Direct Quotes by Quintilian

“In writing are the roots, in writing are the foundations of eloquence; by writing resources are stored up, as it were, in a sacred…

— Quintilian

Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.

— Quintilian

Vain hopes are like certain dreams of those who wake.

— Quintilian

Though ambition may be a fault in itself, it is often the mother of virtues.

— Quintilian

It is easier to do many things than to do one thing continuously for a long time.

— Quintilian

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

— Quintilian

One thing, however, I must premise, that without the assistance of natural capacity, rules and precepts are of no efficacy.

— Quintilian

Medicine for the dead is too late

— Quintilian

Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.

— Quintilian

A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.

— Quintilian

The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it…

— Quintilian

He who speaks evil only differs from his who does evil in that he lacks opportunity.

— Quintilian