Nature Good Management.

Multa, quae impedita natura sunt, consilio expediuntur. "Many things which nature has made difficult, good management renders easy." — Lib. XXV, II.

Adversity. Bravery.

In rebus asperis et tenui spe fortissima quaeque consilia tutissima sunt.

"In times of adversity and slender hope, the bravest counsels are safest." Lib. XXV, 38.

Beginnings. Results.

Ex parvis saepe magnarum momenta rerum pendent. "From trifling causes often spring the most stupendous deeds.”. Lib. XXVII, 9.

Fidelity. Friends.

Barbaris ex fortuna pendet fides.

"The fidelity of barbarians hangs on fortune."— Lib. XXVIII, 17. This might also hold of some who claim a better title.

Qui voluptates suas temperantia frenavit ac domuit, multo majus decus majoremque victoriam sibi peperit, quam hoste victo habet.

"He who has restrained and governed his pleasures by temperance has gained far greater honor and a nobler victory than when he conquers an enemy."— Lib. XXX, 14.

Uncertainty. Fortune.

Non temere incerta casuum reputat, quem fortuna nunquam decepit.

"He rarely considers the uncertainty of events whom fortune has never deceived.” — Lib. XXX, 30.

Rule of Life. Fortune.

Maximae cuique fortunae minime credendum est. "When fortune seems most smiling, trust her least." — Lib. XXX, 30.

Fortune. Mind.

Raro simul hominibus bonam fortunam bonamque mentem dari.

"Good fortune coupled with a noble mind has seldom been granted to men." - Lib. XXX, 42.

Money.

Nec quicquam acrius, quam pecuniae damnum, stimulat. "Nothing gives more keen vexation than the loss of wealth." —- Lib. XXX, 44.

Shame. Economy. Poverty.

Pessimus quidem pudor vel est parsimoniae vel frugalitatis.

"Of all kinds of shame the worst is that of economy and poverty." Lib. XXXIV, 4.

Faith. Success.

Saepe vana pro veris valuisse: et credentem se aliquid. auxilii habere, perinde ac haberet, ipsa fiducia et sperando atque audendo servatum.

"Frequently appearances have had the power of realities; the very belief that a person holds resources, frequently commands them, this confidence inspiring him with hope and boldness to achieve.” — Lib. XXXIV, 12.

Liberty.

Libertas temperata salubris et singulis et civitatibus est; nimia et aliis gravis et ipsis qui habent, effrenata et praeceps est.

"Liberty when controlled is salutary both to individuals and states ; when unrestrained, it is damaging not only to others, but to the possessor as well.” — Lib. XXXIV, 49.

Envy,

Nulla ingenia tam prona ad invidiam sunt, quam eorum, qui genus ac fortunam suam animis non aequant, quia virtutem ut bonum alienum oderunt.

"No dispositions are so prone to envy as those whose mental endowments are inferior to their rank and fortune; these harbor antipathy to merit as a treasure in which they cannot share.” — Lib. XXXV, 43.

Envy,

Caeca invidia est nec quicquam aliud scit, quam detrectare virtutes, corrumpere honores ac praemia eorum.

"Envy is blind, and knows no other joy than seeking to depreciate the virtues and destroy their honors and rewards.” — Lib. XXXVIII, 49.

Rule of Life. Moderation.

In adversis vultum secundae fortunae gere, moderare animos in secundis.

'Assume in adversity the countenance of prosperity, and in prosperity control your spirits." -- Lib. XLII, 62.

Manhood. Equanimity.

Is demum vir erit, cujus animum nec prospera statu suo efferet, nec adversa infringet.

"He alone will meet the test of manhood whose mind is neither elevated by prosperity, nor broken and despondent in misfortune.". Lib. XLV, 8.

Friendships. Deeds. Words.

Ex factis non ex dictis amici pensandi.

"Friends are to be estimated by their deeds, not by their words."

Beginnings.

Foedum inceptu, foedum exitu.

"A bad beginning leads to a bad ending.”

Soldiers. Valor.

Horridus miles esse debet, non coelatus auro argentoque, sed ferro et animis fretus. Virtus est militis decus.

"The soldier ought to inspire fear and not be adorned with gold and silver, but rely upon his sword and courage. Valor is the soldier's ornament."

Huic versatile ingenium sic pariter ad omnia fuit, ut natum ad id unum diceres, quodcunque ageret.

"So versatile was this man's genius, and so readily adaptable to all conditions, that whatever he undertook, you would declare him born for that particular calling." Said of Cato the Elder.

Body. Mind. Fortune.

In illo viro, tantum robur corporis et animi fuit, ut quocunque loco natus esset, fortunam sibi facturus videretur.

"In that man there was such strength of body and of mind, that in whatever station he had been born, it seemed as though he was sure of making his fortune." Also said of Cato.

Profit. Labor.

Nusquam nec opera sine emolumento, nec emolumentum ferme sine opera, impensa est.

"There is nowhere labor without profit, and seldom profit without labor."

H

SYRUS.

FLOURISHED ABOUT 45 B.C.

PUBLIUS SYRUS was a Syrian slave, brought to Rome in childhood, educated through the kindness of his master, and granted his freedom. He attracted much attention at Rome in the time of Julius Caesar as a writer of mimes or farces, and St. Jerome tells us that in his time a collection of moral sentences selected from the writings of Syrus was used as a school-book in Rome. The most of his writings are lost, but the few choice fragments that have come down to us are remarkable for their terse embodiment of truth.

Friends.

Amicum pedere est damnorum maximum.
"To lose a friend is the greatest of losses."

Rule of Life. Conduct.

Ab alio spectes alteri quod feceris.

"As you do to another, expect him to do to you.”

Prosperity. Adversity. Friends.

Amicos res opimae pariunt, adversae probant.
"Prosperity begets friends, adversity proves them."

Indolence.

Arcum intensio frangit, animum remissio.

'Straining breaks the bow; and relaxation, the mind.”