Character Quotes by Horace

Virtue consists in fleeing vice.

— Horace

Is virtue raised by culture, or self-sown?

— Horace

I wrap myself up in virtue. [Lat., Mea virtute me involvo.]

— Horace

When you introduce a moral lesson, let it be brief.

— Horace

Silver is of less value than gold, gold than virtue.

— Horace

The good refrain from sin from the pure love of virtue.

— Horace

There is a mean in all things; even virtue itself has stated limits; which not being strictly observed, it ceases to be…

— Horace

Let the character as it began be preserved to the last; and let it be consistent with itself.

— Horace

For everything divine and human, virtue, fame, and honor, now obey the alluring influence of riches.

— Horace

Let your character be kept up the very end, just as it began, and so be consistent.

— Horace

Even virtue followed beyond reason's rule May stamp the just man knave, the sage a fool.

— Horace

Poverty urges us to do and suffer anything that we may escape from it, and so leads us away from virtue.

— Horace

O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.

— Horace

Virtue consists in avoiding vice, and is the highest wisdom. [Lat., Virtus est vitium fugere, et sapientia prima.]

— Horace

We hate virtue when it is safe; when removed from our sight we diligently seek it. [Lat., Virtutem incolumem odimus, Sublatum ex…

— Horace

He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the…

— Horace

I praise her (Fortune) while she lasts; if she shakes her quick wings, I resign what she has given, and take refuge…

— Horace

Who then is free? The wise who can command his passions, who fears not want, nor death, nor chains, firmly resisting his…

— Horace

Virtue, dear friend, needs no defense, The surest guard is innocence: None knew, till guilt created fear, What darts or poisoned arrows…

— Horace

Virtue, opening heaven to those who do not deserve to die, makes her course by paths untried. [Lat., Virtus, recludens immeritis mori…

— Horace

Excellence when concealed, differs but little from buried worthlessness. [Lat., Paullum sepultae distat inertiae Celata virtus.]

— Horace

Who then is free? The wise who can command his passions, who fears not want, nor death, nor chains, firmly resisting his…

— Horace

Virtue knowing no base repulse, shines with untarnished honour; nor does she assume or resign her emblems of honour by the will…

— Horace

Everything, virtue, glory, honor, things human and divine, all are slaves to riches.

— Horace

The good hate sin because they love virtue. [Lat., Oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore.]

— Horace