Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.
Quintilian
Category: Quote of the Day
Aphorisms, proverbs, wise sayings and other witty, pithy stuff
24NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
For it is an ordinance of nature that nothing great can be achieved in a moment, and that all the fairest tasks are attended with difficulty, while on births as well she has imposed this law, that the larger the animal, the longer should be the period of gestation.
Quintilian
23NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.
Quintilian
22NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
There is no doubt about the truth of the proverb that a liar should have a good memory.
Quintilian
21NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
However manifold our activities, in a certain sense we come fresh to each new subject. Who can maintain his attention, if he has to listen for a whole day to one teacher harping on the same subject, be it what it may? Change of studies is like change of foods: the stomach is refreshed by their variety and derives greater nourishment from variety of viands.
Quintilian
20NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
Nature herself, indeed, seems to have given music to us as a benefit, to enable us to endure labors with greater facility, for musical sounds cheer even the rower; and it is not only in those works in which the efforts of many, while some pleasing voice leads them, conspire together that music is of avail, but the toil even of people at work by themselves finds itself soothed by song, however rude.
Quintilian
19NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
We give to necessity the praise of virtue.
Quintilian
18NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
If this bill passes, it is my deliberate opinion that it is virtually a dissolution of the Union; that it will free the States from their moral obligation; and, as it will be the right of all, so it will be the duty of some, definitely to prepare for a separation,—amicably if they can, violently if they must.
Regarding the admission of Orleans Territory as a U.S. State. Abridged Cong. Debates, Jan. 14, 1811. Vol. iv. p. 327. This was later famously paraphrased by Henry Clay: The gentleman [Mr. Quincy] cannot have forgotten his own sentiment, uttered even on the floor of this House, “Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must.” Speech, Jan. 8, 1813.
Josiah Quincy III
17NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it—whole-heartedly—and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings.
Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
16NOV2025 – Quote of the Day
All the old statues of Victory have wings: but Grief has no wings. She is the unwelcome lodger that squats on the hearthstone between us and the fire and will not move or be dislodged.
Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch