Top 37 Augustus Caesar Quotes From The First Emperor Of Rome

Writvik Gupta
Dec 12, 2023 By Writvik Gupta
Originally Published on Feb 23, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Statue of  Caesar Augustus  in Rome
Age: 0-99
Read time: 7.1 Min

Born in 63 BC, Augustus Caesar is known for his commencement of an astonishing two centuries of peace within the Roman empire under his rule.

Born Gaius Octavius, Augustus was from a wealthy family with close political ties, as his father was a Senator and his mother Atia was the dictator, Julius Caesar's niece. Owing to this, he was mostly taken care of by Julius Caesar and his sister Julia Caesaris.

Augustus would always jump at the opportunity to fight alongside Julius. He took part in Africa's battles in which they emerged victoriously, and right after, the following year, he sailed to Spain to aid his uncle Julius, but unfortunately, his ship was wrecked. This forced him to traverse through enemy lines to reach Julius. Impressed by Augustus' imperishable determination, Julius, before his death, adopted him as his son and named him heir to the throne in his will.

Julius was assassinated in 44 BC when Augustus was far away studying military tactics. After his return, he was informed of his heritage, which he then took responsibility for, even after facing political oppositions. Augustus was a natural when it came to being a ruler. He was a genius tactician and a commendable military strategist. He knew a way of dealing with people. He would reassure them by letting them know that his motive was peace even when he was faced with civil disturbances among his provinces, which resulted in a happy empire that followed their emperor.

His idea was to not resort to violence. Instead, let the people and land he conquers flourish while they are being taxed, and in return, he would provide them with protection using his powerful army. As his empire expanded, people were content, trade expanded, new and healthy businesses began to rise all over his provinces. And thus, he started an era that avoided conflict and one that concentrated on prosperity in life.

Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor, passed away in the year 14 AD and his famous last words to the people of his empire were "I found Rome of clay; I leave it to you of marble." But, to his more personal associates, he said: "Have I played the part well? Then applaud me as I exit." You'll find more amazing Augustus Caesar leadership quotes, as he was a great Roman Emperor.

Let's take a look at the great legacy of this first Roman Emperor through these thoughtful Augustus quotes and if you ever need more quotes, just head over to our Horace quotes and 'Spartacus' quotes.

Emperor Augustus Caesar Quotes

Here are some inspiring Augustus quotes which will show you a glimpse into his mind even to his last days.

Roman soldier's helmet

1. "Practice, the master of all things."

-Augustus Caesar.

2. "I came to see a king, not a row of corpses."

-Augustus Caesar.

3. "If you want rainbow, you have to deal with the rain."

-Augustus Caesar.

4. "I'd always thought the world was a wish-granting factory."

-Augustus Caesar.

5. "Better a cautious commander, and not a rash one."

-Augustus Caesar.

6. "Whatever is done well enough is done quickly enough."

-Augustus Caesar.

7. "I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader."

-Augustus Caesar.

8. "To seek to keep the established constitution unchanged argues a good citizen and a good man."

-Augustus Caesar.

9. "May it be my privilege to have the happiness of establishing the commonwealth on a firm and secure basis and thus enjoy the reward which I desire, but only if I may be called the author of the best possible government."

-Augustus Caesar.

10. "Young men, listen to an old man to whom old men listened when he was young."

-Augustus Caesar.

Augustus Caesar Quotes About Power

Popular quotes from Augustus Caesar during his life as the best Roman Emperor.

11. "Bear with me the hope when I die that the foundations which I have laid for its future government, will stand firm and stable."

-Augustus Caesar.

12. "Wars, both civil and foreign, I undertook throughout the world, on sea and land, and when victorious I spared all citizens who sued for pardon."

-Augustus Caesar.

13. "Behold them, conquerors of the world, the toga-clad race of Romans!"

-Augustus Caesar.

14. "Let us be satisfied if we can make people stop short at unkind words."

-Augustus Caesar.

