Quintilian

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

— 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…

— Quintilian

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

— Quintilian

That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.

— Quintilian

In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept.

— Quintilian

Though ambition itself be a vice, yet it is often times the cause of virtues.

— Quintilian

Too exact, and studious of similitude rather than of beauty. [Lat., Nimis in veritate, et similitudinis quam pulchritudinis amantior.]

— Quintilian

Men, even when alone, lighten their labors by song, however rude it may be.

— Quintilian

When we cannot hope to win, it is an advantage to yield.

— Quintilian

It is worth while too to warn the teacher that undue severity in correcting faults is liable at times to discourage a…

— Quintilian

Give me the boy who rouses when he is praised, who profits when he is encouraged and who cries when he is…

— Quintilian

The prosperous can not easily form a right idea of misery.

— Quintilian

Usage is the best language teacher.

— Quintilian

Nothing can be pleasing which is not also becoming.

— Quintilian

(Slaughter) means blood and iron. [Lat., Coedes videtur significare sanguinem et ferrum.]

— Quintilian

A liar should have a good memory.

— Quintilian