Quintus Ennius Quotes

Ennius Was The Father Of Roman Poetry, Because He First Introduced Into Latin The Greek Manner And In Particular The Hexameter Metre.

Here Is He Laid To Whom For Daring Deed, Nor Friend Nor Foe Could Render Worthy Meed.

O Friend Unseen, Unborn, Unknown, Student Of Our Sweet English Tongue, I Never Indulge In Poetics - Unless I Am Down With Rheumatics.

Let No One Pay Me Honor With Tears, Nor Celebrate My Funeral Rites With Weeping.

Let No One Honour Me With Tears, Or Bury Me With Lamentation. Why? Because I Fly Hither And Thither, Living In The Mouths Of Me. [lat., Nemo Me Lacrymis Decoret, Nec Funera Fletu. Faxit Cur? Volito Vivu' Per Ora Virum.]

I Never Indulge In Rhyme Or Stanza Unless I'm In Bed With The Influenza.

Don't Ask Of Your Friends What You Yourself Can Do.

To Later Romans Ennius Was The Personification Of The Spirit Of Early Rome; By Them He Was Called "the Father Of Roman Poetry." We Must Remember How Truly Greek He Was In His Point Of View. He Set The Example For Later Latin Poetry By Writing The First Epic Of Rome In Greek Hexameter Verses Instead Of In The Old Saturnian Verse. He Made Popular The Doctrines Of Euhemerus, And He Was In General A Champion Of Free Thought And Rationalism.

One Man By Delaying Saved The State For Us.

To Open His Lips Is Crime In A Plain Citizen.

The Ape, Vilest Of Beasts, How Like To Us.

One Man Restored Our Fortunes By Delay. [by Skilfully Avoiding An Engagement, Fabius Exhausted The Resources Of The Enemy.]