Persius Posted by kunthra on Aug 15, 2011 in Latin Language
Aulus Persius Flaccus was an ancient Roman satirist who did not hold back when it came to criticizing philosophers, rulers and even the poor. Perhaps it was due to the fact that his father and stepfather died when he was young that led him to develop a cynical view towards people, but his satires were sometimes edited for its unflinching criticism of famous individuals. Some of the best quotes from Persius are still appreciated today by modern readers for their honesty and rancor. For example, there is this line:
“Dare pondus idonea fumo” (1)
and this one: “Negatas artifex sequi voces” (2)
I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of this quote:
“Nam quamvis prope to, quamvis temone sub uno Verentem sese, frustra sectabere cantum Cum rota posterior curras et in axe secundo” (3)
But not all Persius’s quotes are cruel. There are some encouraging ones like this one:
“vincit qui patitur” (4)
Persius was first and foremost a student of observation:
“Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter” (5)
and this one is very true of people:
“Velle suuum cuique est, nec voto vivitur uno” (6)
Persius was ahead of his time:
Answers:
(1) “Fit to give weight to smoke.” It is used as an insult.
(2) “He attempts to use language which he does not know”. He used this line to refer to a certain contemporary of his.
(3) “Like the hind wheels of the chariot, you are near but will never reach the fore wheels”. It means that you may be close to achieving your goals, but destiny will prevent you from going any further. This quote was used to those who were trying to climb the social ladder.
(4) “he conquers who endures”. Means that perseverance will lead to victory.
(5) “The belly is the teacher of art and the bestower of genius”. The ‘belly’ refers to necessity, so it’s like saying that necessity causes artists/writers to produce wonderful pieces of art/poetry.
(6) “Each man has his own desires; all do not possess the same inclinations”. Means that everyone has his or her own desires that differ from each other.
Popular Recent Archive
Latin Profanity: How to Swear in LatinJan 13, 2015
Latin Numbers 1-10Apr 5, 2009
Ancient Roman NamesMay 24, 2009
25 Latin Phrases Every Student Should KnowJun 3, 2015
Giving Thanks in Ancient RomeNov 28, 2019
Roman SuperstitionsOct 15, 2019
Roman MonthsSep 23, 2019
Roman Pen Reveals Latin JokeAug 26, 2019
Harry Potter vs. Wizards Unite SpellsJul 28, 2019
Recent Tweets
Transparent Language@TLILanguages
6 Ways Bilingualism Can Further Your Career hubs.ly/H0m2qFp0
Transparent Language@TLILanguages
Different scales for assessing your language proficiency: hubs.ly/H0m2lWf0
Transparent Language@TLILanguages
7 Ways to Memorize a Language (and Actually Understand It!) hubs.ly/H0m2sXs0
Transparent Language@TLILanguages
Do you have to be "fluent" in a language to describe yourself as a "speaker" of it? hubs.ly/H0m2klN0
Transparent Language@TLILanguages
Cognates: a language learner's best friend or worst enemy? hubs.ly/H0m2klM0
Never miss a post!
Sign up to receive new posts by email.
You must click the link in the email to verify your request.