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Latin Phrases: Quotations

Original Source

Other Latin Phrases

Accius (L. Accius)

• Oderint dum metuant (Atreus)
  

  Let them hate me provided they fear me

á Kempis, Thomas

• De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum
  

  Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen

Appius Claudius (App. Claudius Caecus)

• Est unusquisque faber ipsae suae fortunae
  

  Every man is the artisan of his own fortune

• Negotium populo Romano melius quam otium committi
  

  The Roman people understand work better than leisure

Arria the Elder

• Paete, non dolet (after stabbing herself in 43 BC)
  

  It does not hurt, Paetus

Augustus (Imperator C. Iulius Caesar Octavianus Augustus)

• Acta est fabula (last words)
  

  The play is over

• Festina lente
  

  Make haste slowly

• Quintili Vare, legiones redde!
  

  Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions!

Bacon, Francis

• Ipsa scientia potestas est
  

  Knowledge itself is power

St. Benedict

• Ora et labora
  

  Pray and labor

Brennus

• Vae victis! (after capturing Rome in 390 BC)
  

  Woe to the conquered!

Burrus (Sex. Afranius Burrus)

• Ego me bene habeo (last words)
  

  With me all is well

Caesar (C. Iulius Caesar)

• Alea iacta est (after crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC)
  

  The die is cast

• Et tu, Brute? (supposed last words)
  

  Even you, Brutus?

• Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres (Comentarii De Bello Gallico, I.1)
  

  All of Gaul is divided into three parts

• Hoc voluerunt (after battle of Munda in 45 BC)
  

  They wished this

• Libenter homines id quod volunt credunt (Comentarii De Bello Gallico, III.18)
  

  Men gladly believe that which they wish for

• Meos tam suspicione quam crimine iudico carere oportere (after divorce of Pompeia in 62 BC)
  

  I feel that members of my family should never be suspected of breaking the law

• Puri sermonis amator (said of Terence)
  

  A lover of pure speech

• Veni, vidi, vici (after battle of Zela in 47 BC)
  

  I came, I saw, I conquered

Caligula (Imperator C. Iulius Caesar Augustus)

• Utinam populus Romanus unam cervicem haberet!
  

  If only the Roman people had one neck!

Cato the Elder (M. Porcius Cato)

• Carthago delenda est (end of every speech)
  

  Carthage must be destroyed

• Vir bonus, dicendi peritus (definition of an orator)
  

  A good man, skilled in speaking

Catullus (C. Valerius Catullus)

• Cui dono lepidum novum libellum? (1, 1)
  

  To whom do I give my new elegant little book?

• Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem (76, 13)
  

  It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love

• Disertissime Romuli nepotum (49, 1)
  

  Most eloquent of the descendants of Romulus (to Cicero)

• Frater, ave atque vale (101, 10)
  

  Brother, hello and good-bye

• Ille mi par esse deo videtur (51, 1)
  

  He seems to me to be equal to a god

• Odi et amo (85, 1)
  

  I hate and I love

• Risu inepto res ineptior nulla est (39, 16)
  

  There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh

• Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus (5, 1)
  

  Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love

Cervantes

• Bis dat qui cito dat (Don Quixote)
  

  He gives twice who quickly gives

Chilon

• De mortuis nihil nisi bonum
  

  Say nothing but good about the dead

Cicero (M. Tullius Cicero)

• Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit
  

  Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdues both intelligence and skill

• Aura popularis
  

  The popular breeze

• Consensus audacium
  

  An agreement of rash men (a conspiracy)

• Cui bono?
  

  For whose benefit is it?

• Cum tacent clamant (In Catilinam I)
  

  When they remain silent, they cry out

• Excitabat fluctus in simpulo
  

  He was stirring up billows in a ladle

• Ex tempore
  

  From the moment

• Inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est
  

  Inhumanity is harmful in every age

• In virtute sunt multi ascensus
  

  There are many degrees in excellence

• Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus
  

  We are slaves of the law so that we may be able to be free

• Num barbarorum Romulus rex fuit?
  

  Romulus was not a king of barbarians, was he?

• O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum!
  

  An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf!

• O tempora! O mores! (In Catilinam I)
  

  Oh, the times! Oh, the morals!

