Wisdom of Virgil

Virgil (October 15, 70 BC – September 21,19 BC), was an ancient Roman poet who composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: the Eclogues, the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid.

T.S. Eliot, 19th century poet and playwright, said, "What Is a Classic? Whatever the definition we arrive at, it cannot be one which excludes Virgil – we may say confidently that it must be one which will expressly reckon with him."

Below we list some words of wisdom from Virgil.

“Fate will find a way.”

“All these souls, after they have passed away a thousand years, are summoned by the divine ones in great array, to the lethean river…In this way they become forgetful of the former earthlife, and re-visit the vaulted realms of the world, willing to return again into living bodies.”

“Angels boast ethereal vigor, and are formed from seeds of heavenly birth.”

“Love conquers all; therefore, let us submit to love.”

“Easy is the descent to hell; all night long, all day, the doors of dark Hades stand open; but to retrace the path; to come out again to the sweet air of Heaven - there is the task, there is the burden.”

“Come what may, all bad fortune is to be conquered by endurance.”

“Maybe one day we shall be glad to remember even these hardships.”

“Yield thou not to adversity, but press on the more bravely.”

“What each man feared would happen to himself, did not trouble him when he saw that it would ruin another.”

“Each of us bears his own Hell.”

“Every man makes a god of his own desire.”

“Fortunate is he whose mind has the power to probe the causes of things and trample underfoot all terrors and inexorable fate.”

“Fortune favors the bold.”

“Oh you who are born of the gods, easy is the descent into Hell. The door of darkness stands open day and night. But to retrace your steps, and come back out into the brightness above, that is the work, that is the labor.”

“All our sweetest hours fly fastest.”

“Persistent work triumphs.”

“The medicine increases the disease.”

“Love begets love, love knows no rules, this is same for all.”

“Cease to think that the decrees of the gods can be changed by prayers.”

“Do not yield to misfortunes, but advance more boldly to meet them, as your fortune permits you.”

“Myself acquainted with misfortune, I learn to help the unfortunate.”

“Trust one who has tried.”

“The only safety for the conquered is to expect no safety.”

“Go forth a conqueror and win great victories.”

“None but himself can be his parallel.”

“We are not all able to do all things.”

“Trust not too much to appearances.”

“Confidence cannot find a place wherein to rest in safety.”

“Such is the love of praise, so great the anxiety for victory.”

“It is easy to go down into Hell; but to climb back again, to retrace one's steps to the upper air-there's the rub.”

”Through pai
I've learned to comfort suffering men.”

“Let not our proposal be disregarded on the score of our youth.”

“E'en in mid-harvest, while the jocund swai
Pluck'd from the brittle stalk the golden grain, Oft have I seen the war of winds contend, And prone on earth th' infuriate storm descend, Waste far and wide, and by the roots uptorn, The heavy harvest sweep through ether borne, As light straw and rapid stubble fly In dark'ning whirlwinds round the wintry sky.”

“Fury itself supplies arms.”

“A fault is fostered by concealment.”

“Passion and strife bow down the mind.”

“If ye despise the human race, and mortal arms, yet remember that there is a God who is mindful of right and wrong.”

“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”

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