Terence

Publius Terentius Afer, better known as Terence, was a comic playwright of the Roman Republic. His date of birth is -184 in Carthage, he was a berber, but his comedies were performed for the first time ca. 170 BC-160 BC, and he died young in 159 BC.

Andria (The Lady of Andros)

• Ne quid nimis.
  • Translation: Moderation in all things.
  • Line 61

• Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit.
  • Translation: Obsequiousness begets friends, truth hatred.
  • Line 68

• Hinc illae lacrimae.
  • Translation: Hence these tears.
  • Line 126

• Amantium irae amoris integratio est.
  • Translation: Lovers' quarrels are the renewal of love.
  • Line 555

Heauton Timoroumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

• Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto.
  • Translation: I am human, I consider nothing human is alien to me.
  • Line 77

• Periclum ex aliis facito tibi quod ex usu siet.
  • Translation: Draw from others the lesson that may profit yourself.
  • Line 221

• Diem adimere aegritudinem hominibus.
  • Translation: Time removes distress. (Also known as: Time heals all wounds.)
  • Line 421

• Nil tam difficile est quin quaerendo investigari possiet.
  • Translation: Nothing is so difficult but that it may be found out by seeking.
  • Line 675

• Ius summum saepe summa est malitia.
  • Translation: Extreme law is often extreme injustice.
  • Alternate: The highest law is often the greatest wrong.
  • Alternate: Extreme justice is often extreme malice.
  • Line 796

• There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.
  • Line 805

• Modo liceat vivere, est spes.
  • Translation: While there's life, there's hope.
  • Line 981

Eunuchus

• In fact, nothing is said that has not been said before.
  • Line 41 (Prologue)

• He is wise who tries everything before arms.
  • Line 789

• I know the disposition of women: when you will, they won't; when you won't, they set their hearts upon you of their own inclination.
  • Line 812

• I took to my heels as fast as I could.
  • Line 844

• Many a time...from a bad beginning great friendships have sprung up.
  • Line 873

• Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus
  • "Without Ceres (bread) and Bacchus (wine) Venus freezes"
  • Act IV, line 5.

Phormio

• Fortis fortuna adiuvat.
  • Translation: Fortune favours the brave.
  • Line 203

• Quot homines tot sententiae: suo quoique mos.
  • Translation: There are as many opinions as there are people: everyone has their own way of doing things. (literal trans.: So many men, so many opinions: to each his own way)
  • Line 454

Adelphoe (The Brothers)

• I bid him look into the lives of men as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself.
  • Line 415

• According as the man is, so must you humor him.
  • Line 431

• It is the common vice of all, in old age, to be too intent upon our interests.
  • Line 833