No day without a line, was the advice and the practice of Apelles. No one must expect to be perfect in any art, without incessant care and diligence; therefore, "Nulla dies abeat, quin linea ducta supersit," no day should be suffered to pass, without leaving some memorial of itself. "Diem perdidi," "I have lost a day," was the exclamation of the Emperor Titus, finding, on a review of what had been performed, that he had relieved no distressed person, not done any act deserving recollection in the course of the day.

I am undone, lost beyond all possibility of redemption, was the exclamation of Davus, when he found that he had, by his schemes, precipitated his master into the very engagement he was employed, and actually meant to extricate him from.