18 quotes
He wins every hand who mingles profit with pleasure, by delighting and instructing the reader at the same time.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
The mountains will be in labor, and a ridiculous mouse will be brought forth.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
Mere grace is not enough: a play should thrill
The hearer's soul, and move it at its will.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
The Muse gave the Greeks their native character, and allowed them to speak in noble tones, they who desired nothing but praise.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
Often a purple patch or two is tacked on to a serious work of high promise, to give an effect of colour.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
And what he fears he cannot make attractive with his touch he abandons.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
It is difficult to speak of the universal specifically.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
Nor word for word too faithfully translate.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
Struggling to be brief I become obscure.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
None knows the reason why this curse
Was sent on him, this love of making verse.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
Sunt delicta tamen quibus ignovisse velimus.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
If you wish me to weep, you yourself
Must first feel grief.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
To have good sense, is the first principle and fountain of writing well.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
For nature forms our spirits to receive
Each bent that outward circumstance can give:
She kindles pleasure, bids resentment glow,
Or bows the soul to earth in hopeless woe.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
I am displeased when sometimes even the worthy Homer nods
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men’s minds may take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)
But if ever you shall write any thing, let it be submitted to the ears of Metius [Tarpa], who is a judge, and your father’s, and mine; and let it be suppressed till the ninth year, your papers being laid up within your own custody. You will have it in your power to blot out what you have not made public: a word once sent abroad can never return.
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (-18)