Quotes from The Satyricon

10 notable lines from Petronius · c. 65

For with my own eyes at Cumae I saw the Sibyl hanging in a bottle, and when the boys said to her: 'What do you want, Sibyl?' she replied: 'I want to die'.

Trimalchio, Sec. 48 · trans. Aldington

Quotations follow the Sarah Ruden translation (Hackett Publishing, 2000) — our recommended edition.

  1. He has joined the great majority.

    Seleucus on the dead Chrysanthus, Sec. 42 (Latin: abiit ad plures)

  2. One hand washes the other.

    Echion the rag-dealer, ch. 45 (Latin: manus manum lavat) · trans. Firebaugh

  3. The world wants to be deceived.

    Petronius (attributed)

  4. To think that wine lives longer than poor little man.

    Trimalchio, holding up a silver skeleton, ch. 34 · trans. Firebaugh

  5. HERE RESTS G POMPEIUS TRIMALCHIO ... CONSCIENTIOUS BRAVE LOYAL HE GREW RICH FROM LITTLE AND LEFT THIRTY MILLION SESTERCES BEHIND HE NEVER HEARD A PHILOSOPHER

    Trimalchio dictating his own epitaph, ch. 71 · trans. Firebaugh

  6. Gawd's truth, we're only blown-up bladders strutting around, we're less than flies, for they have some good in them, but we're only bubbles.

    Seleucus at the dinner, ch. 42 · trans. Firebaugh

  7. Education is a treasure.

    A dinner guest, Sec. 46 (Latin: litterae thesaurum est) · trans. Heseltine

  8. The pleasure of the act of love is gross and brief, and love once consummated brings loathing after it.

    Verse fragment attributed to the Satyricon · trans. Heseltine

  9. A man who is always ready to believe what is told him will never do well.

    Sec. 43 · trans. Heseltine