Publius Syrus

The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus (Illustrated)

The philosophy of the ancient Syrian-Roman Publius Syrus defies easy categorization. Part Stoic, part Epicurean, and even part Skeptic and Cynic, the wit and wisdom of this former slave turned playwright transcends doctrine and embraces humanism. His celebrated dramatic works are all but lost - what remains is a collection of over one thousand one-line quotations known as The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus. With a brevity and insight that would make Oscar Wilde proud, Syrus summarizes an astonishing range of human emotions in his memorable epigrams. Some of the topics may be antiquated but the insight is timeless.