Sallust
Sallust
Gaius Sallustius Crispus, usually anglicised as Sallust, was a Roman historian, politician, and novus homo from a provincial plebeian family. Sallust was born at Amiternum in the country of the Sabines and was a popularis, an opponent of the old Roman aristocracy, throughout his career, and later a partisan of Julius Caesar. Sallust is the earliest known Roman historian with surviving works to his name, of which Catiline's War, The Jugurthine War, and the Historiesare still extant. Sallust was primarily...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionHistorian
courage safety enemy
To hope for safety in flight, when you have turned away from the enemy the arms by which the body is defended, is indeed madness. In battle those who are most afraid are always in most danger; but courage is equivalent to rampart.
kindness giving allies
The Romans assisted their allies and friends, and acquired friendships by giving rather than receiving kindness. [Lat., Sociis atque amicis auxilia portabant Romani, magisque dandis quam accipiundis beneficiis amicitias parabant.]
men politics economy
The poorest of men are the most useful to those seeking power.
advice action advise
Advise well before you begin, and when you have maturely considered, then act with promptitude.
light quality obscurity
The glory of ancestors sheds a light around posterity; it allows neither good nor bad qualities to remain in obscurity. [Lat., Majorum gloria posteris lumen est, neque bona neque mala in occulto patitur.]
men suffering underestimate
No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.
men evil good-man
A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.
decided
Get good counsel before you begin; and when you have decided, act promptly.
war men honorable-man
But at power or wealth, for the sake of which wars, and all kinds of strife, arise among mankind, we do not aim; we desire only our liberty, which no honorable man relinquishes but with his life.
hatred matter void
All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.
past intellectual events
Among intellectual pursuits, one of the most useful is the recording of past events.
soul captains moral
The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.
change fall blessing
As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.
ambition men tongue
Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.