The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus: A Roman Slave is a collection of proverbs and aphorisms pulled from the many mimes and plays of Publius Syrus. Enslaved by the Romans in his youth, this witty man went on to conquer the Roman stage. These maxims, believed to have been collected in the first century AD, are all that remain of the great playwright's work.

Born in Syria in the first century BC, Publius Syrus was enslaved and brought to Rome by an army officer after the Romans conquered his native country. It was in Rome that he was given the name of Syrus, for his place of origin. He was then around 12 years old.

This soldier had a patron who was delighted with the boy and requested that the soldier give Syrus to him. The soldier complied. Syrus' new master found the boy witty and bright and was often entertained with his commentary. With such promise, the master provided Syrus with an education and later freed him. Syrus was immensely grateful and remained friends with his former master for the rest of his life. He took the surname Publius, which was probably the surname of his master.

Newly free, Syrus traveled to Italy and began composing mimes--comical farces often used to "represent the failings and eccentricities of the higher classes, and the vulgar language and solecisms of the lower". This combination of humor and moralism was widely popular among the Romans of the time, and Syrus earned great acclaim as a poet and actor.