Vegetius
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, commonly known simply as Vegetius, was a Roman writer from the 4th Century. He is famous for his books Epitoma rei militaris, and Digesta Artis Mulomedicinae.
An adversary is more hurt by desertion than by slaughter.
- Vegetius
What can a soldier do who charges when out of breath?
- Vegetius
Few men are born brave, many become so through training and force of discipline.
- Vegetius
Valour is superior to numbers.
- Vegetius
An ambuscade, if discovered and promptly surrounded, will repay the intended mischief with interest
- Vegetius
A general is not easily overcome who can form a true judgement of his own and the enemy's forces.
- Vegetius
Qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum
Let him who desires peace prepare for war
- Vegetius
We die today not only for our friends and family but for our gods and for our forefathers and men before them so pray to them to make us victorious
- Vegetius
Let all be present and expect the palm, the prize of victory.
- Virgil
HomerEdit
Homer was a famous writer and poet from Ancient Greece, little is known about when he lived or if he even existed, but he composed the two first pieces of Western Literature: the 'Illiad' and the 'Odyssey'
So ends the bloody business of the day.
- Homer
Even the bravest cannot fight beyond his strength.
- Homer
Men grow tired of sleep, love, singing and dancing sooner than war.
- Homer
He serves me most, who serves his country best.
- Homer
The blade itself incites to violence
- Homer
To those that flee comes neither power nor glory
- Homer
Ye gods, what dastards would our host command? Swept to the war, the lumber of the land.
- Homer
Noble and manly music invigorates the spirit, strengthens the wavering man, and incites him to great and worthy deeds.
- Homer
A glorious death is his who for his country falls.
- Homer
PlautusEdit
Titus Maccius Plautus, commonly known simply as Plautus, was a Roman playwright, who was known for his comedies.
Conquered, we conquer
- Plautus
Ah, yes, mere infantry - poor beggars...
- Plautus
The valiant profit more their country than the finest, cleverest speakers
- Plautus
SophoclesEdit
Sophocles was a famous playwright from ancient Greece, who is famously known for his tragedies.
Quick decisions are unsafe decisions.
- Sophocles
It is the brave man's part to live with glory, or with glory die.
- Sophocles
LivyEdit
Titus Livius Patavinus, known as Livy, was a famous Roman historian, known for his many written works on Roman history.
The outcome corresponds less to expectations in war than in any other case whatsoever.
- Livy
Vae victus.
Woe to the vanquished.
- Livy
To a good general luck is important.
- Livy
Sun TzuEdit
Sun Tzu was a famous Chinese general and military philosopher, who was known for his famous written work "The Art of War" a highly influential book on military strategy.
All warfare is based on deception.
- Sun Tzu
In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.
- Sun Tzu
Generally management of the many is the same as generally management of the few, it's a matter of organization.
- Sun Tzu
He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.
- Sun Tzu
HerodotusEdit
Herodotus was a famous historian from Ancient Greece. He is well known for his written works on history, and Cicero once stated he was "The Father of History".
In peace, sons bury their fathers, in war, fathers bury their sons.
- Herodotus
Far better is to have a stout heart always and suffer one's share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.
- Herodotus
Latin and Greek proverbsEdit
Well known quotes from early Greek, and Roman society, it's unknown who created these phrases.
After the war is over, make alliances
- Greek proverb
Fortis cadere, cedere non potest.
A brave man may fall, but he cannot yield.
- Latin proverb
Victory loves prudence.
- Latin proberb
Flet victus, victor interiit.
The conquered mourns, the conqueror is undone.
- Latin proverb
Timidi mater non flet.
A coward's mother does not weep.
- Latin proverb
Arms keep peace
- Latin proverb
To blunder twice is not allowed in war
- Latin proverb
TacitusEdit
Tacitus was a famous historian and senator from the Roman Empire. He was known for his historical works on the reign of Roman emperors.
The proper arts of a general are judgement and prudence.
- Tacitus
Great empires are not maintained by timidity.
- Tacitus
A bad peace is even worse than a war
- Tacitus
Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors
- Tacitus
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
- Tacitus
Valour is the contempt of death and pain.
- Tacitus
They make a solitude and call it peace.
- Tacitus
PlatoEdit
Plato was a famous philosopher and mathemitician from ancient Greece, Plato is known for his many works on science, mathematics, and logic.
Every care must be taken that our auxiliaries, being stronger than our citizens, may not grow too much for them and become savage beasts.
- Plato
Only the dead have seen the end of the war.
- Plato
The rulers of the State are the only ones who should have the privilege of lying
- Plato
AeschylusEdit
Aeschylus was a famous playwright from Ancient Greece, known for his tragedies.
I think the slain care little if they sleep or rise again.
- Aeschylus
A people's voice is dangerous when charged with wrath.
- Aeschylus
PolybiusEdit
Polybius was a famous historian from ancient Greece, who was known for his written works on the history of Rome, and his views on government and separation of power.
In war we must always leave room for strokes of fortune, and accidents that cannot be foreseen.
- Polybius
A good general not only sees the way to victory, he also knows when victory is impossible.
- Polybius
HoraceEdit
Quintus Horatius Flaccus, better known as Horace, was a famous lyric poet from ancient Rome.
Bella detesta matribus.
Wars are the dread of mothers.
- Horace
Quae caret ora cruore nostro?
What coast knows not our blood?
- Horace
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
It is a sweet and seemly thing to die for one's country.
- Horace
Adversity reveals the genius of a general; good fortune conceals it
- Horace
A wise man in times of peace prepares for war.
