Marcus Fabius Quintilianus was a Roman rhetorician from Hispania, widely referred to in medieval schools of rhetoric and in Renaissance writing. In English translation, he is usually referred to as Quintilian, although the alternate spellings of Quintillian and Quinctilian are occasionally seen, the latter in older texts.
More: Wikipedia (via CC-BY-SA license) • READ: Works by Quintilian
We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.
—Quintilian
Topics: Reading
We make a pretext of difficulty to excuse our sloth.
—Quintilian
The perfection of art is to conceal art.
—Quintilian
Topics: Art, Artists
Let us never adopt the maxim, Rather lose our friend than our jest.
—Quintilian
Topics: Friendship
Though ambition itself is a vice, it is often the parent of virtues.
—Quintilian
Topics: Ambition
Premature development of the powers of both mind and body leads to an early grave.
—Quintilian
Topics: Talent
If you direct your whole thought to work itself, none of the things which invade eyes or ears will reach the mind.
—Quintilian
The obscurity of a writer is generally in proportion to his incapacity.
—Quintilian
Topics: Writers, Style
That laughter costs too much which is purchased by the sacrifice of decency.
—Quintilian
Topics: Laughter
Though ambition may be a fault in itself, it is often the mother of virtues.
—Quintilian
Topics: Ambition
Those who wish to appear wise among fools among the wise seem foolish.
—Quintilian
Topics: Fools
Our minds are like our stomachs; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.
—Quintilian
Topics: The Mind
Without the assistance of natural capacity, rules and precepts are of no efficacy.
—Quintilian
Topics: Ability
Other parts of the body assist the speaker but the hands speak themselves. — By them we ask, promise, invoke, dismiss, threaten, entreat, deprecate. — By them we express fear, joy, grief, our doubts, assent, or penitence; we show moderation or profusion, and mark number and time.
—Quintilian
The learned understand the reason of art; the unlearned feel the pleasure.
—Quintilian
Topics: Art
A great part of art consists in imitation. For the whole conduct of life is based on this: that what we admire in others we want to do ourselves.
—Quintilian
We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.
—Quintilian
Topics: Difficulty
Suffering itself does less afflict the senses than the anticipation of suffering.
—Quintilian
Ambition is a vice, but it may be the father of virtue.
—Quintilian
Topics: One liners, Ambition
Related Authors
- Persius Roman Poet
- Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) Roman Rhetorician
- Cicero Roman Philosopher
- Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) Roman Philosopher
- Juvenal Roman Poet
- Martial Ancient Roman Latin Poet
- Pliny the Younger Ancient Roman Lawyer
- Petronius Roman Courtier
- Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) Roman Poet
- Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) Roman Poet