Quintilian
Quintilian
Marcus Fabius Quintilianuswas a Roman rhetorician from Hispania, widely referred to in medieval schools of rhetoric and in Renaissance writing. In English translation, he is usually referred to as Quintilian, although the alternate spellings of Quintillian and Quinctilian are occasionally seen, the latter in older texts...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionEducator
except quotes
To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.
faults brilliant excellent
The pretended admission of a fault on our part creates an excellent impression.
finishing virtue finishing-touches
Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.
virtue impetus
Although virtue receives some of its excellencies from nature, yet it is perfected by education. [Lat., Virtus, etiamsi quosdam impetus a natura sumit, tamen perficienda doctrina est.]
hypocrisy wish fool
Those who wish to appear learned to fools, appear as fools to the learned.
great-change effects
Nature herself has never attempted to effect great changes rapidly.
natural-gifts useless natural
Without natural gifts technical rules are useless.
broken-heart evil broken-promises
Where evil habits are once settled, they are more easily broken than mended.
neighbor pleasure satiety
Satiety is a neighbor to continued pleasures. [Lat., Continuis voluptatibus vicina satietas.]
too-late pondering late
While we ponder when to begin, it becomes too late to do.
obscurity incapacity proportion
The obscurity of a writer is generally in proportion to his incapacity.
satire verses
Verse satire indeed is entirely our own.
among appear seem
Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.
purchased quotes
A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.