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
rose left-behind behinds
When a rose dies, a thorn is left behind.
causes enough easy
In an easy cause anyone can be eloquent; the slightest strength is enough to break what is already shattered.
skills luck demand
Seeking is all very well, but holding requires greater talent: Seeking involves some luck; now the demand is for skill.
wine apples giving
Who gives to Aristaeus honey; Or wine to Bacchus, or Triptolemus Earth's fruits, or apples to Alcinous?
evil long too-late
Face troubles from their birth, for 'tis too late to cure When long delay has given the evil strength. Haste then; postpone not to the coming hour: tomorrow He'll be less ready who's not ready now.
soul injury feels
Spare the soul that feels a deadly wound.
practice water use
By constant dripping, water hollows stone, A signet-ring from use alone grows thin, And the curved plowshare by soft earth is worn.
art lying wine
The art of medicine in the season lies: Wine given in season oft will benefit, Which out of season injures.
hands fire may
Nothing aids which may not also injure us. Fire serves us well, but he who plots to burn His neighbor's roof arms his hands with fire.
cheating joy profit
Grant me profits only, grant me the joy of profit made, and see to it that I enjoy cheating the buyer!
unhappy causes prisoner
Tis base to plead the unhappy prisoner's cause, With eloquence that's bought.
promise rich harm
See that you promise: what harm is there in promise? In promises anyone can be rich.
lying fall house
When a house is tottering to its fall, The strain lies heaviest on the weakest part, One tiny crack throughout the structure spreads, And its own weight soon brings it toppling down.
character envy way
Envy, slothful vice, Never makes its way in lofty characters, But, like the skulking viper, creeps and crawls Close to the ground.