In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art.
SallustRead
Prosperity tries the souls even of the wise.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wealth and success can reveal true character, even in the most knowledgeable individuals.
This quote by Sallust highlights the idea that prosperity can test a person's integrity and virtues. It suggests that while wisdom is a valuable trait, the true measure of someoneβs character is often revealed in times of wealth, where the temptation to act against one's principles may arise.
Themes
ProsperityWisdomCharacterWealthTemptation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about ethical business practices.
More from Sallust
All quotes βA good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.
SallustRead
He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.
SallustRead
The glory that goes with wealth is fleeting and fragile; virtue is a possession glorious and eternal.
SallustRead
Most honorable are services rendered to the State; even if they do not go beyond words, they are not to be despised.
SallustRead
Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord.
SallustRead
Similar quotes
And these little things may not seem like much but after a while they take you off on a direction where you may be a long way off from what other people have been thinking about.
Roger PenroseRead
Type of the wise who soar but never roam, True to the kindred points of heaven and home.
William WordsworthRead
Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun.
C. S. LewisRead
Virtue rejects facility to be her companion. She requires a craggy, rough and thorny way.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Forbearance is the root of quietness and assurance forever.
Ieyasu TokugawaRead
We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it and stop there lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again and that is well but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.
Mark TwainRead