The Duke of Wellington

Semper eramus, sumus, et, ut spero, semper erimus, osi apud Francos.

 

We always have been, we are, and, I hope, we always shall be, hated in France.

 

—Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Duty

 

 

Nullum est verbum nostra in lingua sublimius quam officium. Hoc conare facere in omnibus rebus. Not potes melius, nec umquam optandum a te peius, facere.

 

There is no word in our language more sublime than duty. Strive to do it in all things. You cannot do more, and you should never wish to do less.

 

—Robert E. Lee

Your mum

 

 

Or again, when in a dispute Metellus Nepos repeatedly asked Cicero “Who is your father?”, Cicero replied, “In your case, your mother has made this question rather difficult to answer.”

 

Μετέλλου δὲ Νέπωτος ἐν διαφορᾷ τινι πολλάκις λέγοντος “Τίς σοῦ πατήρ εστιν;” ὁ Κικέρων “Σοὶ ταύτην,” ἔφη, “τὴν ἀπόκρισιν ἡ μήτηρ χαλεπωτέραν ἐποίησεν.”

 

—Plutarch, Life of Cicero 26.6