52 Cato the Elder Quotes

Cato the Elder quotes

1. Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.

2. The best way to keep good acts in memory is to refresh them with new.

3. Emas non quod opus est, sed quod necesse est. Quod non opus est, asse carum est.

4. Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

5. An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.

6. An orator is a good man who is skilled in speaking.

7. Anger so clouds the mind, that it cannot perceive the truth

8. Be firm or mild as the occasion may require.

9. Cessation of work is not accompanied by cessation of expenses.

10. Consider it the greatest of all virtues to restrain the tongue.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

11. Vir bonus, dicendi peritus

12. Do not expect good from another's death.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

13. Don't promise twice what you can do at once.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

14. From lightest words sometimes the direst quarrel springs.

15. Grasp the subject, the words will follow.

16. I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.

17. I would much rather have men ask why I have no statue, than why I have one.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

18. In conversation avoid the extremes of forwardness and reserve.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

19. In doing nothing men learn to do evil.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

20. It is a hard matter, my fellow citizens, to argue with the belly, since it has no ears.

21. Lighter is the wound foreseen.

22. Not that I might die learned-but that I might not die unlearned.

23. Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternatives.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

24. Patience is the greatest of all virtues.

25. Should anyone attempt to deceive you by false expressions, and not be a true friend at heart, act in the same manner, and thus art will defeat art.

26. The worst ruler is one who cannot rule himself.

27. 'Tis sometimes the height of wisdom to feign stupidity.

28. We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them.

29. Fronte capillata, post est Occasio calva.

1. It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly since it has no ears.

2. When you have decided to purchase a farm, be careful not to buy rashly; do not spare your visits and be not content with a single tour of inspection. The more you go, the more will the place please you, if it be worth your attention. Give heed to the appearance of the neighbourhood, - a flourishing country should show its prosperity. "When you go in, look about, so that, when needs be, you can find your way out.

3. Furthermore, I think Carthage must be destroyed.

4. When you have arrived at your country house and have saluted your household, you should make the rounds of the farm the same day, if possible; if not, then certainly the next day. When you have observed how the field work has progressed, what things have been done, and what remains undone, you should summon your overseer the next day, and should call for a report of what work has been done in good season and why it has not been possible to complete the rest, and what wine and corn and other crops have been gathered.

5. If you are ruled by mind you are a king; if by body, a slave.

6. Moreover, I consider that Carthage should be destroyed.

7. I prefer to do right and get no thanks than to do wrong and receive no punishment.

8. The hero saves us. Praise the hero! Now, who will save us from the hero?

9. Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.

10. Between the mouth and the morsel many things may happen.

11. The public has more interest in the punishment of an injury than he who receives it.

12. I can pardon everybody's mistakes except my own.

13. He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.

14. There is a wide difference between true courage and a mere contempt of life.

15. Woman is a violent and uncontrolled animal, and it is useless to let go the reins and then expect her not to kick over the traces. You must keep her on a tight rein . . . Women want total freedom or rather - to call things by their names - total licence. If you allow them to achieve complete equality with men, do you think they will be easier to live with? Not at all. Once they have achieved equality, they will be your masters . . .

16. Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters.

17. Buy not what you want, but what you have need of; what you do not want is dear at a farthing.

18. Suffer women once to arrive at an equality with you, and they will from that moment become your superiors.

19. After I am dead, I would rather have men ask why Cato has no monument than why he had one.

20. All mankind rules its women, and we rule all mankind, but our women rule us.

21. Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all your work.

22. “Thieves of private property pass their lives in chains; thieves of public property in riches and luxury.”

23. “It is a hard matter to save a city in which a fish sells for more than an ox.”