Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.
A good man doubles the length of his existence; to have lived so as to look back with pleasure on our past existence is to live twice.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Living a good life allows you to reflect on it with joy, effectively granting you a richer existence.
This quote by Martial suggests that the richness and quality of one's life is not merely measured by years lived, but by the experiences and memories that bring joy upon reflection. A good person, through their actions and choices, creates a life that is fulfilling and pleasurable to remember, thus allowing them to 'live twice' by the joy of these memories. It emphasizes the importance of living with intention and kindness to enhance our existence.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal growth, one could reference this quote to emphasize the importance of living a meaningful life.
More from Martial
All quotes βLife is not merely to be alive, but to be well.
To the ashes of the dead glory comes too late.
Life's not just about being alive, but being well.
My poems are naughty, but my life is pure.
Neither fear your death's day nor long for it.
Similar quotes
Despite the constant clamor for attention from the modern world, I do believe we need to procure a psychological space for ourselves. I apparently know some people who try to achieve this by logging off or going without their Twitter or Facebook for a limited period.
We have nothing to lose by trusting the infinite power of the Self, except the bondage of our own ignorance.
Don't let your sins turn into bad habits.
The longer I live, the more I observe that carrying around anger is the most debilitating to the person who bears it.
The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of the proactive person.
It's hard to decide who's truly brilliant; it's easier to see who's driven, which in the long run may be more important.