Ovid
Ovid
Publius Ovidius Naso, known as Ovid in the English-speaking world, was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace with whom he is often ranked as one of the three canonical poets of Latin literature. The Imperial scholar Quintilian considered him the last of the Latin love elegists. He enjoyed enormous popularity, but, in one of the mysteries of literary history, he was sent by Augustus into exile...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionPoet
strong fall ruins
All things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.
generosity giver values
The gift derives its value from the rank of the giver.
giving genius
Giving calls for genius.
years contentment may
May you live unenvied, and pass many pleasant years unknown to fame; and also have congenial friends. [Lat., Vive sine invidia, mollesque inglorius annos Exige; amicitias et tibi junge pares.]
names empty losing-friendship
Friendship is but a name; fidelity but an empty name.
goal achievement tasks
I attempt an arduous task but there is no worth in that which is not a difficult achievement
strong lying moving
Wine, not too much, inspires and make the mind,to the soft joys of Venus strong inclined,which, buried in excess, unapt to love,stupidly lies and knows not hom to move
teaching enemy taught
It is lawful to be taught by an enemy. Fas est ab hoste doceri.
enemy should
Fas est ab hoste doceri. One should learn even from one's enemies.
cracked
Anything cracked will shatter at a touch.
friendship herds advantage
The vulgar herd estimate friendship by its advantages. [Lat., Vulgus amicitias utilitate probat.]
friends crowds fortune
The rest of the crowd were friends of my fortune, not of me. [Lat., Caetera fortunae, non mea, turba fuit.]
safe no-fear fortune
The most wretched fortune is safe; for there is no fear of anything worse. [Lat., Fortuna miserrima tuta est: Nam timor eventus deterioris abest.]
mind spurs fame
The love of fame usually spurs on the mind. [Lat., Ingenio stimulos subdere fama solet.]