Quintus Ennius Quotes & Sayings

No one regards what is before his feet; we all gaze at the stars. — Quintus Ennius

That is true liberty, which bears a pure and firm breast. — Quintus Ennius

Whom men fear they hate, and whom they hate, they wish dead — Quintus Ennius

Here is he laid to whom for daring deed, nor friend nor foe could render worthy meed. — Quintus Ennius

One man by delaying saved the state for us. — Quintus Ennius

The Roman state stands by ancient customs, and its manhood. — Quintus Ennius

The wise man is wise in vain who cannot be wise to his own advantage.
[Lat., Nequicquam sapere sapientem, qui ipse sibi prodesse non quiret.] — Quintus Ennius

A true friend is distinguished in the crisis of hazard and necessity; when the gallantry of his aid may show the worth of his soul and the loyalty of his heart. — Quintus Ennius

A sure friend is known in unsure circumstances. — Quintus Ennius

A true friend is tested in adversity. — Quintus Ennius

One man by delay restored the state, for he preferred the public safety to idle report.
[Lat., Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem,
Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem.] — Quintus Ennius

He whose wisdom cannot help him, gets no good from being wise. — Quintus Ennius

Don't ask of your friends what you yourself can do. — Quintus Ennius

How can life be worth living, if devoid Of the calm trust reposed by friend in friend? What sweeter joy than in the kindred soul, Whose converse differs not from self-communion? — Quintus Ennius

Let no one pay me honor with tears, nor celebrate my funeral rites with weeping. — Quintus Ennius

The idle mind knows not what it wants. — Quintus Ennius

To open his lips is crime in a plain citizen. — Quintus Ennius

Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men. — Quintus Ennius

He hath freedom whoso beareth a clean and constant heart within. — Quintus Ennius

One man restored our fortunes by delay. [By skilfully avoiding an engagement, Fabius exhausted the resources of the enemy.] — Quintus Ennius

Amicu certus in re incerta cernitur'
[A true friend is a friend when in difficulty] — Quintus Ennius

He who has two languages has two souls. — Quintus Ennius

He hath freedom whoso beareth clean and constant heart within. — Quintus Ennius

They hate whom they fear. — Quintus Ennius

To later Romans Ennius was the personification of the spirit of early Rome; by them he was called "The Father of Roman Poetry." We must remember how truly Greek he was in his point of view. He set the example for later Latin poetry by writing the first epic of Rome in Greek hexameter verses instead of in the old Saturnian verse. He made popular the doctrines of Euhemerus, and he was in general a champion of free thought and rationalism. — Quintus Ennius

The ape, vilest of beasts, how like to us. — Quintus Ennius

The victor is not victorious if the vanquished does not consider himself so — Quintus Ennius

He who civilly shows the way to one who has missed it, is as one who has lighted another's lamp from his own lamp; it none the less gives light to himself when it burns for the other. — Quintus Ennius

O friend unseen, unborn, unknown, Student of our sweet English tongue, I never indulge in poetics - Unless I am down with rheumatics. — Quintus Ennius

I never indulge in rhyme or stanza Unless I'm in bed with the influenza. — Quintus Ennius

Ennius was the father of Roman poetry, because he first introduced into Latin the Greek manner and in particular the hexameter metre. — Quintus Ennius

Let no one honour me with tears, or bury me with lamentation. Why? Because I fly hither and thither, living in the mouths of me.
[Lat., Nemo me lacrymis decoret, nec funera fletu.
Faxit cur? Volito vivu' per ora virum.] — Quintus Ennius