Avianus Quotes
b. 400
Avianus (or possibly Avienus; fl. c. AD 400) was a Latin writer of fables.
Random Avianus quote
12 quotes
"What profit could I ever hope to gain
when hearkening to the prattle of a nurse?"
Thus often must a worried man complain,
who, trusting woman, finds her art a curse.
This is the lot of mortals; death comes swift to the happier ones, while the daily life of the unfortunate refuses them death.
Everyone should take his true measure and be content with his own merits, and not claim for himself his neighbour's goods.
It will be better to endure toil however burdensome than to experience when young an ease that is soon to be lost.
Because your parents transmitted strong limbs to you, it does not follow that they added efficiency to your strength.
When no valiant effort could provide a way, she lost her temper and with fresh cunning applied all her crafty devices.
This has proved the superiority of foresight over stout efforts.
Great achievement is only reached by the utmost toil.
So to those wicked enough to ask the gods for everything at once, they refuse the more justly even the prayers of a single day.
So anyone elated and puffed up with new-found glory pays a just penalty in hankering after what is too high for him.
Then Apollo, learning the truth, smiled at human lot, and with his own lips reported to Jupiter the curse of jealousy, which, as it rejoices in other people's untoward fortunes, is unlucky enough the more gladly to desire its own harm also.
The man that has allowed his youth to go by in idleness and has not taken anxious precautions against the ills of life—that man, foredone with years, will in the presence of burdensome old age often ask in vain, alas, for a neighbour's help.