Fabius Maximus

He that is afraid of scoffs and reproaches is more a coward than he that flies from the enemy

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (c. 280 BC – 203 BC) was a Roman politician and general; famed for his role in the Second Punic War.

Quotes

• To his friends he said that he thought the man who feared gibes and jeers was more of a coward than the one who ran away from the enemy.
  • Moralia: Sayings of Kings and Commanders, Plutarch; English translation by Frank Cole Babbitt
  • Variant translation by Goodwin:
    He that is afraid of scoffs and reproaches is more a coward than he that flies from the enemy.

Quotes About

• Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem.
  Noenum rumores ponebat ante salutem;
  Ergo plusque magisque viri nunc gloria claret.
  • One man, by delaying, restored the state to us.
    He valued safety more than mob's applause;
    Hence now his glory more resplendent grows.
  • Attributed to Ennius by Cicero in De Senectute; Chapter IV (Loeb translation)

• Hannibal said that he had more to fear from Fabius who would not fight than from Marcellus who would.
  • Moralia: Sayings of Kings and Commanders, Plutarch; English translation by Frank Cole Babbitt