Livy

history medicine sick mind variety human experience

"The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things rotten through and through, to avoid."

— Livy (59BC-17)

blessing evil

"Men are slower to recognize blessings than evils."

— Livy (59BC-17)

survive adversity perish ease comfort

"We survive on adversity and perish in ease and comfort."

— Livy (59BC-17)

work reward

"Never is work without reward, or reward without work."

— Livy (59BC-17)

false creed attractive garb scam fake

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

— Livy (59BC-17)

truth eclipse extinguish

"Truth is often eclipsed but never extinguished."

— Livy (59BC-17)

excellence time maturity

"It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity."

— Livy (59BC-17)

shared danger fear propaganda

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

— Livy (59BC-17)

temerity success

"Temerity is not always successful."

— Livy (59BC-17)

poverty parsimony shame

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

— Livy (59BC-17)

contest competition animosity

"Great contests generally excite great animosities."

— Livy (59BC-17)

fear pessimist

"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."

— Livy (59BC-17)

fear danger

"The less there is of fear, the less there is of danger."

— Livy (59BC-17)

wit flower imagination

"Wit is the flower of the imagination."

— Livy (59BC-17)

clear distinct hurry haste blind

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

— Livy (59BC-17)