We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings.
OvidRead
Gifts, believe me, captivate both men and Gods, Jupiter himself was won over and appeased by gifts.
Interpretation
Gifts have the power to influence and persuade both people and divine beings.
This quote by Ovid emphasizes the profound impact that gifts and offerings can have on relationships and interactions. It suggests that both humans and deities, such as Jupiter, can be swayed or appeased through the act of giving, highlighting the importance of generosity and the social dynamics of gift-giving in fostering goodwill and connection.
In practice
During a wedding speech, I would use this quote to highlight the importance of thoughtful gifts in building relationships.
We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings.
All things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.
A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.
Fas est ab hoste doceri._x000D_ One should learn even from one's enemies.
Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.
The end doesn't justify the means.
Sometimes I think it is a great mistake to have matter that can think and feel. It complains so. By the same token, though, I suppose that boulders and mountains and moons could be accused of being a little too phlegmatic.
Nothing is so false as human life, nothing so treacherous. God knows no one would have accepted it as a gift, if it had not been given without our knowledge.
We cannot, of course, disprove God, just as we can't disprove Thor, fairies, leprechauns, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. But, like those other fantasies that we can't disprove, we can say that God is very, very improbable.
We grew up founding our dreams on the infinite promise of American advertising. I still believe that one can learn to play the piano by mail and that mud will give you a perfect complexion.
Once, power was considered a masculine attribute. In fact, power has no sex.
I have deep faith that the principle of the universe will be beautiful and simple
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