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Portrait of Publilius Syrus

Publilius Syrus

Playwright Ancient Rome

455 quotes in 873 categories

Publilius Syrus observes that when we are nervous, even fast motion seems sluggish. He points out that a coward calls himself cautious while a miser calls himself thrifty. He also reminds us that a person’s character, not his rank, makes him truly good.

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Publilius Syrus is a playwright from Ancient Rome, best known for The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus.

Quick Facts About Publilius Syrus

Nationality
Ancient Rome
Profession
Playwright
Notable works
The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus

About Publilius Syrus

He became known for his short sayings called sententiae. He arrived in Rome on the same ship as the astronomer Manilius Antiochus and the grammarian Staberius Eros. His master, impressed by his wit, set him free and gave him an education. He later joined the Publilia family. In medieval manuscripts his name sometimes appears as Publius because of a spelling change.

Quotes by Publilius Syrus

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