Memorable Doings and Sayings, Volume I: Books 1–5

by Valerius Maximus, D.R. Shackleton Bailey (Translator)

Valerius Maximus compiled his handbook of notable deeds and sayings during the reign of Tiberius (14-37 CE). The collection was very popular in the Renaissance and has recently attracted renewed scholarly attention. Yet to date there has been no modern English translation of "Memorable Doings and Sayings." This work is now added to the Loeb Classical Library, a freshly edited Latin text facing D. R. Shackleton Bailey's pleasing and authoritative translation.

Valerius arranges his instructive examples in short chapters, each focused on a particular virtue, vice, religious practice, or traditional custom--including Omens, Dreams, Anger, Cruelty, Bravery, Fidelity, Gratitude, Friendship, Parental Love. The moral undercurrent of this collection is readily apparent. But Valerius tells us that the book's purpose is practical: he decided to select worthwhile material from famous writers so that people looking for illustrative examples might be spared the trouble of research. Whatever the author's intention, his book is an interesting source of information on Roman attitudes toward religion and moral values in the first century.

Genres: Classics, History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Reference

560 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[شمس · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romans typically went out of their way to acknowledge that the Greeks were doubtless better than they were when it came to frivolous activities such as literature and art, but when it came to the serious business of life, when it came to strength of character and ruling the world, the Romans were vastly superior. —Henry John Walker, Introduction
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We should lift up our hearts instead, and if our spirits have been crushed . . . we should restore them by recalling the old days. (4.4.11)

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Valerius Maximus's Memorable Deeds and Sayings comprises, according to the title of this edition, 1000 tales (or 960 according to the translator, who confesses he comes up with a different number each time he attempts to count them). These short stories, ranging from a single sentence to a couple of paragraphs in length, are organized into 9 books, and subdivided into chapters, each dealing with a specific topic. Every chapter begins with a selection of Roman stories, before offering any 'Foreign' stories on the topic in question.

According to the introduction, Valerius' work was quite influential

His book and the Bible were the two most influential ancient books during these [Middle Ages & Renaissance] eras, and more manuscripts of them survive than of any other prose work . . . People read the Bible to provide themselves with spiritual guidance in their inner lives, and they read Valerius to provide themselves with practical guidance in their secular lives. Valerius showed them how they too could behave like Romans.

and one can certainly appreciate it's value as a historical document relating many aspects of the everyday lives of the Ancient Romans.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in the lives of Ancient Romans, and the work is probably best read by picking and choosing: simply selecting any topic which the reader finds of interest, and reading the stories contained therein: with ~1000 stories, not all will be of interest to everyone; some are indeed entertaining and memorable, others are less interesting and forgettable.

Anyone who has read their Ancient History will come across many familiar names, and anyone who has not will find themselves assisted by the very large number of footnotes in this edition, helpfully elucidating the persons, locations, time periods, and any other essential information, for each story.
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By the by, the reason the cover features a photo of Mount Rushmore is beyond me; the only link to 'MURICA! is that the translator is a lecturer at an American College.
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He was hit on the head by a stone, and he could remember everything very vividly, but the one thing he forgot was literature, which had been his special passion. It was a dreadfully cruel blow to the mind of this afflicted man; it was almost as if his sensibilities had been carefully examined with the intention of wounding him where his greatest happiness lay and where the injury would be the most bitter to him . . . If he was destined not to enjoy the fruits of his studies, it would have been better for him never to have gone near them, than to have tasted their sweetness and then lost it. (1.8.ext.2)

He was in a Tyrian warship, scooping out the bilge water, when a wave washed him overboard. But then a wave came from the opposite direction, hit him on the other side, and brought him back to the ship. So he was wretched and lucky at the same time and pity for him was mixed with congratulations. (2.8.ext.11)

Take for example the son of King Prusias of Bithynia, who had the same name as his father. Instead of an upper row of teeth, he had one single bone that came down the same length all around. It was not so ugly to look at, and it was not at all awkward for him to use it. (1.8.ext.12)

Intrigued by his [Aristomenes of Messenia] exceptional intelligence, they cut open his heart, and discovered that it was full of hairs. (1.8.ext.15)

His son was found guilty on a charge of adultery, and in accordance with the law that Zaleucus himself had established, he should have had both his eyes gouged out. All the citizens, out of respect for the father, wanted to exempt the son from the rigours of the law, but Zaleucus resisted them for a long time. Finally, he was won over by the pleas of the people, so he gouged out one of his own eyes first, and then one of his son's, thereby leaving each of them with the ability to see. He carried out the punishment required by his own law, but with an admirable blend of justice, he divided himself between the roles of a merciful father and a strict lawmaker. (6.5.ext.3)

Alexander, a slave of the banker Marcus Agrius, was accused of killing a slave belonging to Aulus Fannius. He was tortured by his own master because of this and boldly claimed that he had carried out the crime. So he was handed over to Fannius who had him put to death. A short time passed by and then the slave, who everyone thought had been murdered, came back home. (8.4.1)

When the triumvirs put Plotius on their death list, he hid in the region around Salernum. But he had a refined lifestyle, and the smell of his perfume revealed the hiding place that could have saved his life. (6.8.5)

