Plautus
Plautus
Titus Maccius Plautus, commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest Latin literary works to have survived in their entirety. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the genre devised by the innovator of Latin literature, Livius Andronicus. The word Plautine /ˈplɔːtaɪn/ refers to both Plautus's own works and works similar to or influenced by his...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionPlaywright
success hands hopeful
The mind is hopeful; success is in God's hands. [Lat., Sperat quidem animus: quo eveniat, diis in manu est.]
desire trouble knows
Know this, that troubles come swifter than the things we desire.
men two want
Let a man who wants to find abundance of employment procure a woman and a ship: for no two things do produce more trouble if you begin to equip them; neither are these two things ever equipped enough.
truth liars hate
I love truth and wish to have it always spoken to me: I hate a liar. [Lat., Ego verum amo, verum volo mihi dici; mendacem odi.]
country children safety
Virtue is the highest reward. Virtue truly goes before all things. Liberty, safety, life, property, parents, country, and children are protected and preserved. Virtue has all things in herself; he who has virtue has all things that are good attending him. [Lat., Virtus praemium est optimum. Virtus omnibus rebus anteit profecto. Libertas, salus, vita, res, parentes, Patria et prognati tutantur, servantur; Virtus omnia in se habet; omnia assunt bona, quem penes est vertus.]
wine feet evil
This is the great evil in wine, it first seizes the feet; it is a cunning wrestler. [Lat., Magnum hoc vitium vino est, Pedes captat primum; luctator dolosu est.]
wisdom gains way
He gains wisdom in a happy way, who gains it by another's experience. [Lat., Feliciter sapit qui alieno periculo sapit.]
men advice good-advice
I've seen many men avoid the region of good advice before they were really near it.
unexpected results exception
Unexpected results are the rule rather than the exception.
obscurity genius buried
How often we see the greatest genius buried in obscurity!
business two giving
Who wishes to give himself an abundance of business let him equip these two things, a ship and a woman. For no two things involve more business, if you have begun to fit them out. Nor are these two things ever sufficiently adorned, nor is any excess of adornment enough for them. [Lat., Negotii sibi qui volet vim parare, Navem et mulierem, haec duo comparato. Nam nullae magis res duae plus negotii Habent, forte si occeperis exornare. Neque unquam satis hae duae res ornantur, Neque eis ulla ornandi satis satietas est.]
business profit ifs
There can be no profit, if the outlay exceeds it. [Non enim potest quaestus consistere, si eum sumptus superat.]
conquest conqueror
He is hailed a conqueror of conquerors. [Lat., Victor victorum cluet.]
evil contentment known
Keep what you have got; the known evil is best. [Lat., Habeas ut nactus; nota mala res optima est.]