Non bene olet qui bene semper olet.
(Martial, 2.12.4)

Something smells fishy about a person who always smells of perfume.

(pron = nohn BEH-neh OH-let kwee BEH-neh SEHM-pehr OH-let)

Comment: I’ve taken some liberties with rendering this in English. Literally,
Martial is saying that he does not smell well who always smells well. Hence,
we generally become suspicious (smell a rat) around someone who always smells
sweet.

The person who works in the yard and never breaks a sweat; the parent whose
child never does anything wrong; the face that never has a pimple; the adult
whose bank account is never over-drawn; the athlete who eats everything under
the sun and only gains muscle; these are only a few examples of those who
always smell of perfume. The picture is too good to be true. It always is.
Life never unfolds in picture perfect fashion.

And yet, I know I am not alone in having grown up under the deeply infused
notion that perfect was what I was supposed to be. It makes for a great deal
of misery, neurotic behaviors that become our “personality” and the generator
of a great deal of grief for ourselves and those we are in contact with.

So, the wisdom? Let yourself stink today, even if just a little bit. And when
the sour smell becomes obvious, just smile and say—yes, that’s me. I don’t
smell so well today. And then enjoy how you, your very own self, smell, just
the way that you are!