• Patria est communis omnium parens
  

  The fatherland is the common parent of us all

• Quam se ipse amans- sine rivali!
  

  Himself loving himself so much- without a rival!

• Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? (In Catilinam I)
  

  How long will you abuse our patience, Catiline?

• Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit
  

  Often it is not even advantageous to know what will be

• Salus populi suprema lex
  

  The safety of the people is the supreme law

• Simia quam similis, turpissimus bestia, nobis!
  

  How like us is that very ugly beast the monkey

• Tamquam alter idem
  

  As if a second self

• Tarditas et procrastinatio odiosa est
  

  Delay and procrastination is hateful

• Trahimur omnes laudis studio
  

  We are all drawn by our eagerness for praise

• Ut sementem feceris ita metes
  

  As you sow so will you reap

• Videtis quantum scelus contra rem publicam vobis nuntiatum sit?
  

  How great an evil do you see that may have been announced by you against the Republic?

• Vixerunt (said of the Catilinarian conspirators)
  

  They have lived (They are dead)

Curtius Rufus (Q. Curtius Rufus)

• Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet
  

  A timid dog barks more violently than it bites

• Medici graviores morbos asperis remediis curant
  

  Doctors cure the more serious diseases with harsh remedies

Dionysius Cato

• Struit insidias lacrimis cum femina plorat
  

  When a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears

Ennius (Q. Ennius)

• At tuba terribili sonitu taratantara dixit
  

  But the trumpet sounded with its terrible taratantara

• Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque
  

  On ancient ways and heroes stands the Roman state

• O Tite tute Tati tibi tanta, tyranne, tulisti
  

  Oh, you tyrant, Titus Tatius! You took such great things for yourself!

Florus (P. Annius Florus)

• Ego nolo Caesar esse
  

  I don't want to be Caesar

Gellius (A. Gellius)

• Video barbam et pallium; philosophum nondum video
  

  I see the beard and cloak, but I don't yet see a philosopher

Hippocrates

• Ars longa, vita brevis
  

  Art is long, life is short

Horace (Q. Horatius Flaccus)

• Ab ovo usque ad mala
  

  From the egg right to the apples (From start to finish)

• Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem
  

  Remember to keep a clear head in difficult times

• Amoto quaeramus seria ludo
  

  Joking aside, let us turn to serious matters

• Auream mediocritatem
  

  Golden mean

• Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit (Satires, II.vii.117)
  

  The fellow is either mad or he is composing verses

• Bella detesta matribus
  

  Wars, the horror of mothers

• Bis repetita placent
  

  The things that please are those that are asked for again and again

• Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt (Epistulae, I.xi.8
  

  They change the sky, not their soul, who run across the sea

• Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero (Odes, I.xi.1)
  

  Seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow

• Consule Planco
  

  In the consulship of Plancus (In the good old days)

• Coram populo
  

  In the presence of the people

• Culpam poena premit comes
  

  Punishment closely follows guilt as its companion

• Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit
  

  The wolf attacks with his fang, the bull with his horn

• Disiecti membra poetae
  

  Limbs of a dismembered poet

• Dulce est desipere in loco
  

  It is sweet to relax at the proper time

• Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori (Odes)
  

  It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country

• Eheu fugaces labuntur anni (Odes)
  

  Alas, the fleeting years slip by

• Est modus in rebus (Satires)
  

  There is a middle ground in things

• Exegi monumentum aere perennius
  

  I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze

• Extinctus amabitur idem (Epistles)
  

  The same man will be loved when he is dead

• Favete linguis (Odes)
  

  Keep quiet

• Genus irritabile vatum (Epistles, II.2.109)
  

  The irritable race of poets

• Maecenas atavis edite regibus (Odes, I.1)
  

  Maecenas, born of monarch ancestors

• Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres
  

  As a true translator you will take care not to translate word for word

• Nil desperandum
  

  Don't despair

• Non omnia moriar
  

  Not all of me will die

• Nunc est bibendum
  

  Now we must drink

• Pallida Mors (Odes)
  

  Pale Death

• Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur
  

  What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke's on you

• Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat?
  

  What forbids a laughing man from telling the truth?

• Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet
  

  He who feared he would not succeed sat still

• Simplex munditiis
  

  Unaffected by manners

• Splendide mendax
  

  Splendidly false

• Vis consili expers mole ruit sua
  

  Brute force bereft of wisdom falls to ruin by its own weight

• Vitanda est improba siren desidia (Satires, II.iii.14)
  

  One must avoid that wicked temptress Laziness

Juvenal (D. Iunius Iuvenalis)

• Insanabile cacoëthes scribendi (Satires)
  

  An incurable passion to write

• Maxima debetur puero reverentia
  

  The greatest respect in owed to a child

• Mens sana in corpore sano
  

  A sound mind in a sound body

• Nemo malus felix
  

  No bad man is lucky

• Nemo repente fuit turpissimus (Satires, II.83)
  

  No one ever became thoroughly bad in one step

• Panem et circenses
  

  Bread and circuses

• Probitas laudatur et alget (Satires, I.74)
  

  Honesty is praised and left in the cold

• Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cycno (Satires, VI.165)
  

  A rare bird upon the earth and very much like a black swan

• Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Satires, VI.347-8)
  

  But who will guard the guardians themselves?

Laberius (D. Laberius)

• Necesse est multos timeat quem multi timent (referring to Caesar)
  

  He must fear many, whom many fear

Livius Andronicus (L. Livius Andronicus)

• Virum mihi, Camena, insece versutum (Odissia, I.1)
  

  Tell me, O Muse, of the skillful man

Livy (T. Livius)

• Caeca invidia est
  

  Envy is blind

• Res ad triarios rediit
  

  The situation has come down to the triarii

Lucan (M. Annaeus Lucanus)

• Nil actum reputa si quid superest agendum
  

  Don't consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done

Lucilius (C. Lucilius)

• O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane!
  

  Ah, human cares! Ah, how much futility in the world!

Lucretius (T. Lucretius Carus)

• Aeneadum genetrix, hominum divomque voluptas (De Rerum Natura, I.1)
  

  Mother of Aeneas, pleasure of men and gods

• Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum (De Rerum Natura, I.101)
  

  So potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds

Manilius (M. Manilius)

• Per varios usus artem experientia fecit
  

  Practice has brought skill through different exercises

Naevius (Cn. Naevius)

• Fato Metelli Romae fiunt consules
  

  The Metelli become consuls of Rome by fate

• Novem Iovis concordes filiae sorores (Bellum Poenicum, I.1)
  

  You nine daughters of Jupiter, sisters of one heart

Nero (Imperator L. Domitius Ahenobarbus Augustus)

• Qualis artifex pereo! (last words)
  

  What an artist I die!

Ovid (P. Ovidius Naso)

• A cane non magno saepe tenetur aper
  

  A boar is often held by a not-so-large dog

• Alere flammas
  

  To feed the flames

• Amor tussisque non celantur
  

  Love, and a cough, are not concealed

• Ars est celare artem
  

  It is art to conceal art

• Bene qui latuit bene vixit (Tristia)
  

  He who has lived in obscurity has lived well

• Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos; tempora si fuerint nubila, solus eris (Tristia)
  

  As long as you are lucky, you will have many friends; if cloudy times appear, you will be alone

• Gutta cavat lapidem
  

  Dripping hollows out rock

• Ingenio maximus, arte rudis (said of Ennius)
  

  Greatest in genius, rough in skill

• Leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus
  

  A burden which is done well becomes light

• Materiam superabat opus
  

  The workmanship surpassed the subject matter

• Militat omnis amans et habet sua castra Cupido
  

  Every lover is a soldier and has his camp in Cupid

• Omnia iam fient fieri quae posse negabam
  

  Everything which I said could not happen will happen now

• Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim
  

  Be patient and tough; one day this pain will be useful to you

• Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit
  

  He who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow

• Rident stolidi verba Latina
  

  Fools laugh at the Latin language

• Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas
  

  Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses

Persius (A. Persius Flaccus)

• Gigni de nihilo nihil; in nihilum nil posse reverti (Satires, III.83-84)
  

  Nothing can be produced from nothing; nothing can be returned into nothing

Pervigilium Veneris

• Cras amet qui numquam amavit quique amavit cras amet
  

  Let him love tomorrow who has never loved and let he who has loved love tomorrow

Petrarch

• Vos vestros servate, meos mihi linquite mores
  

  You keep to your own ways and leave mine to me

Petronius (C. Petronius Arbiter)

