Quintilian Quotes

Quotes about:

• We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.

  Quintilian

  Writing, Simplicity, Impossible

  "Institutio Oratoria (Institutes of Oratory)". Book by Quintilian (Book VIII, Chapter II), circa 95 AD.

  34 Copy quote

• Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.

  Quintilian

  Procrastination, Too Late, Grows

  56 Copy quote

• That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.

  Quintilian

  Inspirational, Mind, Ears

  5 Copy quote

• We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.

  Quintilian

  Book, Reading, Mind

  20 Copy quote

• A mediocre speech supported by all the power of delivery will be more impressive than the best speech unaccompanied by such power.

  Quintilian

  Training, Speech, Impressive

  Quintilian (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of Quintilian (Illustrated)”, p.572, Delphi Classics

  20 Copy quote

• It is the heart which inspires eloquence.

  Quintilian

  Heart, Inspire, Eloquence

  11 Copy quote

• Study depends on the goodwill of the student, a quality that cannot be secured by compulsion.

  Quintilian

  Teaching, Quality, Students

  20 Copy quote

• One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.

  Quintilian

  Writing, Impossible, Language

  21 Copy quote

• In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept.

  Quintilian

  Experience, Valuable

  "De Institutione Oratoria" by Marcus Fabius Quintilianus as reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations, p. 244-45., 1922.

  14 Copy quote

• We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

  Quintilian

  Life, Sloth, Excuse

  "Institutio Oratoria". Textbook by Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, I. 12,

  29 Copy quote

• Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.

  Quintilian

  Finishing, Virtue, Finishing Touches

  4 Copy quote

• A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.

  Quintilian

  Laughing, Cost, Too Much

  "Institutio Oratoria". Textbook by Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, VI. 3. 5,

  11 Copy quote

• Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.

  Quintilian

  Wise, Wish, Fool

  "Institutes of Oratory (Volume X)". Book by Quintilian, 95 CE.

  14 Copy quote

• Write quickly and you will never write well; write well, and you will soon write quickly.

  Quintilian

  Writing, Wells

  Quintilian (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of Quintilian (Illustrated)”, p.528, Delphi Classics

  26 Copy quote

• Usage is the best language teacher.

  Quintilian

  Teacher, Language, Usage

  4 Copy quote

• An evil-speaker differs from an evil-doer only in the want of opportunity.

  Quintilian

  Opportunity, Evil, Want

  "De Institutione Oratoria" by Marcus Fabius Quintilianus as reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations, p. 244-45., 1922.

  19 Copy quote

• That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.

  Quintilian

  Perfection

  8 Copy quote

• The learned understand the reason of art; the unlearned feel the pleasure.

  Quintilian

  Art, Reason, Pleasure

  9 Copy quote

• Medicine for the dead is too late

  Quintilian

  Medicine, Too Late, Late

  unknown

  4 Copy quote

• Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire.

  Quintilian

  Desire, Pleasure, Forbidden Fruit

  "Declamationes". Book by Quintilian,

  10 Copy quote

• A great part of art consists in imitation. For the whole conduct of life is based on this: that what we admire in others we want to do ourselves.

  Quintilian

  Art, Want, Life Is

  11 Copy quote

• Prune what is turgid, elevate what is commonplace, arrange what is disorderly, introduce rhythm where the language is harsh, modify where it is too absolute.

  Quintilian

  Writing, Language, Introducing

  13 Copy quote

• Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. Laughter is never far removed from derision.

  Quintilian

  Laughter, Laughing, Raises

  8 Copy quote

• While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin. the opportunity is lost.

  Quintilian

  Opportunity, Mind, Lost

  20 Copy quote

• There is no one who would not rather appear to know than to be taught.

  Quintilian

  Pride, Taught, Knows

  16 Copy quote

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