A gentleman is mindful no less of the freedom of others than of his own dignity.

— Livy

At last, he was to feel that he had the town, as it were, in his pocket, and was ready for anything. Accordingly, he sent a confidential messenger to Rome, to ask his father what step he should next take, his power in Gab ii being, by God's grace, by this time absolute. Tarquin, I suppose, was not sure of the messenger's good faith: in any case, he said not a word in reply to his question, but with a thoughtful air went out to the garden. The man followed him, and Tarquin, strolling up and down in silence, began knocking off poppy-heads with his stick. The messenger at last wearied of putting his question and waiting for the reply, so he returned to Gab ii supposing his mission to have failed. He told Sexts what he had said and what he had seen his father do: the king, he declared, whether from anger, or hatred, or natural arrogance, had not uttered a single word. Sexts realized that though his father had not spoken, he had, by his action, indirectly expressed his meaning clearly enough; so he proceeded at once to act upon his murderous instructions.

— Livy

Believing, as they now did, that the heavenly powers took part in human affairs, they became so much absorbed in the cultivation of religion and so deeply imbued with the sense of their religious duties, that the sanctity of an oath had more power to control their lives than the fear of punishment for lawbreaking.

— Livy

Better late than never.

— Livy

Events of great consequence often spring from trifling circumstances.

— Livy

Fear always looks on the darker side...

— Livy

In difficult situations when hope seems feeble the boldest plans are safest.

— Livy

Many difficulties which nature throws in our way, may be smoothed away by the exercise of intelligence.

— Livy

Men are seldom blessed with good fortune and good sense at the same time.

— Livy

Now I would solicit the particular attention of those numerous people who imagine that money is everything in this world, and that rank and ability are inseparable from wealth: let them observe that Cincinnatus, the one-man in whom Rome reposed all her hope of survival, was at that moment working a little three-acre farm (now known as Function meadows) west of the Tiber, just opposite the spot where the shipyards are today. A mission from the city found him at work on his land - digging a ditch, maybe, or sloughing. Greetings were exchanged, and he was asked - with a prayer for God's blessing on himself and his country - to put on his toga and hear the Senate's instructions. This naturally surprised him, and, asking if all were well, he told his wife Ra cilia to run to their cottage and fetch his toga. The toga was brought, and wiping the grimy sweat from his hands and face he put it on; at once the envoys from the city saluted him, with congratulations, as Dictator, invited him to enter Rome, and informed him of the terrible danger of Mencius's army.

— Livy