• Cito fit quod dii volunt
  

  What the gods want happens soon

• In alio pediculum, in te ricinum non vides
  

  You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself

Plautus (T. Maccius Plautus)

• Flamma fumo est proxima (Curculio)
  

  Flame follows smoke

• Mus uni non fidit antro
  

  A mouse does not rely on just one hole

Pliny the Elder (C. Plinius Secundus)

• Bruta fulmina et vana (Natural History, II.xliii.113)
  

  Thunderbolts that strike blindly and in vain

Pliny the Younger (C. Plinius Caecilius Secundus)

• Difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas
  

  It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practice it

• Nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit
  

  There is no book so bad that it is not profitable in some part

Propertius (Sex. Propertius)

• Expertus dico, nemo est in amore fidelis (Elegiae, II.34.3)
  

  I say as an expert, no one is faithful in love

• Nescio quid maius nascitur Iliade (about the Aeneid)
  

  Something greater than the Iliad now springs to birth

Quintilian (M. Fabius Quintilianus)

• Mendacem oportet esse memorem
  

  A liar must have a good memory

• Satura tota nostra est
  

  Satire is wholly ours

Sallust (C. Sallustius Crispus)

• Esse quam videri bonus malebat (Bellum Catilinae, LIV.6)
  

  He (Cato) prefered to be good rather than seem good

Seneca the Elder (L. or M. Annaeus Seneca)

• Quaedam non iura scripta sed omnibus scriptis certiora sunt
  

  Some laws are unwritten, but they are better established than all written ones

Seneca the Younger (L. Annaeus Seneca)

• Aliquando et insanire iucundum est
  

  It is sometimes pleasant even to act like a madman

• Bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem
  

  It is not goodness to be better than the worst

• Colossus magnitudinem suam servabit etiam si steterit in puteo
  

  A giant will keep his size even though he will have stood in a well

• Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent (Phaedra)
  

  Light cares speak, great ones are speechless

• Diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium
  

  Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence

• Facilius per partes in cognitionem totius adducimur
  

  We are more easily led part by part to an understanding of the whole

• Fallaces sunt rerum species
  

  The appearances of things are deceptive

• Gladiator in arena consilium capit
  

  The gladiator is making his plan in the arena (i.e. too late)

• Maiorum consuetudini deditus (about his father)
  

  Devoted to the tradition of his ancestors

• Non est ad astra mollis e terris via (Hercules Furens, 437)
  

  There is no easy way from the earth to the stars

• Non est ars quae ad effectum casu venit
  

  That which achieves its effect by accident is not art

• Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit (De tranquillitate animi, XVII.10)
  

  There has not been any great talent without an element of madness

• Nullum saeculum magnis ingeniis clausum est
  

  No era is closed to closed to great intelects

• Otium sine litteris mors est et hominis vivi sepultura (Epistualae morales LXXXII.3)
  

  Leisure without literature is death, or rather the burial of a living man

• Potest ex casa magnus vir exire
  

  A great man can come from a hut

• Praeceptores suos adulescens veneratur et suspicit
  

  A young man respects and looks up to his teachers

• Qui dedit beneficium taceat; narrat qui accepit
  

  Let him who has given a favor be silent; let he who has received it tell it

• Timendi causa est nescire
  

  Ignorance is the cause of fear

Syrus (Publilius Syrus)

• Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent
  

  Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people

• Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
  

  Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time

• Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere
  

  To accept a favor is to sell one's freedom

• Etiam capillus unus habet umbram
  

  Even one hair has a shadow

• Malum consilium quod mutari non potest
  

  It is a bad plan that cannot be changed

• Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes
  

  It is foolish to fear that which you cannot avoid

Tacitus (P. Cornelius Tacitus)

• Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter (Agricola)
  

  You might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure

• Omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imperasset (Annales, said of Galba)
  

  By general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled

• Ubi solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant (Agricola, 30)
  

  When they make a desolation they call it peace

Terence (P. Terentius Afer)

• Amantium irae amoris integratio'st (Andria)
  

