Catullus Quotes

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Away with you, water, destruction of wine!

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

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

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

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

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

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

There is nothing more silly than a silly laugh.

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

We see not our own backs.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

But you shall not escape my iambics.

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

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

It is difficult to lay aside a confirmed passion.