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
iron use action
The iron ring is worn out by constant use. [Lat., Ferreus assiduo consumitur anulus usu.]
stones rolling action
Either you pursue or push, O Sisyphus, the stone destined to keep rolling. [Lat., Aut petis aut urgues ruiturum, Sisyphe, saxum.]
death law goal
We are all bound thither; we are hastening to the same common goal. Black death calls all things under the sway of its laws. [Lat., Tendimus huc omnes; metam properamus ad unam. Omnia sub leges mors vocat atra suas.]
men deeds
The deeds of men never escape the gods. [Lat., Acta deos nunquam mortalia fallunt.]
deeds righteous
The gods see the deeds of the righteous. [Lat., Di pia facta vident.]
years contentment may
May you live unenvied, and pass many pleasant years unknown to fame; and also have congenial friends. [Lat., Vive sine invidia, mollesque inglorius annos Exige; amicitias et tibi junge pares.]
males conquer conquest
You will hardly conquer, but conquer you must. [Lat., Male vincetis, sed vincite.]
beauty disadvantages countenance
A pleasing countenance is no slight disadvantage. [Lat., Auxilium non leve vultus habet.]
beauty beautiful perfect
I would that you were either less beautiful, or less corrupt. Such perfect beauty does not suit such imperfect morals. [Lat., Aut formosa fores minus, aut minus improba vellem. Non facit ad mores tam bona forma malos.]
beauty frail
Beauty is a frail good.
beauty faces advantage
A pleasing face is no small advantage.
sweet mind novelty
And I will capture your minds with sweet novelty. [Lat., Dulcique animos novitate tenebo.]
mind corruption all-things
All things can corrupt perverse minds.
women long elude
Many women long for what eludes them, and like not what is offered them.