C. Sallustius Crispus, Bellum Catilinae 2.7–9

Sallust concludes that a life devoted to appetite and idleness is no life at all, and that true glory comes only through virtuous action or honorable skill.

 

Tier 1

Omnia magna quae viri faciunt, ex virtute veniunt.

Sed multi mortales qui indocti et inculti sunt, se dederunt ventri et somno, et vitam transierunt sicuti viatores,

viatores quibus corpus placet et anima onus fuit.

Ego vitam mortemque eorum virorum aeque aestimo, quoniam nemo de vita et morte aliquid dicit. Sed solus is mihi videtur vivere et frui anima, qui famam quaerit, aut nobile facto, aut arte bona.

Sed in multis laboribus natura itinera varia hominibus variis ostendit.

Written by Robert Amstutz

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