Sallust

"Bevor man beginnt, bedarf es der Überlegung und, sobald man überlegt hat, rechtzeitiger Ausführung."

"Dasselbe zu wollen und dasselbe nicht zu wollen, gerade darin liegt beständige Freundschaft."

"Der eine bedarf der Hilfe des anderen."

"Durch Eintracht wächst das Kleine, durch Zwietracht zerfällt das Große."

"Es bedarf nur eines Anfangs, dann erledigt sich das Übrige."

"Ungestraft zu tun, was beliebt, heißt König sein."

"As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay."

"Satis eloquentiae, sapientiae parum."

"Nam divitiarum et formae gloria fluxa atque fragilis est, virtus clara aeternaque habetur."

"Sed nostra omnis vis in animo et corpore sita est; animi imperio, corporis servitio magis utimur; alterum nobis cum dis, alterum cum beluis commune est."

"Verum ubi pro labore desidia, pro continentia et aequitate libido atque superbia invasere, fortuna simul cum moribus immutatur. Ita imperium semper ad optimum quemque a minus bono transfertur. (II)"

"Sed multi mortales dediti ventri atque somno, indocti incultique vitam sicuti peregrinantes transiere."

"Quod si regum atque imperatorum animi virtus in pace ita ut in bello valeret, aequabilius atque constantius sese res humanae haberent neque aliud alio ferri neque mutari ac misceri omnia cerneres. Nam imperium facile iis artibus retinetur, quibus initio partum est. Verum ubi pro labore desidia, pro continentia et aequitate lubido atque superbia invasere, fortuna simul cum moribus inmutatur. Ita imperium semper ad optumum quemque a minus bono transferetur."

"Sed ego adolescentulus initio sicuti plerique studio ad rem publicam latus sum, ibique mihi multa adversa fuere. Nam pro pudore, pro abstinentia, pro virtute, audacia, largitio, avaritia vigebant."

"Ambitio multos mortales falsos fieri subegit, aliud clausum in pectore, aliud in lingua promptum habere, amicitias inimicitiasque non ex re, sed ex commodo aestimare, magisque vultum quam ingenium bonum habere."

"Nam idem velle atque idem nolle, ea demum firma amicitia est."

"Nonne emori per virtutem praestat quam vitam miseram atque inhonestam, ubi alienae superbiae ludibrio fueris, per dedecus amittere?"

"At nos non imperium neque divitias petimus, quarum rerum causa bella atque certamina omnia inter mortales sunt, sed libertatem, quam nemo bonus nisi cum anima simul amittit."

"Omnes homines, patres conscripti, qui de rebus dubiis consultant, ab odio, amicitia, ira atque misericordia vacuos esse decet."

"Necessitas etiam timidos fortes facit."

"Nam concordia parvae res crescunt, discordia maxumae dilabuntur."

"Namque pauci libertatem, pars magna iustos dominos volunt."

"Sed res docuit id verum esse, quod in carminibus Appius ait, fabrum esse suae quemque fortunae."

"He that will be angry for anything, will be angry for nothing."

"Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude."

"Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought."

"I think Sallust inferior to both Livy and Tacitus in the talents of an historian. There is a lecturing, declaiming, tone about him which would suit a teacher of rhetoric better than a statesman engaged in recording great events. Still, he is a good writer; and the view which he here gives of the state of parties at Rome, and the frightful demoralization of the aristocracy, is full of interest."

"Let the prince be ever mindful of Sallust's teaching that neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty."