Virgil, Aeneid IV.13

Melphi speaks

Degeneres animos timor arguit:

The priest translates

«It is fear that exposes ignoble souls:»

And interprets

This line tells you something simple: people show who they are by how they react when they are afraid. If you are sizing someone up, a new partner in business or in love, a colleague, do not stop at fine words: watch how they behave under pressure, when things go wrong. The same goes for you. If lately you feel tempted to run, to lie or to shift the blame out of fear, pause for a moment. Being afraid is human, no one is immune; what matters is not handing it the wheel. Do the right thing even with your heart in your mouth: that is where your true self shows.

The historical translations

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