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
safe no-fear fortune
The most wretched fortune is safe; for there is no fear of anything worse. [Lat., Fortuna miserrima tuta est: Nam timor eventus deterioris abest.]
fall broken weight
A broken fortune is like a falling column; the lower it sinks, the greater weight it has to sustain.
mind spurs fame
The love of fame usually spurs on the mind. [Lat., Ingenio stimulos subdere fama solet.]
habit pursuit
Pursuits become habits. [Lat., Abeunt studia in mores.]
years feet age
While strength and years permit, endure labor; soon bent old age will come with silent foot. [Lat., Dum vires annique sinunt, tolerate labores. Jam veniet tacito curva senecta pede.]
laughing mind conscious
A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. [Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.]
mind can-not
The mind alone can not be exiled. [Lat., Mens sola loco non exulat.]
sick mind bears
The sick mind can not bear anything harsh. [Lat., Mensque pati durum sustinet aegra nihil.]
love yield age
If thou wishest to put an end to love, attend to business (love yields to employment); then thou wilt be safe. [Lat., Qui finem quaeris amoris, (Cedit amor rebus) res age; tutus eris.]
love herbs amor
Ah me! love can not be cured by herbs. [Lat., Hei mihi! quod nullis amor est medicabilis herbis.]
love soldier warfare
Every lover is a soldier. (Love is a warfare.) [Lat., Militat omnis amans.]
love may beloved
That you may be beloved, be amiable.
love love-is affair
Love is an affair of credulity.
love loathing ends
Excessive love in loathing ever ends.