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But at power or wealth, for the sake of which wars, and all kinds of strife, arise among mankind, we do not aim; we desire only our liberty, which no honorable man relinquishes but with his life.

— Sallust Bellum Catilinae (-44)

At nos non imperium neque divitias petimus, quarum rerum causa bella atque certamina omnia inter mortales sunt, sed libertatem, quam nemo bonus nisi cum anima simul amittit.

Original text (Latin)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Chapter XXXIII, section 5

More quotes by Sallust

The man who is roused neither by glory nor by danger it is in vain to exhort; terror closes the ears of the mind.

Only a few prefer liberty, the majority seek nothing more than fair masters.

For the fame of riches and beauty is fickle and frail, while virtue is eternally excellent.

Bellum Catilinae (-44)

The glory of ancestors sheds a light around posterity; it allows neither their good nor bad qualities to remain in obscurity.

Get good counsel before you begin: and when you have decided, act promptly.

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Attribution

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