Ovid

Metamorphoses

Ancient influential 162 sayings

Sayings by Ovid

Nescio quid sit amor; an sit idoneus armis.

~16 BC — Amores, Book I, Elegy I, line 2
Controversial Unverifiable

I see and approve the better course, but I follow the worse.

8 CE — From Metamorphoses, Book VII
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Everything changes, nothing perishes.

8 CE — From Metamorphoses, Book XV
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.

13 CE — From Epistulae ex Ponto, Book IV
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Note too that a faithful study of the liberal arts humanizes character and permits it not to be cruel.

13 CE — From Epistulae ex Ponto, Book II
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

If you wish to be loved, love.

c. 2 CE — Ars Amatoria, Book 2, line 107
Humorous Unverifiable

Take away the cause, and the effect ceases.

c. 2 CE — Remedia Amoris, line 23
Humorous Unverifiable

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.

Uncertain — Ascribed, common proverb (often attributed to Milton)
Humorous Unverifiable

Be patient and tough; this pain will serve you one day.

c. 1 BCE — Amores, Book 3, Elegy 11, line 25
Humorous Unverifiable

The harvest is always more abundant in other people's fields.

c. 2 CE — Ars Amatoria, Book 1, line 349
Humorous Unverifiable

What is love? It is a thing that is not, and yet it is.

Uncertain — Ascribed, common proverb
Humorous Unverifiable

A new thing always brings a new life.

c. 8 CE — Metamorphoses, Book 15, line 178
Humorous Unverifiable

The burden which is well borne becomes light.

c. 2 CE — Ars Amatoria, Book 2, line 231
Humorous Unverifiable

Nothing is stronger than habit.

c. 2 CE — Remedia Amoris, line 286
Humorous Confirmed

Every lover is a soldier.

c. 1 BCE — Amores, Book 1, Elegy 9, line 1
Humorous Confirmed

The greatest minds are those who can be happy in themselves.

Uncertain — Ascribed, common proverb
Humorous Unverifiable

A man learns more from his mistakes than from his successes.

Uncertain — Ascribed, common proverb
Humorous Unverifiable

If you want to be a good old man, be a good young man.

Uncertain — Ascribed, common proverb
Humorous Unverifiable

By the slow process of time, the hardest things are softened.

c. 2 CE — Ars Amatoria, Book 2, line 231
Humorous Unverifiable

Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.

c. 2 CE — Ars Amatoria, Book 3, line 467
Humorous Unverifiable