The voices / 98 fragments

Ovid

43 BC — 18 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

Author and source reference ↗

▷ Play this voice Search within this voice ↗Place in time ↗mind death character knowledge faith learning time patience

Historical source references

The Art of Love
Metamorphoses
Fasti
Inspiration · anthology attribution: Ovid
Love · anthology attribution: Ovid
Printed citation: Ovid
Number 1892 · printed citation: Ovid
Number 2008 · printed citation: Ovid
Page 127 · printed citation: Ovid · subject: Idleness
Printed page 8 · quotation 6 · Ovid · Ars Amatoris
Printed page 8 · quotation 7 · Ovid · Metamorphoses
Printed page 12 · quotation 10 · Ovid · Epistolæ Ex Ponto
Printed page 623 · quotation 3 · Ovid · Epistolæ Ex Ponto III

Archive entries

01c. 13 BC

They come to see; they come that they themselves may be seen.

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02c. 13 BC

Nothing is stronger than custom.

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03c. 13 BC

Then the omnipotent Father with his thunder made Olympus tremble, and from Ossa hurled Pelion.

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04c. 13 BC

It is the mind that makes the man, and our vigour is in our immortal soul.

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05c. 13 BC

The mind, conscious of rectitude, laughed to scorn the falsehood of report.

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06Undated

The glow of inspiration warms us; this holy rapture springs from the seeds of the Divine mind sown in man.

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07Undated

That you may be beloved, be amiable.

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08Undated

Chastity, lost once, cannot be recalled; it goes only once.

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09Undated

Empires and nations flourish and decay, / By turns command, and in their turns obey.

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10Undated

How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.

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11Undated

It is a small virtue to keep silence on matters, but a grave fault to speak of what should be kept silent.

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12Undated

Look in the glass when you with anger glow, / And you'll confess you scarce yourself would know.

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13Undated

There is a God within us who breathes that divine fire by which we are animated.

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14Undated

What is reason now was passion formerly.

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15Undated

Tears sometimes have the weight of words.

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16Undated

It is some relief to weep; grief is satisfied and carried off by tears.

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17Undated

Let but the hours of idleness cease, and the bow of Cupid will become broken and his torch extinguished.

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18Undated

Ferreus assiduo consumitur anulus usu. The iron ring is worn out by constant use.

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19Undated

Aut petis, aut urgues ruiturum, Sisyphe, saxum. Either you pursue or push, O Sisyphus, the stone destined to keep rolling.

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20Undated

Crede mihi, miseris ccelestia numina parcunt; Nee semper Isesos, et sine fine, premunt. Believe me, the gods spare the afflicted, and do not always oppress those who are unfortunate.

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21Undated

Ut desint vires tamen est laudanda voluntas. 2Though the power be wanting, yet the wish is praiseworthy.

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22Undated

I am the poet of the poor, because I was poor when I loved; since I could not give gifts, I gave words.

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23Undated

Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.

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24Undated

Fas est ab hoste doceri.One should learn even from one's enemies.

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Ovid

Archive entries

Read further

Meditations

The Republic

Confessions