110+ Livy Quotes On History, Rome And Hannibal

Livy was a Roman historian who lived from 59 BC to 17 AD. He is best known for his work Ab Urbe Condita Libri, a 142-book series which outlined the history of Rome from its foundation to the death of Augustus. His works are an important source of information on the history of the Roman Republic and Empire. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Livy on history, rome, hannibal.

Top 10 Livy Quotes

1. The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze.
2. Men are slower to recognize blessings than evils.
3. We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them.
4. It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity.
5. Shared danger is the strongest of bonds; it will keep men united in spite of mutual dislike and suspicion.
6. There is nothing worse than being ashamed of parsimony or poverty.
7. The old Romans all wished to have a king over them because they had not yet tasted the sweetness of freedom.
8. Great contests generally excite great animosities.
9. Resistance to criminal rashness comes better late than never.
10. Such is the nature of crowds: either they are humble and servile or arrogant and dominating. They are incapable of making moderate use of freedom, which is the middle course, or of keeping it.

Livy Short Quotes

• Persevere in virtue and diligence.
• Men are seldom blessed with good fortune and good sense at the same time.
• The mind sins, not the body; if there is no intention, there is no blame.
• Not many men have both good fortune and good sense.
• Envy, like flames, soars upwards.
• There is nothing that is more often clothed in an attractive garb than a false creed.
• It is easier to criticize than to correct our past errors.
• Treachery, though at first very cautious, in the end betrays itself.
• The result showed that fortune helps the brave.
• An honor prudently declined often returns with increased luster.

Livy Quotes About History

This above all makes history useful and desirable; it unfolds before our eyes a glorious record of exemplary actions. — Livy

This was the Athenians' war against the King of Macedon, a war of words. Words are the only weapons the Athenians have left. — Livy

The study of History is the best medicine for a sick mind. — Livy

Livy Quotes About Boldest

In grave difficulties, and with little hope, the boldest measures are the safest. — Livy

In great straits and when hope is small, the boldest counsels are the safest. — Livy

In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest. — Livy

Livy Quotes About Hope

...war is just to those for whom it is necessary, and arms are clear of impiety for those who have no hope left but in arms. — Livy

In war, mere appearances have had all the effect of realities; and that a person, under a firm persuasion that he can command resources, virtually has them; that very prospect inspiring him with hope and boldness in his exertions. — Livy

Better and safer is an assured peace than a victory hoped for. The one is in your own power, the other is in the hands of the gods. — Livy

Livy Famous Quotes And Sayings

No law can possibly meet the convenience of every one: we must be satisfied if it be beneficial on the whole and to the majority. — Livy

The real power behind whatever success I have now was something I found within myself - something that's in all of us, I think, a little piece of God just waiting to be discovered. — Livy

Under the influence of fear, which always leads men to take a pessimistic view of things, they magnified their enemies' resources, and minimized their own. — Livy

He is truly a man who will not permit himself to be unduly elated when fortune's breeze is favorable, or cast down when it is adverse. — Livy

There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal. — Livy

Luck is of little moment to the great general, for it is under the control of his intellect and his judgment. — Livy

Envy like fire always makes for the highest points. — Livy

Prosperity engenders sloth. — Livy

When Tarquin the Proud was asked what was the best mode of governing a conquered city, he replied only by beating down with his staff all the tallest poppies in his garden. — Livy

Necessity is the last and strongest weapon. — Livy

The most honorable, as well as the safest course, is to rely entirely upon valour. — Livy

Valor is the soldier's adornment. — Livy

Haste is blind and improvident. — Livy

The best known evil is the most tolerable. — Livy

There is nothing man will not attempt when great enterprises hold out the promise of great rewards. — Livy

A certain peace is better and safer than a victory in prospect; the former is at your own disposal, the latter depends upon the gods. — Livy

From abundance springs satiety. — Livy

No crime can ever be defended on rational grounds. — Livy

No wickedness proceeds on any grounds of reason. — Livy

We can endure neither our vices nor their cure. — Livy

He will have true glory who despises it. — Livy

Toil and pleasure, dissimilar in nature, are nevertheless united by a certain natural bond. — Livy

You know how to vanquish, Hannibal, but you do not know how to profit from victory. — Livy

As soon as she (woman) begins to be ashamed of what she ought not, she will not be ashamed of what she ought. — Livy

The worst kind of shame is being ashamed of frugality or poverty. — Livy

Events of great consequence often spring from trifling circumstances. — Livy

Law is a thing which is insensible, and inexorable, more beneficial and more profitious to the weak than to the strong; it admits of no mitigation nor pardon, once you have overstepped its limits. — Livy

