Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus Quotes

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About Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus

Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus (4th century, possibly into the 5th), commonly referred to simply as Vegetius, was a writer of the Later Roman Empire.

Categories: Authors, Romans, 5th century deaths

Quotes: 14 sourced quotes total

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'''''Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum;''' qui uictoriam cupit, milites inbuat diligenter; qui secundos optat euentus, dimicet arte, non casu.''
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
Therefore, whoever wishes for peace, let him prepare for war. He who aspires to victory, should spare no pains to form his soldiers. And he who hopes for success, should fight on principle, not chance. (Book 3, Foreword)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 3, "Dispositions for Action")
Paucos uiros fortes natura procreat; bona institutione plures reddit industria.
'''''Scientia enim rei bellicae dimicandi nutrit audaciam:''' nemo facere metuit quod se bene didicisse confidit.''
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
The courage of a soldier is heightened by his knowledge of his profession, and he only wants an opportunity to execute what he is convinced he has been perfectly taught. (Book 1)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 1, "The Selection and Training of New Levies")
Amplius iuuat uirtus quam multitudo.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
• A general is not easily overcome who can form a true judgment of his own and the enemy's forces. Valour is superior to numbers. The nature of the ground is often of more consequence than courage. (General Maxims)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 3, "Dispositions for Action")
Qui frumentum necessariaque non praeparat, uincitur sine ferro.
Nulla consilia meliora sunt nisi illa, quae ignorauerit aduersarius, antequam facias.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
• It is much better to overcome the enemy by famine, surprise or terror than by general actions, for in the latter instance fortune has often a greater share than valour. Those designs are best which the enemy are entirely ignorant of till the moment of execution. Opportunity in war is often more to be depended on than courage. (General Maxims)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 3, "Dispositions for Action")
Numquam ad certamen publicum produxeris militem, nisi cum eum uideris sperare uictoriam.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
• An army is strengthened by labor and enervated by idleness. Troops are not to be led to battle unless confident of success. (General Maxims)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 3, "Dispositions for Action")
Boni duces publico certamine numquam nisi ex occasione aut nimia necessitate confligunt.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
• Punishment, and fear thereof, are necessary to keep soldiers in order in quarters; but in the field they are more influenced by hope and rewards. Good officers never engage in general actions unless induced by opportunity or obliged by necessity. (General Maxims)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 3, "Dispositions for Action")
Nulla enim alia re uidemus populum Romanum orbem subegisse terrarum nisi armorum exercitio, disciplina castrorum usuque militiae.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
• Victory in war does not depend entirely upon numbers or mere courage; only skill and discipline will insure it. We find that the Romans owed the conquest of the world to no other cause than continual military training, exact observance of discipline in their camps and unwearied cultivation of the other arts of war. Without these, what chance would the inconsiderable numbers of the Roman armies have had against the multitudes of the Gauls? Or with what success would their small size have been opposed to the prodigious stature of the Germans? The Spaniards surpassed us not only in numbers, but in physical strength. We were always inferior to the Africans in wealth and unequal to them in deception and stratagem. And the Greeks, indisputably, were far superior to us in skill in arts and all kinds of knowledge. (Book 1)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 1, "The Selection and Training of New Levies")
Etenim in certamine bellorum exercitata paucitas ad uictoriam promptior est, rudis et indocta multitudo exposita semper ad caedem.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
A handful of men, inured to war, proceed to certain victory, while on the contrary numerous armies of raw and undisciplined troops are but multitudes of men dragged to slaughter. (Book 1)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 1, "The Selection and Training of New Levies")
Quid fieri debeat, tractato cum multis, quid uero facturus sis, cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis uel potius ipse tecum.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
• On finding the enemy has notice of your designs, you must immediately alter your plan of operations. Consult with many on proper measures to be taken, but communicate the plans you intend to put in execution to few, and those only of the most assured fidelity; or rather trust no one but yourself. (General Maxims)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 3, "Dispositions for Action")
English translation, Books 1-3: Lt. John Clarke, The Military Institutions of the Romans, 1767. Accessed 17 August 2014.
In omnibus proeliis expeditionis condicio talis est, ut quod tibi prodest aduersarium noceat, quod illum adiuuat tibi semper officiat.
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
It is the nature of war that what is beneficial to you is detrimental to the enemy and what is of service to him always hurts you. It is therefore a maxim never to do, or to omit doing, anything as a consequence of his actions, but to consult invariably your own interest only. And you depart from this interest whenever you imitate such measures as he pursues for his benefit. For the same reason, it would be wrong for him to follow such steps as you take for your advantage. (General Maxims)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus" (Quotes, From De Re Militari (also known as Epitoma rei militaris), BOOK 3, "Dispositions for Action")
Complete Latin Text: Flavi Vegeti Renati Viri Inlustris Comitis, Epitoma Rei Militaris Libri I-IV, 390 CE. The Latin Library. Accessed 17 August 2014.

End Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus Quotes