Quintus Ennius
Quintus Ennius
Quintus Enniuswas a writer during the period of the Roman Republic, and is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was an Oscanfrom Calabria. Although only fragments of his works survive, his influence in Latin literature was significant, particularly in his use of Greek literary models...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionPoet
men enemy delay
One man restored our fortunes by delay. [By skilfully avoiding an engagement, Fabius exhausted the resources of the enemy.]
hate men hatred
Whom men fear they hate, and whom they hate, they wish dead
men safety delay
One man by delay restored the state, for he preferred the public safety to idle report. [Lat., Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem, Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem.]
men states saved
One man by delaying saved the state for us.
wise wisdom men
The wise man is wise in vain who cannot be wise to his own advantage. [Lat., Nequicquam sapere sapientem, qui ipse sibi prodesse non quiret.]
death men grieving
Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men.
fear hate whom
Quem metuunt, oderunt. (They hate whom they fear.)
bath good taste
A little moralizing's good - a little: I like a taste, but not a bath of it
clean constant freedom hath
He hath freedom whoso beareth clean and constant heart within.
indulge-in bed influenza
I never indulge in rhyme or stanza Unless I'm in bed with the influenza.
real circumstances known
A sure friend is known in unsure circumstances.
ancient states customs
The Roman state stands by ancient customs, and its manhood.
latin father writing
To later Romans Ennius was the personification of the spirit of early Rome; by them he was called "The Father of Roman Poetry." We must remember how truly Greek he was in his point of view. He set the example for later Latin poetry by writing the first epic of Rome in Greek hexameter verses instead of in the old Saturnian verse. He made popular the doctrines of Euhemerus, and he was in general a champion of free thought and rationalism.
latin father greek
Ennius was the father of Roman poetry, because he first introduced into Latin the Greek manner and in particular the hexameter metre.