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.
procrastination too-late grows
Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.
work eye mind
If you direct your whole thought to work itself, none of the things which invade eyes or ears will reach the mind.
dating faults
She abounds with lucious faults.
faults brilliant excellent
The pretended admission of a fault on our part creates an excellent impression.
maturity genius happens
It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.
finishing virtue finishing-touches
Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.
thousand witness conscience
Conscience is a thousand witnesses.
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.
pride taught knows
There is no one who would not rather appear to know than to be taught.