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Gaius Lucilius Quotes
180 BC–103 BC
Gaius Lucilius (180, 168 or 148 – 103 BC) was the earliest Roman satirist, of whose writings only fragments remain. A Roman citizen of the equestrian class, he was born at Suessa Aurunca in Campania, and was a member of the Scipionic Circle.
Random Gaius Lucilius quote
11 quotes
Longing can be put out of a [lustful] man, but lust is never put out from a fool.
Good living to you, you gluttons, you guzzlers, good living to you, you bellies!
They agree to laws by which the people are outlaws.
This is a little better than middling, that is a little less bad than what you would call the worst.
Oh, the cares of mankind! Oh, how much emptiness there is in the world!
The Roman people has been often beaten by force and overcome in many battles, but never in a whole war, in which lies all that is vital.
You must undertake a labour that may bring praise and profit for you.
Gold or man, which do you want? Take your choice. "The man? What is the man compared with his gold?"
It is not my way to lie to a friend and aquaintance [sic].
To become a tax-farmer of Asia, a collector of pasture-taxes, instead of Lucilius—that I don't want; in exchange for what I am—for this alone of all things I'm not taking the whole world.
As baby children believe that all bronze statues are alive and are men, so these (superstitious grown-ups) think the fictions of dreams are real, and believe that bronze statues have a living heart inside. These things are a painters' gallery, nothing real, all make-believe.
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