Dionysius Cato

“ Begin what thou to finish canst not fail;
Safer near shore than on the deep to sail.
34. Break not against the righteous man the laws,
For God's th' avenger of the righteous cause.
35. When wealth takes wings thou shouldst not then repine;
Rejoice the more that anything is thine. ”

“ What once thou hast approved full publicly.
26. When fortune smiles, forget not she may frown;
When fortune frowns, be not too much cast down.
27. Cease not to learn; wisdom's through study gained;
By lapse of years alone 't is ne'er attained.
28. Praise not o'ermuch: one day's enough to show
If he, oft claimed thy friend, is really so.
29. To wish for knowledge is no cause for shame;
To have it merits praise; to scorn it, blame.
30. With love and wine pleasure and strife are knit;
Cleave to the good in these; the bad omit.
31. Who silent is and melancholy, shun ”

“ Hide well those acts of thine which cause thee shame,
Lest some make worse thy plight by words of blame.
8. Think not that evil-doers surely win;
Tho' hidden for a while, time shows their sin.
9. No small man's want of body's strength despise ”

“ Who's out with self in peace with none will be.
5. If on men's lives and deeds thou look'st, thou'lt see
That from those faults they blame, not one is free.
6. Shun that which harms, e'en tho thy love is caught;
Before mere wealth should safety first be sought. ”

“ Introduction When I noticed how very many go seriously wrong in their manner of living I concluded that I must apply a corrective to their belief and take counsel of the experience of mankind in order that they may live most gloriously and attain honor. ”

“ Love others so that thou'rt to self a friend;
Prefer the good and thus dire harm forfend.
12. Spread not vain talk lest thou be thought its spring;
Silence ne'er harms but speech may trouble bring.
13. On others' promise do not base thine own ”