Quotes By Sallust

Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself.

It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.

In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.

The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.

Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master.

Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.

All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.

In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.

He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.

By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.

Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.

We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.

The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.

They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.

He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed.

Necessity makes even the timid brave.

Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits.

As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.

Every man is the architect of his own fortune.

No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.

The glory that goes with wealth is fleeting and fragile; virtue is a possession glorious and eternal.

Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.

No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.

To like and dislike the same things, this is what makes a solid friendship.

Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.

It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.

Before you act, consider; when you have considered, tis fully time to act.

The higher your station, the less your liberty.