# The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus

The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus is a collection of aphorisms attributed to Publius Syrus.

## Quotes

       As translated to English by D. Lyman (1856)
* Even when we get what we wish, it is not ours.
** # 15
* A wise man rules his passions, a fool obeys them.
** # 49
* Human reason grows rich by self-conquest.
** # 53
* Tension weakens the bow; the want of it, the mind.
** # 59
* When Gold argues the cause, eloquence is impotent.
** # 65
* To receive a favor is to pawn your freedom.
** # 87
* The more skillfully the language of goodness is assumed, the greater the depravity.
** # 114
* In the presence of a good man, anger is speedily cooled.
** # 118
* It is well to moor your bark with two anchors.
** # 119
* Consult your conscience, rather than popular opinion.
** # 147
* Consider what you ought to say, and not what you think.
** # 148
* Wisdom had rather be buffeted than not be listened to.
** # 152
* Folly had rather be unheard than be buffeted.
** # 153
* Reproach in misfortune is an unseasonable cruelty.
** # 161
* He who can get more than belongs to him is apt to accommodate his desires to his opportunity.
** # 167
* Every man is a master in his own calling
** # 169
* Patience is a remedy for every sorrow.
** # 170
* The greatest of comforts is to be free from blame.
** # 173
* One day treats us like a hireling nurse, another, like a mother.
** # 193
* Pleasant is the remembrance of the ills that are past.
** # 209
* Avoid cupidity, and you conquer a kingdom.
** # 212
* A kindness should be received in the spirit that prompted it.
** # 215
* Speed itself is slow when cupidity waits.
** # 218
* The party to which the rabble belong is ever the worst.
** # 223
* Even calamity becomes virtue's opportunity.
** # 224
* The good to which we have become accustomed, is often an evil.
** # 227
* He who takes counsel of good faith, is just even to an enemy.
** # 230
* It is sometimes expedient to forget who we are.
** # 233
* We may with advantage at times forget what we know.
** # 234
* Pecuniary gain first suggested to men to make Fortune a goddess.
** # 239
* Many consult their reputation; but few their conscience.
** # 254
* The master is a slave when he fears those whom he rules.
** # 255
* Prosperity is the nurse of ill temper.
** # 257
* Bear without murmuring what cannot be changed.
** # 260
* Fortune has no lawful control over men's morals.
** # 268
* An over-taxed patience gives way to fierce anger.
** # 289
* A noble steed is not annoyed by the barking of dogs.
** # 293
* It is a useless defense which cannot find a fair trial.
** # 299
* The most formidable enemy lies hid in one's own heart.
** # 300
* There are some remedies worse than the disease.
** # 301
* Repentance for our past deeds is a severe mental punishment.
** # 303
* Powerful indeed is the empire of habit.
** # 305
* The severest affliction is the one which has never been tried.
** # 307
* Do not take part in the council, unless you are called.
** # 310
* Man's life is a loan, not a gift.
** # 324
* Would you have a great empire? Rule over yourself.
** # 345
* The sinner who repented after the offense, was a little imprudent.
** # 346
* Avarice is kind to no one, and most cruel toward itself.
** # 355
* To be not too sanguine of our conclusions, is one half of wisdom.
** # 363
* To forget the wrongs you receive, is to remedy them.
** # 383
* To do good you should know what good is.
** # 389
* There is more venom than truth in the words of envy.
** # 390
* The rancor of envy is concealed, but is none the less hostile.
** # 391
* To withstand the assaults of envy, you must be either a hero or a saint.
** # 392
* Shun an angry man for a moment — your enemy forever.
** # 396
* Anger thinks crime justifiable.
** # 397
* Every word of an angry man conveys a reproach.
** # 398
* When the angry man grows cool, he is angry with himself.
** # 399
* Anger is apt to forget the existence of law.
** # 419
* The Law keeps her eye on the angry man, when he does not see the Law.
** # 424
* He who chases two hares will catch neither.
** # 426
* He who lives in solitude may make his own laws.
** # 432
* A noble spirit finds a cure for injustice in forgetting it.
** # 441
* Mighty rivers may easily be leaped at their source.
** # 442
* Hard to bear is the poverty which follows misuse of riches.
** # 445
* It is bad management when we suffer fortune to be our guide.
** # 451
* They live ill who expect to live always.
** # 457
* He who is bent on doing evil, can never want occasion.
** # 459
* It is a bad plan that admits of no modification.
