be reduced in
temperature,--a bath, such as scarcely Julianus could enter,--ask
the rhetorician Sabinaeus to bathe himself in it. He would
freeze the warm baths of Nero.

You were constantly, Matho, a guest at my villa at Tivoli. Now
you buy it--I have deceived you; I read more

You were constantly, Matho, a guest at my villa at Tivoli. Now
you buy it--I have deceived you; I have merely sold you what was
already your own.

Why, simpleton, do you mix your verses with mine? What have you
to do, foolish man, with writings that read more

Why, simpleton, do you mix your verses with mine? What have you
to do, foolish man, with writings that convict you of theft? Why
do you attempt to associate foxes with lions, and make owls pass
for eagles? Though you had one of Ladas's legs, you would not be
able, blockhead, to run with the other leg of wood.