Sallust
Sallust
Gaius Sallustius Crispus, usually anglicised as Sallust, was a Roman historian, politician, and novus homo from a provincial plebeian family. Sallust was born at Amiternum in the country of the Sabines and was a popularis, an opponent of the old Roman aristocracy, throughout his career, and later a partisan of Julius Caesar. Sallust is the earliest known Roman historian with surviving works to his name, of which Catiline's War, The Jugurthine War, and the Historiesare still extant. Sallust was primarily...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionHistorian
courage safety enemy
To hope for safety in flight, when you have turned away from the enemy the arms by which the body is defended, is indeed madness. In battle those who are most afraid are always in most danger; but courage is equivalent to rampart.
desire few majority men satisfied
Few men desire liberty; the majority are satisfied with a just master.
balance-and-harmony decay harmony-in-music
Harmony makes small things grow; lack of it makes great things decay.
intellectual fleeting wealth
The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.
passion men interest
No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.
courage brave
Necessity makes even the timid brave.
honesty envy toil
They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.
friendship true-friend like-and-dislike
To like and dislike the same things that is indeed true friendship.
kings honesty soldier
Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.
gratitude ambition ties
Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.
likes-and-dislikes identity likes
The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.
unity unions states
By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.
friendship loyalty kindness
Neither the army nor the treasury, but friends, are the true supports of the throne; for friends cannot be collected by force of arms, nor purchased with money; they are the offspring of kindness and sincerity.
kings arms overcoming
In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.