Livy Quotes

Rome has grown since its humble beginnings that it is now overwhelmed by its own greatness.

The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze.

Men are slower to recognize blessings than evils.

A fraudulent intent, however carefully concealed at the outset, will generally, in the end, betray itself.

Adversity makes men remember God.

There is always more spirit in attack than in defence.

Shared danger is the strongest of bonds; it will keep men united in spite of mutual dislike and suspicion.

The old Romans all wished to have a king over them because they had not yet tasted the sweetness of freedom.

There is nothing worse than being ashamed of parsimony or poverty.

Great contests generally excite great animosities.

Truth is often eclipsed but never extinguished.

Better late than never.

Never is work without reward, or reward without work.

Men are only clever at shifting blame from their own shoulders to those of others.

Nature has ordained that the man who is pleading his own cause before a large audience, will be more readily listened to than he who has no object in view other than the public benefit.

Resistance to criminal rashness comes better late than never.

Such is the nature of crowds: either they are humble and servile or arrogant and dominating. They are incapable of making moderate use of freedom, which is the middle course, or of keeping it.

Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words.

In grave difficulties, and with little hope, the boldest measures are the safest.

Men are seldom blessed with good fortune and good sense at the same time.

Under the influence of fear, which always leads men to take a pessimistic view of things, they magnified their enemies' resources, and minimized their own.

No law can possibly meet the convenience of every one: we must be satisfied if it be beneficial on the whole and to the majority.

The real power behind whatever success I have now was something I found within myself - something that's in all of us, I think, a little piece of God just waiting to be discovered.

I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who thinks deeply about a problem, and the next is he who listens carefully to advice.

There is nothing that is more often clothed in an attractive garb than a false creed.

There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.

Persevere in virtue and diligence.

Treachery, though at first very cautious, in the end betrays itself.

It is easier to criticize than to correct our past errors.

He is truly a man who will not permit himself to be unduly elated when fortune's breeze is favorable, or cast down when it is adverse.

In adversity assume the countenance of prosperity, and in prosperity moderate the temper and desires.

The mind sins, not the body; if there is no intention, there is no blame.

The result showed that fortune helps the brave.

Envy, like flames, soars upwards.

Envy like fire always makes for the highest points.

Luck is of little moment to the great general, for it is under the control of his intellect and his judgment.

An honor prudently declined often returns with increased luster.

Nothing moves more quickly than scandal.

All things will be clear and distinct to the man who does not hurry; haste is blind and improvident.

Prosperity engenders sloth.

We survive on adversity and perish in ease and comfort.

Greater is our terror of the unknown.

Luck rules every human endeavor, especially war.

In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest.

Events of great consequence often spring from trifling circumstances.

It is easy at any moment to resign the possession of a great fortune; to acquire it is difficult and arduous

Wit is the flower of the imagination.

Necessity is the last and strongest weapon.

Envy is blind, and is only clever in depreciating the virtues of others.

Bad beginnings, bad endings.