“It is folly to punish your neighbor by fire when you live next door.”

Latin writer, Roman Syrian from Antioch

Publilius Syrus was a Latin writer of the Roman world, probably from Antioch in Syria, and is usually placed in the early Imperial period. He is best known for his sententiae, short moral sayings that circulated widely under his name. According to the traditional account, he was brought as a slave to Roman Italy and later to Rome on the same ship as Manilius Antiochus and Staberius Eros. His wit won his master’s favour, and he was freed and educated. He then became associated with the Publilia gens. In manuscripts, his name is often altered to Publius, a later confusion in spelling.