Quotes of Gaius Petronius

Gaius Petronius

Gaius Petronius the Arbiter (Gaius Petronius) lived in the years 27-66 CE. He was a Roman writer, poet, philosopher and politician. He is credited with the authorship of the anonymously published novel Satyricon. He gained a lot of influence on Emperor Nero, bored with the stoic Seneca.

• “Almost the whole world are actors”
  • latin: [Fere totus mundus exercet histrionem]
  • source: Gaius Petronius, Satyricon
• “He’s gone to join the majority”
  • latin: [Abiit ad plures]
  • description: meaning the dead.
  • source: Gaius Petronius, Satyricon, Cena Trimalchionis, 42, 5
• “But an old love pinches like a crab”
  • latin: [Antiquus amor cancer est]
  • description: in the sense of: “old love does not pass”.
  • source: Gaius Petronius, Satyricon, 42
• “Fear first made gods in the world”
  • latin: [Primus in orbe deos fecit timor]
  • source: Gaius Petronius, Satyricon, 27, 1
• “Beware of dog!”
  • latin: [Cave canem!]
  • description: an inscription that was located in front of the entrance to some Roman houses.
  • source: Gaius Petronius, Satyricon, 29, 1
• “The love of creative genius never made anyone rich”
  • latin: [Amor ingenii neminem umquam divitem fecit]
  • source: Gaius Petronius, Satyricon, 83, 9
• “To strive with the winds”
  • latin: [Cum ventis litigare]
  • source: Gaius Petronius, Satyricon, 83