  The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love

• Dictum sapienti sat est
  

  A word to the wise is sufficient

• Fortes fortuna adiuvat
  

  Fortune helps the brave

• Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto (Heauton Timorunmenos)
  

  I am a man; I think nothing human is alien to me

• Nullum'st iam dictum quod non sit dictum prius (Eunuchus)
  

  Nothing is already said which wasn't said before

• Quot homines tot sententiae (Phormio)
  

  So many men, so many thoughts

• Senectus ipsast morbus (Phormio)
  

  Old age itself is a disease

• Tacent, satis laudant
  

  Their silence is enough praise

Seneca the Elder (L. or M. Annaeus Seneca)

• Quaedam non iura scripta sed omnibus scriptis certiora sunt
  

  Some laws are unwritten, but they are better established than all written ones

Tertullian (Q. Septimius Florens Tertullianus)

• Certum est quia impossibile (De Carne Christi, V)
  

  It is certain because it is impossible

Titus (Imperator T. Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus Augustus)

• Amici, diem perdidi
  

  Friends, I have lost a day

Varro (M. Terentius Varro Reatinus)

• Divina natura dedit agros, ars humana aedificavit urbes (De re rustica, III.1)
  

  Divine nature gave us fields, human skill built our cities

• Non omnes qui habent citharam sunt citharoedi
  

  Not all who own a lyre are lyre-players

Vegetius (Flavius Vegetius Renatus)

• Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum (Epitoma rei militaris, Prologue, 3)
  

  If you want peace prepare for war

Vespasian (Imperator T. Flavius Vespasianus Augustus)

• Vae puto deus fio (last words)
  

  Alas, I think I am becoming a god

Virgil (P. Vergilius Maro)

• Ab uno disce omnes
  

  Learn all from one thing

• Annuit coeptis
  

  He has smiled on our undertakings

• Arcades ambo
  

  Arcadians both

• Arma virumque cano (Aeneid, I.1)
  

  I sing of arms and a man

• Aspirat primo Fortuna labori
  

  Fortune smiles upon our first effort

• Auri sacra fames
  

  The cursed hunger for gold

• Bella horrida bella
  

  Wars, horrid wars

• Dabit deus his quoque finem (Aeneid)
  

  God will even grant an end to these [troubles]

• Dis aliter visum
  

  It seemed otherwise to the gods

• Dux femina facti
  

  The leader of the deed was a woman

• E pluribus unum (Moretum)
  

  One out of many

• Equo ne credite, Teucri. Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes (Aeneid, II.48)
  

  Don't trust the horse, Trojans. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even bearing gifts

• Experto credite
  

  Trust the expert

• Facilis descensus Averno
  

  Easy is the descent to Avernus (Aeneid, VI.126)

• Fama volat (Aeneid)
  

  Rumor flies

• Fata obstant (Aeneid)
  

  The Fates oppose

• Fata viam invenient (Aeneid)
  

  The Fates will find a way

• Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas (Georgics)
  

  He is fortunate who had been able to learn the causes of things

• Fidus Achates (Aeneid)
  

  Faithful Achates

• Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit
  

  Perhaps one day it will be pleasant to remember even these things

• Latet anguis in herba (Eclogues, III.94)
  

  A snake lies hidden in the grass

• Mantua me genuit, Calabri rapuere, tenet nunc Parthenope, cecini pascua, rura, duces (Epitaph)
  

  Mantua gave me birth, Calabri snatched me away, now Parthenope holds me; I sang of shepherds, pastures, and heroes

• Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori (Eclogues, X.69)
  

  Love conquers all, and let us yield to it

• Quorum pars magna fui (Aeneid, II.6)
  

  Of which I was a great part

• Sicelides Musae, paulo maiora canamus (Eclogues, IV.1)
  

  Sicilian Muses, let us sing of slightly grander things

• Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem (Aeneid, I.33)
  

  So great a task it was to found the Roman race

• Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento (Aeneid, VI.851)
  

  You, Roman, remember to rule peoples with your power

Wotton, Sir Henry

• Disputandi pruritas ecclesiarum scabies (Panegyric to King Charles)
  

  An itch for disputation is the mange of the churches

Wren, Sir Christopher

• Si monumentum requiris circumspice (epitaph in St. Paul's Cathedral)
  

  If you seek a monument, look around