Poetry Quotes by Horace

The fellow is either a madman or a poet.

— Horace

A picture is a poem without words

— Horace

A poem is like a painting.

— Horace

And take back ill-polished stanzas to the anvil.

— Horace

No poem was ever written by a drinker of water.

— Horace

Limbs of a dismembered poet.

— Horace

The man is either mad, or he is making verses.

— Horace

Poets wish to profit or to please.

— Horace

No poems can please for long or live that are written by water drinkers.

— Horace

It is not enough for poems to be fine; they must charm, and draw the mind of the listener at will.

— Horace

Verses devoid of substance, melodious trifles. [Lat., Versus inopes rerum, nugaeque canorae.]

— Horace

I have to submit to much in order to pacify the touchy tribe of poets.

— Horace

No poems can please long or live that are written by water drinkers.

— Horace

Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers.

— Horace

Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.

— Horace

The mad is either insane or he is composing verses.

— Horace

"Painters and poets," you say, "have always had an equal license in bold invention." We know; we claim the liberty for ourselves…

— Horace

Where there are many beauties in a poem I shall not cavil at a few faults proceeding either from negligence or from…

— Horace

“It is not enough for poems to be beautiful; they must be affecting, and must lead the heart of the hearer as…

— Horace

A comic matter cannot be expressed in tragic verse. [Lat., Versibus exponi tragicis res comica non vult.]

— Horace

He who studies to imitate the poet Pindar, O Julius, relies on artificial wings fastened on with wax, and is sure to…

— Horace

Poetry is like painting: one piece takes your fancy if you stand close to it, another if you keep at some distance.

— Horace

If you rank me with the lyric poets, my exalted head shall strike the stars. [Lat., Quod si me lyricis vatibus inseris,…

— Horace

Many brave men lived before Agamemnon; but, all unwept and unknown, are lost in the distant night, since they are without a…

— Horace

The aim of the poet is to inform or delight, or to combine together, in what he says, both pleasure and applicability…

— Horace

The poets aim is either to profit or to please, or to blend in one the delightful and the useful. Whatever the…

— Horace

Come boy, and pour for me a cup Of old Falernian. Fill it up With wine, strong, sparkling, bright, and clear; Our…

— Horace

Let your poem be kept nine years.

— Horace

The man is either crazy or he is a poet.

— Horace

Every old poem is sacred.

— Horace

Mediocrity is not allowed to poets, either by the gods or men.

— Horace

No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water.

— Horace

Painters and poets have equal license in regard to everything.

— Horace

That I make poetry and give pleasure - if I give pleasure - are because of you.

— Horace

The poet must put on the passion he wants to represent.

— Horace

Mediocrity is not allowed to poets, either by the gods or man

— Horace

Not gods, nor men, nor even booksellers have put up with poets' being second-rate.

— Horace

The man is either mad or his is making verses. [Lat., Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit.]

— Horace

Poets, the first instructors of mankind, Brought all things to the proper native use.

— Horace

It is not enough that poetry is agreeable, it should also be interesting.

— Horace