** # 469
* He should be called bad, who is good only for selfish ends.
** # 474
* He will become wicked himself, who feasts with the wicked.
** # 476
* Fear, and not kindness, restrains the vicious.
** # 489
* The master who fears his slave, is the greater slave.
** # 493
* To depend on another's nod for a livelihood, is a sad destiny.
** # 501
* Methinks you are unhappy, if you never have been so.
** # 503
* Delay is always vexatious, but it is wisdom's opportunity.
** # 505
* Understand your friend's character, but do not hate it.
** # 506
* The fear of death is more to be dreaded than death itself.
** # 511
* Every thing which has birth, must pay tribute to death.
** # 513
* We should bear our destiny, not weep over it.
** # 538
* Avarice never lacks a reason for refusing a favor.
** # 542
* No one should be judge in his own cause.
** # 545
* Be the first to laugh at your own blunder, and no one will laugh at you.
** # 548
* Depravity is its own greatest punishment.
** # 550
* Fortune takes nothing away but her own gifts.
** # 554
* There is no more shameful sight, than an old man commencing life.
** # 566
* The truth is lost when there is too much contention about it.
** # 568
* It is only the ignorant who despise education.
** # 571
* It is vain to be the pupil of a sage if you have no brains yourself.
** # 572
* He can best avoid a snare who knows how to set one.
** # 573
* Do not despise the lowest steps in the ascent to greatness.
** # 579
* He is not likely to perish in the ruins who trembles at a crack in the wall.
** # 582
* To control a man against his will, is not to correct him, but injure him.
** # 583
* That is not yours which fortune made yours.
** # 590
* You will find it difficult to be sole guardian over that which multitudes covet.
** # 592
* He bids fair to grow wise, who has discovered that he is not so.
** # 598
* Don't consider how many you can please, but whom.
** # 599
* It is not safe to indulge in a play of wits with kings.
** # 601
* To yield to our friends is not to be overcome, but to conquer.
** # 603
* There is no pleasure which continued enjoyment cannot render disgusting.
** # 604
* He is never happy whose thoughts always run with his fears.
** # 614
* The kind attentions of the wife, speedily gender disgust for the concubine.
** # 622
* He is a despicable sage whose wisdom does not profit himself.
** # 629
* A cheerful obedience is universal, when the worthy bear rule.
** # 632
* Every day should be passed as if it were to be our last.
** # 633
* Be at war with men's vices, at peace with themselves.
** # 636
* Craft, and not sorrow, is seen in a hypocrite's tears.
** # 637
* We find something of the favor sought in a graceful refusal.
** # 642
* Patience and fortitude create their own happiness.
** # 646
* You do well to consider your friend's error your own.
** # 654
* Be your money's master, not its slave.
** # 657
* To take refuge with an inferior, is to betray one's self.
** # 667
* Hearken rather to your conscience than to opinion.
** # 679
* Freedom alone is the source of noble action.
** # 691
* When you have good materials, employ good workmen.
** # 699
* He who is eager to condemn, takes delight in condemning.
** # 707
* A hasty verdict betrays a desire to find a crime committed.
** # 708
* Wit itself is folly in a sage.
** # 710
* He will yield to fear, who has no regard for honor.
** # 713
* God looks at the clean hands, not the full ones.
** # 715
* In being modest there is a slight touch of servility.
** # 717
* He who violates another's honor loses his own.
** # 718
* How happy the life unembarrassed by the cares of business!
** # 725
* How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself!
** # 729
* How often must he ask for pardon who has refused it when asked!
** # 740
* How timid is he who stands in terror of poverty!
** # 741
* Consider the useful agreeable, even though if were not.
** # 743
* He who hesitates to take the right course, deliberates to no purpose.
** # 756
* It is no vice to keep a vice out of sight.
** # 761
* He who can play the fool at pleasure can be wise if he will.
** # 762
* He who has the power to harm is dreaded when he does not intend harm.
** # 764
* He gets through too late who goes too fast.
** # 767
* He who praises himself will speedily find a censor.
** # 769
* He who fears his friend teaches his friend to fear him.
** # 772
* Virtue's deeds are glory's deeds.
** # 778
* It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity.
** # 780
* They pass peaceful lives who ignore mine and thine.
** # 790
* The wise man guards against future evils as if they were present.
