Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.

Quote by Marcus Fabius Quintilian

Topics: Marcus Fabius Quintilian Quotes

The pretended admission of a fault on our part creates an excellent impression.

The pretended admission of a fault on our part creates an excellent impression.

Men, even when alone, lighten their labors by song, however rude it may be.

Men, even when alone, lighten their labors by song, however rude it may be.

A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.

A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.

Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire.

Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire.

The prosperous can not easily form a right idea of misery.

The prosperous can not easily form a right idea of misery.

For comic writers charge Socrates with making the worse appear the better reason.

For comic writers charge Socrates with making the worse appear the better reason.

It is fitting that a liar should be a man of good memory.

It is fitting that a liar should be a man of good memory.

Though ambition in itself is a vice, yet it is often the parent of virtues.

Though ambition in itself is a vice, yet it is often the parent of virtues.

That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.

That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.

We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.

We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.

For it would have been better that man should have been born dumb, nay, void...

For it would have been better that man should have been born dumb, nay, void...

Nothing is more dangerous to men than a sudden change of fortune.

Nothing is more dangerous to men than a sudden change of fortune.

While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin. the opportunity...

While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin. the opportunity...

While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it.

While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it.

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

Vain hopes are like certain dreams of those who wake.

Vain hopes are like certain dreams of those who wake.

To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.

To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.

Where evil habits are once settled, they are more easily broken than mended.

Where evil habits are once settled, they are more easily broken than mended.

It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.

It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.

We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.

We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.