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
smooth
Smooth words in place of gifts. [Lat., Dicta docta pro datis.]
obscurity genius buried
How often we see the greatest genius buried in obscurity!
helping fortitude distress
Fortitude is a great help in distress.
eating morrow dies
Feast to-day makes fast to-morrow. [Lat., Festo die si quid prodegeris, Profesto egere liceat nisi peperceris.]
delay annoying
Nothing is more annoying than a tardy friend. [Lat., Tardo amico nihil est quidquam iniquius.]
water digging thirst
It is wretched business to be digging a well just as thirst is mastering you.
hands suffering fists
If you strike the goads with your fists, your hands suffer most.
guilt trifles esteem
I esteem death a trifle, if not caused by guilt.
excess trouble middle
In everything the middle course is the best; everything in excess brings trouble.
done favour morality
It is customary these days to ignore what should be done in favour of what pleases us.
eating morrow
Feast to-day makes fast to-morrow. Lat.
kindness favors ill
To a well deserving person God will show favor. To an ill deserving person He will simply be just.
friends oldest-friends
Ones oldest friend is the best.
contentment enough ifs
If you are content, you have enough to live comfortably.