Martial

Martial (40-104), full name Marcus Valerius Martialis, was a Latin poet, known for his epigrams, born at Bilbilis, in Spain. He went to Rome, stayed there, favoured of the emperors Titus and Domitian, for 35 years, and then returned to his native city, where he wrote his Epigrammata, a collection of short poems over 1500 in number, divided into 14 books, books xiii. and xiv. being entitled respectively Xenia and Apophoreta. These epigrams are distinguished for their wit, diction, and indecency, but are valuable for the light they shed on the manners of Rome at the period.

Wisdom & Quotes

From Epigrams

• To the ashes of the dead, glory comes too late.
• Non est vivere, sed valera vita est. ( Life is not merely living but living in health.)
• If you are poor today, you will always be poor. Only the rich acquire riches.
• Tomorrow's life is too late. Live today.
• Each day provides its own gifts.
• When all the blandishments of life are gone,

The coward sneaks to death, the brave live on.

• He writes nothing whose writings are not read.

Plutarch