** # 796
* What we admire, we never cease commending to ourselves.
** # 802
* It matters not with what purpose you do it, if the act itself be bad.
** # 806
* He can have what he wishes who wishes just enough.
** # 809
* When the soul rules over itself its empire is lasting.
** # 810
* He is condemned every day who stands in daily fear of condemnation.
** # 814
* When you are in love you are not wise, and when you are wise you are not in love.
** # 816
* When you forgive an enemy you gain many friends.
** # 818
* It is robbery to receive a favor which you cannot return.
** # 822
* Youth should be governed by reason, not by force.
** # 826
* Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings.
** # 827
* He who imposes his own talk on the circle, does not converse; he plays the master.
** # 831
* It is not a hard lot to be obliged to return to the state whence we came.
** # 843
* I should not be pleased to be king, if I must therefore be pleased to be cruel.
** # 844
* You can obey a request much better than a command.
** # 846
* The eyes and ears of the mob are often false witnesses.
** # 852
* Vain is that wisdom which does not profit the possessor.
** # 860
* You are eloquent enough if truth speaks through you.
** # 861
* Better be ignorant of a matter than half know it.
** # 865
* The angry think their power greater than it is.
** # 869
* Speak well of your friend in public, admonish him in secret.
** # 870
* Kindness of heart is always happy.
** # 876
* Always shun whatever may make you angry.
** # 879
* He punishes himself who repents of his deeds.
** # 889
* The greatest of empires, is the empire over one's self.
** # 891
* Guilt's assistant is guilt's participant.
** # 893
* In critical junctures, temerity is wont to take the place of prudence.
** # 895
* Glory is apt to follow when industry has prepared the road.
** # 897
* There is hope of improvement so long as a man is alive to shame.
** # 899
* It is folly to censure him whom all the world adores.
** # 903
* It is folly to punish your neighbour by fire when you live next door.
** # 910
* Benevolence tries persuasion first, and then severer measures.
** # 916
* Avarice is as destitute of what it has, as what it has not.
** # 927
* Suspicion begets suspicion.
** # 928
* He is much to be dreaded who stands in dread of poverty.
** # 933
* Timidity styles itself caution; stinginess frugality.
** # 934
* The poor man is ruined as soon as he begins to ape the rich.
** # 941
* When the elder do wrong, the younger learn the lesson.
** # 950
* The wounds of the soul should be cured before those of the body.
** # 953
* Either be silent, or say something better than silence.
** # 960
* Why do we not hear the truth? Because we don't speak it.
** # 963
* It is better to trust virtue than fortune.
** # 974
* Would you be known by every body? Then you know nobody.
** # 979
* He is not considered a dupe who understood that he was deceived.
** # 1001
* The little vices of the great must needs be accounted very great.
** # 1004
* It is an advantage not to possess that which you must hold against your will.
** # 1005
* Anger would inflict punishment on another; meanwhile, it tortures itself.
** # 1009
* The happy man is not he who seems thus to others, but who seems thus to himself.
** # 1010
* Error and repentance are the attendants on hasty decisions.
** # 1012
* How terrible is that anguish which can find no voice
** # 1017
* It is a bitter dose to be taught obedience after you have learned to rule.
** # 1019
* He who subdues his temper vanquishes his greatest enemy.
** # 1027
* He abounds in virtues who loves those of others.
** # 1037
* Reason avails nothing when passion has the mastery.
** # 1044
* Death ever uncertain gets the start of such as are always beginning to live.
** # 1053
* Money is a servant if you know how to use it; if not, it is a master.
** # 1057
* When we speak evil of others, we generally condemn ourselves.
** # 1058
* The later in life evil courses are begun, the more disgraceful they are.
** # 1061
* The same man can rarely say a great deal, and say it to the purpose.
** # 1065
* Not the criminals, but their crimes, it is well to extirpate.
** # 1067
* In our hatred of guilt, it is folly to ruin innocence.
** # 1068
* Let your life be pleasing to the multitude, and it can not be so to yourself.
** # 1075
* If you gain new friends, don't forget the old ones.
** # 1076
* Avarice is as destitute of what it has, as poverty of what it has not.
** # 1079

## External links

Encyclopedic article on The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus on Wikipedia
* Publius Syrus