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And he makes a great mistake, in my opinion at least, who supposes that authority is firmer or better established when it is founded by force than that which is welded by affection.

Et errat longe, mea quidem sententia,
Qui imperium credat esse gravius, aut stabilius,
Vi quod fit, quam illud quod amicitia adjungitur.

Original text (Latin)

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More quotes by Terence

There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.

It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms.

Nothing is said nowadays that has not been said before.

Do you fear to trust the word of a man, whose honesty you have seen in business?

The nature of all men is so formed that they see and discriminate in the affairs of others, much better than in their own.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Terence (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.