Suetonius Quotes

If you did not know at age five that the gods are made up beings and the myths made up stories, you are a fool.

The fox changes his skin but not his habits.

He [Caesar Augustus] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble. [Lat., Urbem lateritiam accepit, mamoream relinquit.]

At a banquet Caligula was suddenly seized with a fit of helpless laughter. The consuls reclining next to him asked if they might share in the imperial merriment. Caligula, wiping the tears from his eyes, managed to gasp, "You'll never guess! It suddenly occurred to me that I had only to give a single nod, and both your throats would be cut on the spot."

Few of Caesar's assassins outlived him by more than three years, or died in their beds.

A good shepherd shears his flock, not flays them. [Lat., Boni pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere.]

When I am dead let the earth be dissolved in fire.

As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [ Claudius ] expelled them [the Jews] from Rome

Punishment [by Nero] was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition.

I found Rome built of bricks; I leave her clothed in marble.

Hail, Caesar, those who are about to die salute thee. -

Suetonius, in holding up a mirror to those Caesars of diverting legend, reflects not only them but ourselves: half-tamed creatures, whose great moral task is to hold in balance the angel and the monster within - for we are both, and to ignore this duality is to invite disaster.

Let the die be cast. [Lat., Jacta alea esto; or, jacta esa alea.)

Would that the Roman people had but one neck! [Lat., Utinam populus Romanus unam cervicem haberet!]

Again, during a sacrifice, the augur Spurinna warned Caesar that the danger threatening him would not come later than the Ides of March.

These things by reason of our friendship I have not hesitated glo to communicate.

General Quotations about Evenings Let us add this one more night to our lives.