Writing Quotes by Horace

Ye who write, choose a subject suited to your abilities. [Lat., Sumite materiam vestris, qui scribitis, aequam Viribus.]

— Horace

The man is either crazy or he is a poet.

— Horace

No poem was ever written by a drinker of water.

— Horace

Good sense is both the first principal and the parent source of good writing.

— Horace

“Of writing well, be sure, the secret lies In wisdom :therefore study to be wise.”

— Horace

Of writing well the source and fountainhead is wise thinking.

— Horace

It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say; when one has nothing to…

— Horace

One gains universal applause who mingles the useful with the agreeable, at once delighting and instructing the reader.

— Horace

Often you must turn your stylus to erase, if you hope to write anything worth a second reading.

— Horace

You must often make erasures if you mean to write what is worthy of being read a second time; and don't labor…

— Horace

In my youth I thought of writing a satire on mankind! but now in my age I think I should write an…

— Horace

“Saepa stilum vertas, iterum quae digna legi sint scripturas. (Turn the stylus [to erase] often if you would write something worthy of…

— Horace

Knowledge is the foundation and source of good writing. [Lat., Scibendi recte sapere est et principium et fons.]

— Horace

Too indolent to bear the toil of writing; I mean of writing well; I say nothing about quantity. [Lat., Piger scribendi ferre…

— Horace

Often turn the stile [correct with care], if you expect to write anything worthy of being read twice. [Lat., Saepe stilum vertas,…

— Horace

The secret of all good writing is sound judgment.

— Horace

You will have written exceptionally well if, by skilful arrangement of your words, you have made an ordinary one seem original.

— Horace