42 Best Ovid Quotes From The Iconic Roman Poet

Publius Ovidius Naso, popularly known as Ovid, was one of the early Roman empire's well-known poets who lived between 43 BCE to 17 CE.

Ovid was famous for his works 'Metamorphoses', 'The Heroides' (Epistles of the Heroines), and 'Ars Amatoria'(The Art of Love). His distinctive narrative and descriptive qualities, wit, and rhetorical brilliance made his work more appealing.

Ovid's Latin name is Publius Ovidius Naso, and he was born in an influential Roman family, the Gens Ovidia. He got the name 'Ovid' from his family name 'Ovidius,' which was possibly derived from Latin 'Ovis' meaning sheep.

Ovid's work focused on various topics like mythology, love, and his sufferings in exile. His best-known book 'Metamorphoses' remains one of the most important sources of classical mythology, which has been a significant influence on European art and literature.

Ovid's love poetry, mainly the 'Amores' (Loves) and 'Ars Amatoria'(Art of Love), are based on ancient Rome's sophisticated social and private lives.

Ovid was banished from Rome by Emperor Augustus to a remote province called Tomis in 8CE.

Though the exact reasons are not known, as per Ovid's own account, it was due to a poem and a mistake.

Many historians speculate that Ovid's work on love and adultery directly contrasted with Augustus's societal and moral reforms, which he was strictly implementing during that time, and that this may have angered the Roman Emperor, who banished him without involving the Senate.

Before his exile, Ovid was working on 'Fasti,' a collection of poems based on Roman festivals and astronomy.

Due to his exile and unavailability of access to Roman libraries, this work remained incomplete. Ovid wrote two poetry collections in exile, 'Tristia' and 'Epistulae ex Ponto.'

'Tristia' is a series of poems expressing his sadness and desolation from Rome, and the 'Epistulae ex Ponto' is a series of letters asking friends in Rome to feign his return.

Ovid died during some time in the 17th Century. His work was dismissed as frivolous during his time but has gained importance centuries later.

His depiction of Roman society in his poems is still referred to by historians for the realistic portrayal. Below are some of the great Roman poet Ovid's quotes. If you are interested in more quotes, do go through Roman Quotes and Virgil Quotes.

Ovid 'Metamorphoses' Quotes

Ovid's work 'Metamorphoses' is a collection of fifteen books whose overall theme is transformations in Greek and Roman mythology. It consists of tales based on myths and legends, which tell how human beings transformed into new bodies: trees, rocks, animals, flowers, and such. Find below some of the best Ovid quotes.

1."I grabbed a pile of dust, and holding it up, foolishly asked for as many birthdays as the grains of dust, I forgot to ask that they be years of youth."

-Ovid.

2."Happy is the man who has broken the chains which hurt the mind and has given up worrying once and for all."

-Ovid.

3."So long as you are secure you will count many friends; if your life becomes clouded you will be alone."

-Ovid.

4."Take rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop."

-Ovid.

5."Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish."

-Ovid.

6."We are ever striving after what is forbidden, and coveting what is denied us."

-Ovid.

7."Nothing is stronger than habit."

-Ovid.

8."Courage conquers all things: it even gives strength to the body."

-Ovid.

9."Water belongs to us all. Nature did not make the sun one person's property, nor air, nor water, cool and clear."

-Ovid.

10."Neither can the wave that has passed by be recalled, nor the hour which has passed return again."

-Ovid.

11."What is harder than rock, or softer than water? Yet soft water hollows out hard rock. Persevere."

-Ovid.

12."At times it is folly to hasten at other times, to delay. The wise do everything in its proper time."

-Ovid.

13."In the make-up of human beings, intelligence counts for more than our hands, and that is our true strength."

-Ovid.

14."There are a thousand forms of evil; there will be a thousand remedies."

-Ovid.

15."The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run even faster if encouraged."

-Ovid.

16."Time flies on and follows, flies, and follows, Always, forever, and new. What was before is left behind; what never was is now, And every passing moment is renewed."

-Ovid.

17."Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast and is forced to multiply its strength."

-Ovid.

Ovid Love Quotes

In Ovid's opinion, love has power over everyone. It is a dangerous, destabilizing force that no one can resist and the misery caused by love. Below are some Ovid quotes about his view of love.

18."Love is the force that leaves you colorless."

-Ovid.

19."If you would be loved, be lovable."

-Ovid.

20."Dignity and love do not blend well, nor do they continue long together."

-Ovid.

21."Happy are those who dare courageously to defend what they love."

-Ovid.

22."And besides, we lovers fear everything"

-Ovid.

23."I don't ask you to be faithful - you're beautiful, after all -but just that I be spared the pain of knowing."

-Ovid.

24."Love is a kind of warfare."

-Ovid.

25."The cause is hidden; the effect is visible to all."

-Ovid.

26."Everyone is a millionaire where promises are concerned."

-Ovid.

27."We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings."

-Ovid.

28."I am the poet of the poor because I was poor when I loved; since I could not give gifts, I gave words."

-Ovid.

29."The Woman is a sweet poison."

-Ovid.

30."So I can't live either without you or with you."

-Ovid.

31."Give me the waters of Lethe that numb the heart, if they exist, I will still not have the power to forget you."

-Ovid.

Ovid Quotes Latin

Ovid's contribution to Latin literature is considered to be at par with Horace and Virgil. Below are some interesting Ovid quotes from his books.

32."(Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas) Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses."

-Ovid.

33."(Militat omnis amans et habet sua castra Cupido) Every lover is a soldier and has his camp in Cupid."

-Ovid.

34."(Perfer et obdura, dolor hic tibi proderit olim) Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you."

-Ovid.

35."(Cui peccare licet, peccat minus) Who is allowed to make mistakes, makes fewer mistakes."

-Ovid.

36."(Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit) He who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow."

-Ovid.

37."(Fas est ab hoste doceri) One should learn even from one's enemies."

-Ovid.

38."(Omnia mutantur, nihil interit) Everything changes, nothing perishes."

-Ovid.

39."(Bene qui latuit bene vixit) He who has lived in obscurity has lived well."

-Ovid.

40."(Video meliora, proboque, deteriora sequor) I see what is better, and approve it, but I follow the worse."

-Ovid.

41."(Leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus)The burden which is well borne becomes light."

-Ovid.

42."(Sunt superis sua jura) Even the gods have their own laws."

-Ovid.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Ovid Quotes, then also visit Horace Quotes and Ancient Quotes.