An artist of exceptional talent had devoted a lot of work to depicting a horse that was coming back from its exercise. The painting almost looked alive. He wanted to add the foam coming from the horse's nostrils, but this great artist was completely worn out and frustrated for a long time by this tiny task. He was burning with indignation, so he took a sponge that happened to be there beside him, soaked with all his colours, and threw it at his painting, wanting to destroy the entire work. Fortune made him aim the sponge at the horse's nostrils, so it carried out the painter's wishes. In this way, art did not have the power to depict something, but chance imitated it successfully. (8.11.ext.7)

Euripides was complaining to Alcestis that he had been able to produce no more than three verses in three days, and that this had required an enormous amount of effort on his part. Alcestis boasted that he had written a hundred verses with ease. "But there is a difference," said Euripides, "because yours will last for only three days, whearas mine will last for all time." The numerous writings of Alcestis rushed off and barely finished the first lap on the racecourse of human memory, whearas the work of Euripides was composed in a careful style and will voyage onward for all time, its sails filled with the winds of glory. (3.7.ext.1)

[Aeschylus] was staying in a city in Sicily, and he went outside its walls and sat down in a warm spot. An eagle was carrying a tortoise above him, and it was deceived by the sheen of his head—for he had no hair left—and thinking it was a rock, the eagle dashed the tortoise onto it, so that it could eat the meat once the shell was broken. That blow wiped out the founder and beginner of a more powerful type of tragedy. (9.12.ext.2)

It is said that Homer's death also was an unusual one. It is believed that he died of grief on the island of Ios because he was not able to answer a riddle that the fisherman asked him. (9.12.ext.3)

As Brutus was about to go into battle for the last time, some men said he should not fight, but he said, "I am going into battle with confidence: either all will be well today or I shall have nothing further to worry about." (6.4.5)
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You would think that Plato's soul had spent its lifetime not in a mortal body but wearing a suit of armour in the citadel of heaven; it fought invincibly and beat off all attacks by human vices, and it kept every aspect of virtue safely enclosed in its lofty embrace. (4.1.ext.2)

Her name is Philosophy. Once you have welcomed her into your heart, she gets rid of every dishonourable and worthless feeling, she strengthens your character with a fortress of real virtue, and she makes you overcome fear and sorrow. (3.3.ext.1)

. . . whatever is placed in a high and exalted position should be free of any humble or everyday associations, and thus it will be all the more venerable. (2.6.17)

The wisest teachers of their profession are the ones who judge their own expertise modestly, and that of others shrewdly. (8.12.1)

A man who longs for nothing obviously has everything, and even more securely than a man who currently owns every possession. The ownership of possessions tends to fade away, but the enjoyment of a sound mind is not subject to the attacks of misfortune. (4.4.praef)

Anaxagoras showed no lack of intelligence when someone asked him who was a happy man and he said, "He will be none of those men you imagine to be happy, but you will find him among those you believe to be wretched." The happy man will not be overflowing with riches and political offices, but he will be a trustworthy and committed man, devoted to his small farm or to learning without ostentation; and he will be happier in his own private world than in public. (7.2.ext.12)
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No vice ends where it began. (9.1.2)
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His mind wandered into vice for a short while; it did not make its permanent home there. (6.9.ext.1)

. . . he learned instead where sound and lasting happiness lay. (7.1.2)

[Marie-aimée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quel meilleur moyen pour comprendre la civilisation romaine que de lire Valère-Maxime ? Voici un ensemble d'anecdotes, de personnages célèbres, et d'autres moins, présentant les modèles et contre-modèles sociaux et moraux à l'époque. Bien sûr les Iulii et Claudii sont mis en valeur, aux côtés de Marius et des Scipions, tandis que Sylla, Pompée et Marc-Antoine sont dévalorisés. On trouvera également grand ombre d'informations sur le culte, les présages et les relations sociales. Le style est très fluide et facile à lire, la présentation du texte claire et concise. Un petit moment de bonheur romain.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Renaissance toastmaster's sourcebook.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking for a choice anecdote to describe misogyny, brutality, avarice, or cruelty in late Republican or early Imperial Rome? Look no further than this collection!

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally like this book, but it is definitely not for everyone. It may not even be for me. This is a translation of an ancient roman book that collects hundreds of stories about famous people, both Romans and non-Romans. The stories are organized by topic, and those topics vary from the expected (honor and bravery in battle, wise legal judgments, acts of mercy) to the seemingly bizarre (men who died while having sex with minors, women working as lawyers, people who got so mad or happy they died on the spot). While the book itself is not overlong, I often found it difficult to read more than a few pages at a time. I don't think this is the fault of the translator, but instead the fault of the organization of the book and the somewhat haphazard nature of its construction. I am glad I finished it but it was more of a chore than I expected when I started it.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be one of my new favorite works of Latin literature!

[Jenn Phizacklea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous translation. The first book, on religious observances - absolutely fascinating.

[Cristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first third of the book was very dull, although I can see why it might interest historians or people wanting to know more about particular customs and religious practices of the time, but I doubt it will be of much interest to the everyday reader.
The other two thirds did have many accounts worthy of the word memorable, ranging in subjects so diverse as friendship, humility, piety, and equanimity of parents on their sons deaths.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating, wonderfully readable collection of anecdotes arranged by topic by a Roman of the early Principate (Valerius Maximus arranged the collection during the reign of Tiberius, the 2nd emperor).

[Jenn Phizacklea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, insightful, a great translation.