Jejunis nil scribo: meum post pocula si quis legerit, hic sapiet. Sed magis hic sapiet, si dormiet: et putet ista somnia missa sibi.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Ausonius claims he writes soberly but suggests his drunker poems would make readers wise, though sleeping on them would make them wiser still.
- In plain terms
- My sober work is good, but my drunk work is better if you ignore it and sleep instead.
- What can you take from it?
- Sometimes ignoring flawed art is the wisest choice.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is it better to ignore art?
- How does humor affect wisdom?
Another view
The quote relies on the reader understanding Latin wordplay and context.
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