Quintus Horatius Flaccus, popularly known as Horace, was an outstanding Roman lyric poet, critic, and satirist who lived between 65 BC to 8 BC.Horace was famous for highlighting simple events in life and giving them an artistic perspective. His unique sense of humor and sarcasm made his work even more appealing and entertaining.Horace’s most admired work is ‘Odes,’ which is popular even today for its short lyric poetry and themes of love, friendship, and patriotism. He is also well-known for his satirical poems ‘Satires,’ and his other books are ‘Epodes,’ ‘Epistles,’ and ‘Ars Poetica.’ Horace’s the ‘Carmen Saeculare’ (Song of the Ages) was consigned by Emperor Augustus as a ceremonial poem for the Secular Games in 17 BC. His work had also influenced many famous poets and writers like Alexander Pope, Robert Frost, Ben Johnson, W.H.Auden, and many others. Even today, many Latin phrases from his poems are in wide use, such as ‘carpe diem’ (seize the day), ‘pulvis et umbra sumus’ (we are but dust and shadow), ‘sapere aude, incipe’ (dare to be wise, begin).Below are some great quotes by Latin lyric poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus. If you need more quotes, go through Greek Quotes and Ancient Quotes.Best Horace QuotesHorace was a great and much-loved poet who highlighted the political and cultural change happening during his time. Below are some of the well-known Horace quotes.1.“Pulvis et umbra sumus (We are but dust and shadow)."-Horace.2.“Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise."-Horace.3.“They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea."-Horace.4.“Rule your mind or it will rule you."-Horace.5.“Pactum serve (Keep the faith)."-Horace.6.“He who is greedy is always in want."-Horace.7.“In love, there are two evils: war and peace."-Horace.8.“Anger is a brief madness."-Horace.9.“We are just statistics, born to consume resources."-Horace.10.“Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant."-Horace.11.“A heart well prepared for adversity in bad times hopes, and in good times fears for a change in fortune."-Horace.12.“A portion of mankind take pride in their vices and pursue their purpose; many more waver between doing what is right and complying with what is wrong."-Horace.13.“A shoe that is too large is apt to trip one, and when too small, to pinch the feet. So it is with those whose fortune does not suit them."-Horace.14.“Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant."-Horace.15.“Avoid inquisitive persons, for they are sure to be gossips, their ears are open to hear, but they will not keep what is entrusted to them."-Horace.16.“Choose a subject equal to your abilities; think carefully what your shoulders may refuse, and what they are capable of bearing."-Horace.17.“Clogged with yesterday’s excess, the body drags the mind down with it."-Horace.18.“Great effort is required to arrest decay and restore vigor."-Horace.19.“One must exercise proper deliberation, plan carefully before making a move, and be alert in guarding against relapse following a renaissance."-Horace.20.“I never think at all when I write. Nobody can do two things at the same time and do them both well."-Horace.21.“He who would begun has half done. Dare to be wise, begin."-Horace.22.“No poems can please for long or live that are written by water drinkers."-Horace.Roman Poet Horace Quotes On ArtHorace was well-educated in Greek, and philosophy has been appreciated by many for his artistic stance and love of poetry. Below are few Horace quotes on life and art.23.“Every old poem is sacred."-Horace.24.“The Muse gave the Greeks genius and the art of the well-turned phrase."-Horace.25.“A picture is a poem without words."-Horace.26.“You must often make erasures if you mean to write what is worthy of being read a second time, and don’t labor for the admiration of the crowd, but be content with a few choice readers."-Horace.27.“The pen is the tongue of the mind."-Horace.28.“Drawing is the true test of art."-Horace.29.“O drink is mighty! secrets it unlocks, Turns hope to fact, sets cowards on to box, Takes burdens from the careworn, finds out parts In stupid folks, and teaches unknown arts."-Horace.30.“What tongue hangs fire when quickened by the bowl? What wretch so poor but wine expands his soul?"-Horace.31.“Painters and poets have equal license in regard to everything."-Horace.32.“No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation."-Horace.33.“It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say; when one has nothing to say, however, and none the less writes a whole book and makes truth into a liar - that I call an achievement."-Horace.Book Of Horace QuotesQuintus Horatius Flaccus encouraged future poets to read a lot, work hard to achieve greatness, and accept criticism. Here are some witty Horace quotes on books and reading.34.“Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone."-Horace.35.“Books have their destinies."-Horace.36.“Leuconoe, close the book of fate, For troubles are in store, Live today, tomorrow is not."-Horace.37.“Knowledge without education is but armed injustice."-Horace.38.“Good sense is both the first principal and the parent source of good writing."-Horace.Horace Quotes On DeathHorace died in Rome in 8 BCE, was famous for his views on many things in life, including death. Here are a few Horace quotes about goodbye to life and the inevitable demise.39.“Pale death with an impartial foot knocks at the hovels of the poor and the palaces of king."-Horace.40.“Years, following years, steal something every day; At last they steal us from ourselves away."-Horace.41.“I shall not altogether die."-Horace.42.“In the capacious urn of death, every name is shaken (Lat., Omne capax movet urna nomen)."-Horace.43.“Death is the last limit of all things."-Horace.44.“Death is the ultimate boundary of human matters."-Horace.45.“I shall not wholly die, and a great part of me will escape the grave."-Horace.46.“He that cuts off twenty years of life. Cuts off so many years of fearing death."