Nothing is so uncertain or unpredictable as the feelings of a crowd. — Livy

Friendships ought to be immortal, hostilities mortal. — Livy

Dignity is a matter which concerns only mankind. — Livy

A woman's mind is affected by the meanest gifts. — Livy

Woe to the conquered. — Livy

Once let good faith be abandoned, and all social existence would perish. — Livy

Adversity makes men remember God. — Livy

Envy is blind, and is only clever in depreciating the virtues of others. — Livy

Never is work without reward, or reward without work. — Livy

There are laws for peace as well as war. — Livy

The army from Asia introduced a foreign luxury to Rome; it was then the meals began to require more dishes and more expenditure . . . the cook, who had up to that time been employed as a slave of low price, become dear: what had been nothing but a metier was elevated to an art. — Livy

A gentleman is mindful no less of the freedom of others than of his own dignity. — Livy

The less there is of fear, the less there is of danger. — Livy

Nowhere are our calculations more frequently upset than in war. — Livy

Present sufferings seem far greater to men than those they merely dread. — Livy

Avarice and luxury, those evils which have been the ruin of every great state. — Livy

Thus, if there is anyone who is confident that he can advise me as to the best advantage of the state in this campaign which I am about to conduct, let him not refuse his services to the state, but come with me into Macedonia. I will furnish him with his sea-passage, with a horse, a tent, and even travel-funds. If anyone is reluctant to do this and prefers the leisure of the city to the hardships of campaigning, let him not steer the ship from on shore. — Livy

Fame opportunely despised often comes back redoubled. — Livy

Nothing hurts worse than the loss of money. — Livy

The name of freedom regained is sweet to hear. — Livy

Favor and honor sometimes fall more fitly on those who do not desire them. — Livy

Adversity reminds men of religion. — Livy

There is always more spirit in attack than in defence. — Livy

Envy is blind. -Caeca invidia est — Livy

Fortune blinds men when she does not wish them to withstand the violence of her onslaughts. — Livy

No man likes to be surpassed by those of this own level. — Livy

It is when fortune is the most propitious that she is least to be trusted. — Livy

Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words. — Livy

Envy is blind, and she has no other quality than that of detracting from virtue — Livy

Wit is the flower of the imagination. — Livy

Nature has ordained that the man who is pleading his own cause before a large audience, will be more readily listened to than he who has no object in view other than the public benefit. — Livy

Good fortune and a good disposition are rarely given to the same man. — Livy

Many difficulties which nature throws in our way, may be smoothed away by the exercise of intelligence. — Livy

Men are least safe from what success induces them not to fear. — Livy

The troubles which have come upon us always seem more serious than those which are only threatening. — Livy

No one wants to be excelled by his relatives. — Livy

Truth, they say, is but too often in difficulties, but is never finally suppressed. — Livy

The sun has not yet set for all time. — Livy

We feel public misfortunes just so far as they affect our private circumstances, and nothing of this nature appeals more directly to us than the loss of money. — Livy

History is the best medicine for a sick mind, for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see, and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings: fine things to take as models, base things rotten through and through to avoid. — Livy

It is better that a guilty man should not be brought to trial than that he should be acquitted. — Livy

No law is quite appropriate for all. — Livy

Many things complicated by nature are restored by reason. — Livy

Bad beginnings, bad endings. — Livy

Greater is our terror of the unknown. — Livy

Temerity is not always successful. — Livy

In adversity assume the countenance of prosperity, and in prosperity moderate the temper and desires. — Livy

Men's minds are too ready to excuse guilt in themselves. — Livy

Those ills are easiest to bear with which we are most familiar. — Livy

It is easy at any moment to resign the possession of a great fortune; to acquire it is difficult and arduous — Livy

No law is sufficiently convenient to all. — Livy

Toil and pleasure, in their natures opposite, are yet linked together in a kind of necessary connection. — Livy

That business does not prosper which you transact with the eyes of others. — Livy

Nothing stings us so bitterly as the loss of money — Livy

Better late than never. — Livy

I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who thinks deeply about a problem, and the next is he who listens carefully to advice. — Livy

Life Lessons by Livy

1. Livy teaches us to take a long-term view of our lives and our actions, recognizing that our decisions today can have far-reaching consequences for future generations.
2. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding our past in order to make wise decisions in the present.
3. Finally, Livy encourages us to strive for greatness, to make our mark on the world and to be remembered for our accomplishments.