Q0387
“They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea.” — Horace (Epistles I.11.27)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Epistles I.11.27. Theme: life.
English
They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Epistles I.11.27 and files it under Roman Literary Thought. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65–8 BCE) was Rome’s master of lyric and hexameter satire under Augustus, friend of Maecenas. The Odes, Satires, Epistles, and Ars Poetica blend ethics, aesthetics, and social observation.
How to read this passage
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life, self.
Concepts in this quote
- Life
- Philosophy quotes about life ask what makes a life good, meaningful, or worth examining—questions that drive ethics, religion, and everyday decision.
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Horace. (n.d.). They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0387
MLA: Horace. “They change their sky, not their soul, who….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0387.
Chicago: Horace. “They change their sky, not their soul, who….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0387.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “They change their sky, not their soul, who…”?
The passage is attributed to Horace, Epistles I.11.27. The archive attributes this English wording to Epistles I.11.27 and files it under Roman Literary Thought. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Horace mean by life?
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life, self.