- Horace
ThucydidesEdit
Thucydides was a famous historian, philosopher, and general from ancient Greece, who is known for his works on history, such as his historical work on the Peloponnesian War.
A collision at sea can ruin your entire day.
- Thucydides
The strong did what they could, and the weak suffered what they must.
- Thucydides
Self-control is the chief element in self respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.
- Thucydides
Hermocrates of SyracuseEdit
The true contempt of an invader is shown by deeds of valour in the field.
- Hermocrates of Syracuse
They have an abundance of gold and silver, and these make war, like other things, go smoothly.
- Hermocrates of Syracuse
When there is mutual fear, men think twice before they make aggression upon one another.
- Hermocrates
Nobody is driven in to war by ignorance, and no one who thinks he will gain anything from it is deterred by fear.
- Hermocrates
EuripidesEdit
The god of war hates those who hesitate
- Euripides
Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave man's eyes.
- Euripides
A large army is always disorderly.
- Euripides
OvidEdit
Fas est et ab hoste doceri.
It is right to learn, even from the enemy.
- Ovid
The gods favour the bold.
- Ovid
CiceroEdit
Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home.
- Cicero
The sinews of war are infinite money.
- Cicero
War is not so much a matter of weapons, as of money.
- Cicero
Silent enim leges inter arma
Laws are silent in times of war
- Cicero
AristotleEdit
War, as the saying goes, is full of false alarms.
- Aristotle
We make war that we may live in peace.
- Aristotle
The wise man speaks because he has something to say, the fool because he has to say something
- Aristotle
Pulibius SyrusEdit
It is a bad plan that cannot be altered.
- Pulibius Syrus
Pardon one offence and you encourage the commission of many
- Pulibius Syrus
We should provide in peace what we need in war
- Pulibius Syrus
The cruelty of war makes for peace.
- Pulibius Syrus
Necessity knows no law except to conquer.
- Pulibius Syrus
He is best secure from dangers who is on his guard even when he seems safe.
- Pulibius Syrus
Gaius Julius CaesarEdit
In war important events result from trivial causes.
- Gaius Julius Caesar
War gives the right of the conquerors to impose any conditions they please upon the vanquished.
- Gaius Julius Caesar
Veni, vidi, vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
- Gaius Julius Caesar
Alea iacta est
The die is cast
- Gaius Julius Caesar
If you must break the law, do it to seize power, in all other cases observe it.
- Gaius Julius Caesar
HippocratesEdit
Men of Athens, there is not much time for exhortation, but to the brave a few words are as good as many.
- Hippocrates
War is the only proper school of the surgeon.
- Hippocrates
SenecaEdit
If a man does not know to what port he is sailing, no wind is favourable.
- Seneca
The fortunes of war are always doubtful.
- Seneca
Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.
- Seneca
OtherEdit
Against danger it pays to be prepared.
- Aesop
Brave men are a city's strongest tower of defence.
- Alcaeus
A dead enemy always smells good.
- Alus Vitellus
Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war.
- Shakespeare: Julius Caesar, III, 1
He conquers who endures.
- Persius
Extraordinary rains pretty generally fall after great battles.
- Plutarch
I am more afraid of our own mistakes than of our enemies' designs.
- Pericles
When one side goes against the enemy with the gods' gift of stronger morale, then their adversaries, as a rule, cannot withstand them.
- Xenophon
Bella, horida bella!
Wars, horrid wars!
Willing obedience always beats forced obedience
- Xenophon
- Virgil
Soldiers do not like being under the command of one who is not of noble birth.
- Onosander
To an imperial city nothing is inconsistent which is expedient.
- Euphemus of Athens
In the moment of action remember the value of silence and order.
- Phormio of Athens
If a man does not strike first, he will be first struck.
- Athenogoras of Syracuse
Fortes fortuna adiuvat.
Fortune favours the brave.
- Terence
In war we must be speedy.
- Silius Italicus
Learn to obey before you command.
- Solon of Athens
Varus, give me back my legions.
- Augustus Caesar: After the defeat and annihilation of Varus' column in Teutoberg Forest
The Spartans do not ask how many enemies but where they are.
- Agis II of Sparta
Come home with this shield, or upon it.
- A Spartan mother equips her son
Who was the first that forged the deadly blade? Of rugged steel his savage soul was made.
- Tibullus
A small country cannot contend with a great; the few cannot contend with the many; and the weak cannot contend with the strong
- Cencius
A disorderly mob is no more an army than a heap of building materials is a house
- Socrates
To brave men, the prizes that war offers are liberty and fame
- Lycurgus of Sparta
War spares not the brave but the cowardly
- Anacreon
It is the noblest and safest thing for a great army to be visibly animated by one spirit
- Archidamus of Sparta
Ah! The generals! They are numerous but not good for much!
- Aristophanes
Let them hate us as long as they fear us
- Caligula
To lead untrained people to war is to throw them away
- Confucius
Only the brave enjoy noble and glorious deaths
- Dionysius
The walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots
- Ezekiel, XXVI, 10
Alta sedent civilis vulnera dextrae
Deep are the wounds that civil strife inflicts
- Lucan
It is pleasant, when the sea is high and the winds are dashing the waves about, to watch from the shores the struggles of another
- Lucretius
Hannibal knew how to gain a victory, but not how to use it
- Maharbal
The man who runs away will fight again
- Menander
An alliance with the powerful is never to be trusted
- Phaedrus
War is sweet to those who have never experienced it
- Pindar
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle!
- II Samuel, I, 25
March divided and fight concentrated
- Military maxim
Divide and conquer
- Military maxim
Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear
-Marcus Aurelius
