Livy
Livy
Titus Livius—known as Livy /ˈlɪvi/ in English—was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people – Ab Urbe Condita Libri– covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional foundation in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own time. He was on familiar terms with the Julio-Claudian dynasty, advising Augustus's grandnephew, the future emperor Claudius, as a young man not long before 14 AD in a letter to...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionHistorian
boldest difficult hopeless plans situations
In difficult and hopeless situations the boldest plans are the safest.
brings gods matters smallest
Superstition brings the gods into even the smallest matters
motivational country medicine
The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things rotten through and through, to avoid.
gratitude men blessing
Men are slower to recognize blessings than evils.
maturity long excellence
It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity.
betrayal betrayed ends
A fraudulent intent, however carefully concealed at the outset, will generally, in the end, betray itself.
kings sweetness
The old Romans all wished to have a king over them because they had not yet tasted the sweetness of freedom.
contests contention animosity
Great contests generally excite great animosities.
humble use arrogant
Such is the nature of crowds: either they are humble and servile or arrogant and dominating. They are incapable of making moderate use of freedom, which is the middle course, or of keeping it.
sins-not mind body
The mind sins, not the body; if there is no intention, there is no blame.
endurance bears familiar
Those ills are easiest to bear with which we are most familiar.
time spring events
Events of great consequence often spring from trifling circumstances.
wickedness reason
No wickedness proceeds on any grounds of reason.
time better-late-than-never late
Potius sero quam nunquam. Better late than never.