-Horace.47.“One night is awaiting us all, and the way of death must be trodden once (Lat., Omnes una manet nox, Et calcanda semel via leti)."-Horace.48.“Death’s dark way Must needs be trodden once, however, we pause."-Horace.49.“One night awaits all, and death’s path must be trodden once and for all."-Horace.50.“Pale Death beats equally at the poor man’s gate and at the palaces of kings."-Horace.51.“Few cross the river of time and are able to reach non-being. Most of them run up and down only on this side of the river but those who when they know the law follow the path of the law, they shall reach the other shore and go beyond the realm of death."-Horace.Horace Quotes On RidiculousQuintus Horatius Flaccus used his humor and satirical skills and ridiculed the social evils during that time. Check out some of those clever Horace quotes.52.“Ridicule is often employed with more power and success than severity."-Horace.53.“Ridicule often cuts the knot, where severity fails."-Horace.54.“Man learns more readily and remembers more willingly what excites his ridicule than what deserves esteem and respect."-Horace.55.“Ridicule more often settles things more thoroughly and better than acrimony."-Horace.Horace Quotes On GodsHorace, the famous Roman poet, did not believe in God but had some interesting thoughts on God. Below are few such quotes by the great poet Horace.56.“Leave all else to the gods."-Horace.57.“Whither, O god of wine, art thou hurrying me, whilst under thy all-powerful influence?"-Horace.58.“Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers."-Horace.59.“If any man cannot feel the power of God when he looks upon the stars, then I doubt whether he is capable of any feeling at all."-Horace.60.“Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers."-Horace.Horace Quotes On Dying For Your CountryQuintus Horatius Flaccus, also known as Horace, was a soldier in Brutus’s army who fought but fled in Philippi’s battle. Yet, he had some significant thoughts about dying for the country. Below are some of those quotes taken from his poems.61.“It is sweet and honorable to die for your country (dulce et decorum est pro patria mori)."-Horace.62.“What exile from his country is able to escape from himself?"-Horace.63.“The whole race of scribblers flies from the town and yearns for country life."-Horace.64.“In Rome, you long for the country. In the country, you praise to the skies the distant town."-Horace.65.“Live as brave men and face adversity with stout hearts."-Horace.66.“Let us both small and great push forward in this work, in this pursuit, if to our country, if to ourselves we would live dear."-Horace.67.“He is armed without who is innocent within, be this thy screen, and this thy wall of brass."-Horace.68.“It is courage, courage, courage, that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity."-Horace.69.“Wars, the horror of mothers (Bella detesta matribus)."-Horace.Horace Quotes About LifeHorace, whose actual name was Quintus Horatius Flaccus, gave the most inspirational and motivating words for everyone - ‘Carpe Diem,’ which encourages us to live life to the fullest. Here are some more inspirational quotes by Horace on life.70.“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think."-Horace.71.“Remember when life’s path is steep to keep your mind even."-Horace.72.“Many shall be restored that now are fallen and many shall fall that now are in honor."-Horace.73.“A word, once sent abroad, flies irrevocably."-Horace.74.“Make a good use of the present."-Horace.75.“A good resolve will make any port."-Horace.76.“Don’t yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments."-Horace.77.“Whatever advice you give, be short."-Horace.78.“Money is a handmaiden if thou knowest how to use it A mistress if thou knowest not."-Horace.79.“Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow."-Horace.80.“In times of stress, be bold and valiant."-Horace.81.“He who postpones the hour of living is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses."-Horace.82.“As a rule, adversity reveals genius and prosperity hides it."-Horace.83.“Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment."-Horace.84.“Who then is free? The wise man who can govern himself."-Horace.85.“In adversity, remember to keep an even mind."-Horace.86.“Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled."-Horace.87.“Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work."-Horace.88.“The one who cannot restrain their anger will wish undone, what their temper and irritation prompted them to do."-Horace.89.“Lawyers are men who hire out their words and anger."-Horace.90.“The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor."-Horace.91.“While fools shun one set of faults they run into the opposite one."-Horace.92.“Always keep your composure. You can’t score from the penalty box, and to win, you have to score."-Horace.93.“It is when I struggle to be brief that I become obscure."-Horace.94.“Sad people dislike the happy, and the happy the sad; the quick thinking the sedate, and the careless the busy and industrious."-Horace.95.“Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor."-Horace.96.“A good and faithful judge ever prefers the honorable to the expedient."-Horace.97.“You traverse the world in search of happiness, which is within the reach of every man. A contented mind confers it on all."-Horace.98.“What we learn only through the ears makes less impression upon our minds than what is presented to the trustworthy eye."-Horace.99.“He has not lived badly whose birth and death has been unnoticed by the world."-Horace.100.“Think to yourself that every day is your last; the hour to which you do not look forward will come as a welcome surprise."-Horace.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Horace Quotes, then why not take a look at Archimedes Quotes or Thucydides Quotes.
Quintus Horatius Flaccus, popularly known as Horace, was an outstanding Roman lyric poet, critic, and satirist who lived between 65 BC to 8 BC.
