Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Plautus, full name Titus Maccius Plautus NULL

Roman Comic Playwright

"'Tis better to profit by a horrible example than to be one."

"A well-balanced mind is the best remedy against affliction."

"A word to the wise is enough."

"All men love themselves."

"An undisturbed mind is the best sauce for affliction."

"Anger restrained is wisdom gained."

"Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity."

"Do you never look at yourself when you abuse another person?"

"Enemies carry about slander, not in the form in which it took its rise... The scandal of men is everlasting; even then does it survive when you would suppose it to be dead."

"Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the affairs of life."

"Every one can remember that which has interested himself."

"He who dies for virtue does not perish."

"If you lend a person any money, it becomes lost for any purpose as one’s own. When you ask for it back again, you may find a friend made an enemy by your kindness. If you begin to press still further, either you must part with that which you have intrusted, or else you must lose that friend."

"In everything the middle course is best: all things in excess bring trouble to men."

"It behooves a father to be virtuous if he expects his son to be more virtuous than he has been."

"It does not good to offer consoling words to a man in distress; his real friend in a pinch is a friend in deed, when deeds are needed."

"It is easy to mock the wretched."

"Know this, that troubles come swifter than the things we desire."

"Laws are slaves of custom [Laws are subordinate to custom]."

"Men understand the worth of blessings only when they have lost them."

"Necessity knows no shame."

"Not by age but by character is wisdom attained."

"See all things, not in process of becoming, but in Being, and see themselves in the other. Each being contains in itself the whole intelligible world. Therefore All is everywhere. Each is there All, and All is each. Man as he now is has ceased to be the All. But when he ceases to be an individual, he raises himself again and penetrates the whole world."

"Virtue is the highest reward. Virtue truly goes before all things."

"Worthy things happen to the worthy."

"A contented mind is the best source for trouble. "

"A mouse never entrusts his life to only one hole."

"A wise man is the architect of his own fortune."

"Bad conduct soils the finest ornament more than filth."

"Courage easily finds its own eloquence."

"Courage in danger is half the battle."

"Courage is what preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things."

"Good courage in a bad affair is half of the evil overcome."

"Good merchandise, even hidden, soon finds buyers."

"He does not right who unlearns what he has learned."

"He means well is useless unless he does well."

"He who plunges into love is more lost than he leapt from a rock."

"He who seeks for gain, must be at some expense."

"He whom the gods love dies young, while he is in health, has his senses and his judgments sound."

"How great in number are the little minded men."

"I am always afraid of your 'something shall be done'."

"I much prefer a compliment, even if insincere, to sincere criticism."

"I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within."

"If you are but content you have enough to live upon with comfort [you have enough to live comfortably]."

"If you have overcome your inclination and not been overcome by it, you have reason to rejoice."

"It is easy to rule over the good."

"It is well for one to know more than he says."

"It well becomes a young man to be modest."

"Keep what you have; the known evil is best."

"Let deeds match words."