“The bee enclosed and through the amber shown Seems buried in the juice which was his own.”

— Martial, Epigrammata, Book IV, 32

About Martial

40 – 104

Roman poet, master of the epigram.

“Your birthday as my own to me is dear.”

“My poems are naughty, but my life is pure.”

“Believe me, wise men don't say ‘I shall live to do that’, tomorrow's life is too late; live today.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”