Sallust Quotes (42 Quotes)

We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.

It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.

Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.

He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.

As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.

The higher your station, the less your liberty.

All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.

In my own case, who have spent my whole life in the practice of virtue, right conduct from habitual has become natural.

Every man is the architect of his own fortune.

He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed.

To like and dislike the same things, this is what makes a solid friendship.

The glory that goes with wealth is fleeting and fragile; virtue is a possession glorious and eternal.

It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.

Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.

Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible.

Necessity makes even the timid brave.

Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord.

In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art.

Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.

Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.

Most honorable are services rendered to the State; even if they do not go beyond words, they are not to be despised.

They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.

The glory of riches and of beauty is frail and transitory virtue remains bright and eternal.

Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master.

Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.

The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.

By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.

Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself.

In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.

Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.

No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.

Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure.

Before you act, consider; when you have considered, tis fully time to act.

With Carthaginian faith i.e. Treachery.

Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits.

The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.

Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.

No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.

All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.

In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.