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He who writes distichs, wishes, I suppose, to please by brevity. But, tell me, of what avail is their brevity, when there is a whose book full of them?

Martial

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Martial
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More quotes by Martial

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Every epigram should resemble a bee it should have sting, honey, and brevity.
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Make it a point not to be over-fascinating.
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If you have any shame, forbear to pluck the beard of a dead lion.
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Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that's how a book of poems is made, my Friend.
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A fisherman's walk: three steps and overboard.
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He truly sorrows who sorrows unseen.
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I wont let a wife lead me to the altar. [I will not have a wife that shall be my master.]
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When your crowd of attendants so loudly applaud you, Pomponius, it is not you, but your banquet, that is eloquent.
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Remember, cobbler, to keep to your leather. [Lat., Memento, in pellicula, cerdo, tenere tuo.]
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In adversity it is easy to despise life he is truly brave who can endure a wretched life. [Lat., Rebus in angustis facile est contemnere vitam Fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest.]
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Work divided is in that manner shortened.
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Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well.
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Tis easy to write epigrams nicely, but to write a book is hard.
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The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved, in a tear of the sisters of Phaeton, so that it seems enshrined in its own nectar. It has obtained a worthy reward for its great toils we may suppose that the bee itself would have desired such a death.
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I am a shell-fish just come from being saturated with the waters of the Lucrine lake, near Baiae but now I luxuriously thrust for noble pickle.
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The African lions rush to attack bulls they do not attack butterflies. [Lat., In tauros Libyci ruunt leones Non sunt papilionibus molesti.]
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If you are poor now, Aemilianus, you will always be poor. Riches are now given to none but the rich.
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It is to live twice when we can enjoy the recollections of our former life.
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That which prevents disagreeable flies from feeding on your repast, was once the proud tail of a splendid bird.
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Your page stands against you and says to you that you are a thief.
Martial