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Insanam uatem aspicies, quae rupe sub ima fata canit foliisque notas et nomina mandat. quaecumque in foliis descripsit carmina uirgo digerit in numerum atque antro seclusa relinquit: illa manent immota locis neque ab ordine cedunt. uerum eadem, uerso tenuis cum cardine uentus impulit et teneras turbauit ianua frondes, numquam deinde cauo uolitantia prendere saxo nec reuocare situs aut iungere carmina curat: inconsulti abeunt sedemque odere Sibyllae.

Virgil#13

ChaosCommunicationFragilityOrderProphecyRecords

About this quote

What does it mean?
You will see a mad prophetess who writes fates on leaves. When the wind scatters them, she does not restore the order, and clients leave unsettled.
In plain terms
Prophecies written on leaves are fragile and easily lost.
What can you take from it?
Messy communication can ruin important messages.

Where it applies

  • managing records
  • conveying secrets

Putting it to work

  • securing documents
  • repeating instructions

Questions to consider

  • How do you preserve truth?
  • What happens when order breaks?

Another view

Some messages are too chaotic to be useful anyway.

More from Virgil

  1. Cessi et sublato montes genitore petivi.

    Permalink to quote #12
  2. Hic tibi ne qua morae fuerint dispendia tanti, quamuis increpitent socii et ui cursus in altum uela uocet, possisque sinus implere secundos, quin adeas uatem p…

    Permalink to quote #14
  3. Equo ne credite, Teucri. quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentis.

    Permalink to quote #11

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