Ovid
Ovid
Publius Ovidius Naso, known as Ovid in the English-speaking world, was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace with whom he is often ranked as one of the three canonical poets of Latin literature. The Imperial scholar Quintilian considered him the last of the Latin love elegists. He enjoyed enormous popularity, but, in one of the mysteries of literary history, he was sent by Augustus into exile...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionPoet
sick mind suffering
The mind is sicker than the sick body; in contemplation of its sufferings it becomes hopeless. [Lat., Corpore sed mens est aegro magis aegra; malique In circumspectu stat sine fine sui.]
mother blessed motherhood
Niobe would have been called most blessed of mothers, had she not seemed so herself.
heart sleep men
Sleep, thou repose of all things; sleep, thou gentlest of the deities; thou peace of the mind, from which care flies; who doest soothe the hearts of men wearied with the toils of the day, and refittest them for labor.
heart wrath tears
Truly it is allowed us to weep: by weeping we disperse our wrath; and tears go through the heart, even like a stream. [Lat., Flere licet certe: flendo diffundimus iram: Perque sinum lacrimae, fluminis instar enim.]
time feet rapids
We must improve our time; time goes with rapid foot.
trifles
Out of many things a great heap will be formed. [Lat., De multis grandis acervus erit.]
pleasure variety
Even pleasure cloys without variety.
benefits rewards judgment
In your judgment virtue requires no reward, and is to be sought for itself, unaccompanied by external benefits. [Lat., Judice te mercede caret, per seque petenda est Externis virtus incomitata bonis.]
war olive-branches olives
In war the olive branch of peace is of use. [Lat., Adjuvat in bello pacatae ramus olivae.]
passion wealth
The ungovernable passion for wealth. [Lat., Opum furiata cupido.]
lacking commendable willingness
Though the strength is lacking, yet the willingness is commendable.
indulge-in brave trouble
Ah me! how easy it is (how much all have experienced it) to indulge in brave words in another person's trouble. [Lat., Hei mihi, quam facile est (quamvis hic contigit omnes), Alterius lucta fortia verba loqui!]
believe facts needs
There is no need of words; believe facts. [Lat., Non opus est verbis, credite rebus.]
years fleeting deceiving
Winged time glides on insensibly, and deceive us; and there is nothing more fleeting than years.