Top 37 Quotes & Sayings by Catullus

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a Roman poet Catullus.

Last updated on December 21, 2024.

Gaius Valerius Catullus, often referred to simply as Catullus, was a Latin poet of the late Roman Republic who wrote chiefly in the neoteric style of poetry, focusing on personal life rather than classical heroes. His surviving works are still read widely and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art.

Roman - Poet

Source: Wikipedia

Godlike the man who sits at her side, who watches and catches that laughter which (softly) tears me to tatters: nothing is left of me, each time I see her.

Catullus

I hate and love. You ask, perhaps, how can that be? I know not, but I feel the agony.

Catullus

We see not our own backs.

Catullus

I hate and I love. Perchance you ask why I do that. I know not, but I feel that I do and I am tortured. [Lat., Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.]

Catullus

Every one has his faults: but we do not see the wallet on our own backs.

Catullus

Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand more.

Catullus

Brother, hello and good-bye. Frater, ave atque vale

Catullus

What woman says to fond lover should be written on air or the swift water. [Lat., Mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.]

Catullus

So a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she dear to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied body, she remains neither lovely to boys nor dear to girls.

Catullus

Better a sparrow, living or dead, than no birdsong at all.

Catullus

Nothing is more silly than silly laughter.

Catullus

Oh, this age! How tasteless and ill bred it is!

Catullus

Away with you, water, destruction of wine!

Catullus

Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus

Catullus

There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh. Risu inepto res ineptior nulla est

Catullus

What a woman says to an eager lover, write it on running water, write it on air.

Catullus

What women say to lovers, you'll agree, One writes on running water or on air.

Catullus

There is nothing more silly than a silly laugh.

Catullus

I hate and love. And why, perhaps you’ll ask. I don’t know: but I feel, and I’m tormented.

Catullus

Who now travels that dark path from whose bourne they say no one returns. [Lat., Qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum Illue unde negant redire quemquam.]

Catullus

The confounding of all right and wrong, in wild fury, has averted from us the gracious favor of the gods.

Catullus

The vows that woman makes to her fond lover are only fit to be written on air or on the swiftly passing stream.

Catullus

Give up wanting to deserve any thanks from anyone, or thinking anybody can be grateful.

Catullus

Now Spring restores the balmy heat, now Zephyr's sweet breezes calm the rage of the equinoctial sky.

Catullus

I hate and I love. And if you ask me how, I do not know: I only feel it, and I am torn in two.

Catullus

I hate and I love, and who can tell me why?

Catullus

Stop wishing to merit anyone's gratitude or thinking that anyone can become grateful.

Catullus

It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem

Catullus

My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's delight

Catullus

I can imagine no greater misfortune for a cultured people than to see in the hands of the rulers not only the civil, but also the religious power.

Catullus

It is difficult to lay aside a confirmed passion.

Catullus

But you shall not escape my iambics.

Catullus

My mind's sunk so low, Claudia, because of you, wrecked itself on your account so bad already, that I couldn't like you if you were the best of women, -or stop loving you, no matter what you do.

Catullus

For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.

Catullus

I write of youth, of love, and have access by these to sing of cleanly wantonness.

Catullus

To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?

Catullus

Ah, what is more blessed than to put cares away, when the mind lays by its burden, and tired with labor of far travel we have come to our own home and rest on the couch we longed for? This it is which alone is worth all these toils.

Catullus

Top 37 Quotes & Sayings by Catullus

Related Authors