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Petronius Quotes (27-66)
Writer
About Petronius
Petronius (c. 27 β 66 AD) was a Roman writer of the Neronian age; he was a noted satirist. He is identified with C. Petronius Arbiter, but the manuscript text of the Satyricon calls him Titus Petronius. Satyricon is his sole surviving work.
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Explore our curated collection of the most famous and impactful Petronius quotes.
βLitterae thesaurum est.
• Translation: Education is a treasure.β
• Translation: Education is a treasure.β
βAbiit ad plures.
• Translation: He has joined the great majority.β
• Translation: He has joined the great majority.β
βQualis dominus talis est servus.
• Translation: Like master, like man.β
• Translation: Like master, like man.β
βHoratii curiosa felicitas.
• Translation: The studied spontaneity of Horace.
• Variant translation: Horaceβs careful felicity.β
• Translation: The studied spontaneity of Horace.
• Variant translation: Horaceβs careful felicity.β
βCanis ingens, catena vinctus, in pariete erat pictus superque quadrata littera scriptum βCave canem.β
• Translation: A huge dog, tied by a chain, was painted on the wall and over it was written in capital letters βBeware of the dog.ββ
• Translation: A huge dog, tied by a chain, was painted on the wall and over it was written in capital letters βBeware of the dog.ββ
Petronius Quotes by Topic
Find exactly what you are looking for by browsing this categorized list of Petronius quotes by topic.
Petronius on Lust
Petronius on Education
Petronius on Childhood
βParentes objurgatione digni sunt, qui nolunt liberos suos severa lege proficere.
Parents deserve reproof when they refuse to benefit their children by severe discipline.β
Petronius on Illusion
βWe trained hard...but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams we would be reorganized [and] I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing: and what a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization.β
What Petronius Said About Others
Discover personal opinions Petronius shared regarding contemporaries.
Petronius on Henryk Sienkiewicz 5 quotes
View all 5 quotes on Henryk Sienkiewicz →Misattributed Quotes
Quotes mistakenly credited to Petronius
βWe trained hard . . . but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.β
About Petronius
Petronius (c. 27 β 66 AD) was a Roman writer of the Neronian age; he was a noted satirist. He is identified with C. Petronius Arbiter, but the manuscript text of the Satyricon calls him Titus Petronius. Satyricon is his sole surviving work.