15. "Present a petition with as much hesitation as he would a penny to an elephant."

-Augustus Caesar.

16. "I had a good mind to discontinue permanently the supply of grain to the city, reliance on which had discouraged Italian agriculture, but refrained because some politician would be bound one day to revive the dole as a means of ingratiating himself with the people."

-Augustus Caesar.

17. "At the age of nineteen, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I raised an army by means of which I restored liberty to the republic, which had been oppressed by the tyranny of a faction."

-Augustus Caesar.

18. "To seek to keep the established constitution unchanged argues a good citizen and a good man."

-Augustus Caesar.

19. "After this time I surpassed all others in authority, but I had no more power than the others who were also my colleagues in office."

-Augustus Caesar.

20. "Those who slew my father I drove into exile, punishing their deed by due process of law, and afterwards when they waged war upon the republic I twice defeated them in battle."

-Augustus Caesar.

Octavian Augustus Caesar Quotes By Others

Gaius Octavius Augustus Caesar quotes written about by some popular personalities, old, new and timeless.

21. "Unless Caesar Augustus is unwittingly complying with the will of God if it is true that in His divine wisdom he has ordained that Joseph and Mary should go to Bethlehem at this time."

-Jose Saramago.

22. "In spite of their past accomplishments, Augustus despised the Greeks and extended his favor to the strongest of his day."

-Tacitus.

23. "There was a young man in Rome that was very like Augustus Caesar; Augustus took knowledge of it and sent for the man, and asked him 'Was your mother never at Rome?' He answered 'No Sir; but my father was.'"

-Francis Bacon.

24. "His contemporaries spoke of him as the 'teenage executioner.'"

-Karl Loewenstein.

25. "'In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth,' must not be explained as signifying such earthly peace as the world enjoyed under Caesar Augustus, as many believe, but 'peace with God,' or spiritual peace."

-Martin Luther King.

26. "Cicero distrusted Augustus, but respected his determination... and talent for organization."

-Zvi Yavetz.

Famous Augustus Caesar Quotes

Octavian Augustus Caesar quotes that every history enthusiast should know.

27. "Hasten slowly."

-Augustus Caesar.

28. "Having attained my highest hopes, Fathers of the Senate, what more have I to ask of the immortal gods than that I may retain this same unanimous approval of yours to the very end of my life."

-Augustus Caesar.

29. "If I have played my part well, clap your hands, and dismiss me with applause from the stage."

-Augustus Caesar.

30. "I rebuilt the Capitol and the theater of Pompey, each work at enormous cost, without any inscription of my name."

-Augustus Caesar.

31. "If we could survive without a wife, citizens of Rome, all of us would do without that nuisance; but nature has so decreed that we cannot manage comfortably with them, nor live in any way without them, we must plan for our lasting preservation rather than for our temporary pleasure."

-Augustus Caesar.

32. "The tales of our exploits will survive as long as the human voice itself."

-Augustus Caesar.

33. "When the dictatorship was offered to me, both in my presence and my absence, by the people and senate, when Marcus Marcellus and Lucius Arruntius were consuls, I did not accept it."

-Augustus Caesar.

34. "We write our names in the sand: and then the waves roll in and wash them away."

-Augustus Caesar.

35. "I rebuilt aqueducts in many places that had decayed with age, and I doubled the capacity of the Marcian aqueduct by sending a new spring into its channel."

-Augustus Caesar.

36. "Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit."

-Augustus Caesar.

37. "I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble."

-Augustus Caesar.

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Written by Writvik Gupta

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Writvik Gupta

A professional content writer hailing from Kolkata, India, with extensive experience in the corporate sector, Writvik Gupta has worked with several reputed companies, including ITC WelcomHotel Jodhpur, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Aryan Imaging, and Eduquity. He also serves as a consultant for a startup based in Bangalore. With a passion for the outdoors, Writvik enjoys trekking and traveling to remote destinations. He also has a keen interest in exploring various cuisines and regularly volunteers for social causes.

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