Si vis me flere, dolendum est primum ipsi tibi.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- If you want me to we, first you must mourn yourself.
- In plain terms
- To elicit sympathy, one must first feel personal loss.
- What can you take from it?
- Self‑reflection precedes genuine emotion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why is personal mourning necessary for shared sorrow?
- Can empathy exist without self‑reflection?
Another view
It can be read as self‑centered, ignoring others' feelings.
More from Horace
Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio.
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Permalink to quote #35
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