# Metamorphoses - Author: [Ovid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ovid.md) - Quotes: 28 - Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/ovid/metamorphoses ## Quotes > No species remains constant: that great renovator of matter > > Nature, endlessly fashions new forms from old: there’s nothing > > in the whole universe that perishes, believe me; rather > > it renews and varies its substance. What we describe as birth > > is no more than incipient change from a prior state, while dying > > is merely to quit it. Though the parts may be transported > > hither and thither, the sum of all matter is constant. > What, however, is my fault? Unless to have played can be called a fault, unless it can be called a fault to have loved. > Your right arm is useful in the battle; but when it comes to thinking you need my guidance. You have force without intelligence; while mine is the care for to-morrow. You are a good fighter; but is I who help Atrides select the time of fighting. Your value is in your body only; mine, in mind. And, as much as he who directs the ship surpasses him who only rows it, as much as the general exceeds the common soldier, so much greater am I than you. For in these bodies of ours the heart is of more value than the hand; all our real living is in that. > A creature of a more exalted kind > > Was wanting yet, and then was Man designed; > > Conscious of thought, of more capacious breast, > > For empire formed, and fit to rule the rest. > He is beautiful even to enemy eyes. > Water belongs to us all. Nature did not make the sun one person's property, nor air, nor water, cool and clear. > The cause is hidden, but the result is well known. > The gods have their own rules. > O mortals, from your fellows' blood abstain, > > Nor taint your bodies with a food profane: > > While corn, and pulse by Nature are bestow'd, > > And planted orchards bend their willing load; > > While labour'd gardens wholesom herbs produce, > > And teeming vines afford their gen'rous juice; > > Nor tardier fruits of cruder kind are lost, > > But tam'd with fire, or mellow'd by the frost; > > While kine to pails distended udders bring, > > And bees their hony redolent of Spring; > > While Earth not only can your needs supply, > > But, lavish of her store, provides for luxury; > > A guiltless feast administers with ease, > > And without blood is prodigal to please. > He, because years restrained him from warring, fought by speaking; he attacked and cursed the criminal weapons. > And he turned his mind to unknown arts. > Pointing to a pile of dust, that had collected, I foolishly begged to have as many anniversaries of my birth, as were represented by the dust. But I forgot to ask that the years should be accompanied by youth. > Plenty has made me poor. > Thus all things are but altered, nothing dies. > I see better things, and approve, but I follow worse. > Then the omnipotent Father with his thunder made Olympus tremble, and from Ossa hurled Pelion. > Thus, while the mute creation downward bend > > Their sight, and to their earthly mother tend, > > Man looks aloft, and with erected eyes > > Beholds his own hereditary skies. > The workmanship excelled the materials. > My son, I caution you to keep > > The middle way, for if your pinions dip > > Too low the waters may impede your flight; > > And if they soar too high the sun may scorch them. > > Fly midway. > For those things which were done either by our fathers, or ancestors, and in which we ourselves had no share, we can scarcely call our own. > You will be safest in the middle. > O impious use! to Nature's laws oppos'd, > > Where bowels are in other bowels clos'd: > > Where fatten'd by their fellow's fat, they thrive; > > Maintain'd by murder, and by death they live. > > 'Tis then for nought, that Mother Earth provides > > The stores of all she shows, and all she hides, > > If men with fleshy morsels must be fed, > > And chaw with bloody teeth the breathing bread: > > What else is this, but to devour our guests, > > And barb'rously renew Cyclopean feasts! > > We, by destroying life, our life sustain; > > And gorge th' ungodly maw with meats obscene. > Time, the devourer of all things. > Nomenque erit indelebile nostrum. > Invia virtuti nulla est via! > Fas est et ab hoste doceri. > Ars adeo latet arte sua. > Chaos, rudis indigestaque moles.