Cato the Elder Quotes

Woman is a violent and uncontrolled animal, and it is useless to let go the reins and then expect her not to kick over the traces. You must keep her on a tight rein . . . Women want total freedom or rather - to call things by their names - total licence. If you allow them to achieve complete equality with men, do you think they will be easier to live with? Not at all. Once they have achieved equality, they will be your masters . . .

If you are ruled by mind you are a king; if by body, a slave.

I prefer to do right and get no thanks than to do wrong and receive no punishment.

Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters.

The worst ruler is one who cannot rule himself.

We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them.

Furthermore, I think Carthage must be destroyed.

Wise men profit more from fools than fools from wise men; for the wise men shun the mistakes of fools, but fools do not imitate the successes of the wise.

The hero saves us. Praise the hero! Now, who will save us from the hero?

After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.

He who fears death has already lost the life he covets.

Tis sometimes the height of wisdom to feign stupidity.

Anger so clouds the mind that it cannot perceive the truth.

I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.

Suffer women once to arrive at an equality with you, and they will from that moment become your superiors.

An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.

Patience is the greatest of all virtues.

I can pardon everybody's mistakes except my own.

He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.

It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly since it has no ears.

Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.

All mankind rules its women, and we rule all mankind, but our women rule us.

Grasp the subject, the words will follow.

Lighter is the wound foreseen.

There is a wide difference between true courage and a mere contempt of life.