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Latin Quotes

ancient rome

Classic quotes, sayings and proverbs in Latin.


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  Human Being
HoracePulvis et umbra sumus.

We are but dust and shadow.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

132 likes
TerentiusHomo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto.

I am human: Nothing human is alien to me.

—  Terentius, c. 185-159 BC, Roman comic playwright

66 likes
  
  World
VirgilLabor omnia vincit.

Hard work conquers all.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

99 likes
Old TestamentFiat Lux.

Let there be light.

—  Old Testament ‐ Genesis 1:3

(from the Vulgate)

98 likes
  
  Good & Evil
Latin phraseDe malo, bonum.

Bad from the good.

—  Latin phrase

62 likes
Saint AugustineOmne bonum a Deo, omne malum ab homine.

All good from God, all evil from man.

—  Saint Augustine, 354-430, Christian theologian & philosopher

60 likes
Latin phraseNota res mala, optima.

An evil thing known is best.

—  Latin phrase

42 likes
  
  Life
HippocratesArs longa, vita brevis.

Art is long, life is short.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

83 likes
MartialVita non est vivere, sed valera vita est.

Life is not about living, but to live a good life.

—  Martial, 43-104 AD, Roman poet of epigrams

80 likes
LucretiusOmnis cum in tenebris praesertim vita laboret.

Life is one long struggle in the dark.

—  Lucretius, 98-55 BC, Roman poet

60 likes
Vita in motu.

Life is in motion.

—  Sundial motto

53 likes
Sic vita fluit, dum stare videtur.

Life flows away as it seems to stay the same.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

18 likes
  
  Death
Latin phraseMemento mori.

Remember death.

—  Latin phrase

151 likes
SenecaVivamus, moriendum est.

Let us live, since we must die.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

120 likes
Latin proverbMors ultima ratio.

Death has the last word.

—  Latin proverb

77 likes
Latin phraseOmnia mors aequat.

Death equals all things.

—  Latin phrase

77 likes
Latin phraseNascentes morimur.

From the moment we are born, we begin to die.

—  Latin phrase

76 likes
Latin phraseMors certa, hora incerta.

Death is certain, the hour is not certain.

—  Latin phrase

48 likes
HoraceNon omnis moriar.

I shall not wholly die.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

41 likes
CiceroVixere.

They lived.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

(after the execution of the participants in the Catilinarian conspiracy; meaning: “they are dead”)

41 likes
HoraceOmnes una manet nox.

One night awaits everyone.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

37 likes
  
  Religion
LucretiusTantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

So potent was Religion in persuading to do wrong.

—  Lucretius, 98-55 BC, Roman poet

33 likes
TertullianNec religionis est cogere religionem.

It is certainly no part of religion to compel religion.

—  Tertullian, 155-240 AD, Berber-Roman Christian author

  
  God
Latin phraseDeus vult.

God wills.

—  Latin phrase

(the motto of the Christian warriors in the Crusades)

70 likes
HoracePermitte divis cetera.

Leave all else to the gods.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

57 likes
TacitusDeos fortioribus adesse.

The gods are on the side of the stronger.

—  Tacitus, 55-120 AD, Roman historian

32 likes
Gaius PetroniusCito fit quod dii volunt.

What the gods want happens soon.

—  Gaius Petronius, 1st cent. AD, Roman writer

18 likes
VirgilIn primis venerare Deos.

First of all, worship the gods.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

15 likes
ErasmusVocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit.

Called or not called, God is present.

—  Erasmus, 1469-1536, Dutch humanist

  
  Right & Wrong
OvidVideo meliora, proboque, deteriora sequor.

I see what is better, and approve it, but I follow the worse.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

41 likes
Latin proverbRex non potest peccare.

The king can do no wrong.

—  Latin proverb

34 likes
Latin phraseAbusus non tollit usum.

Abuse does not cancel use.

—  Latin phrase

(misuse of something is no argument against its proper use)

23 likes
  
  Prayer
Ora et Labora.

Pray and Work.

—  Motto of the Benedictine Order

86 likes
  
  Faith
TertullianCredo quia absurdum.

I believe because it is absurd.

—  Tertullian, 155-240 AD, Berber-Roman Christian author

51 likes
Quod semper, quod ubique, quo ab omnibus.

What always, what everywhere, what by everybody.

—  Saint Vincent of Lerins, 5th century Gallic monk

(determining what Catholics must believe to fight heresy)

21 likes
  
  Hell
VirgilFlectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.

If I cannot sway the heavens, I will raise hell.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

179 likes
  
  Devil
Gospel of MarkVada retro me, Satana.

Get off my back, Satan

—  Gospel of Mark ‐ 8:33

(from the Vulgate, spoken by Jesus to Peter)

76 likes
  
  Mystery
TacitusOmne ignotum pro magnifico.

Everything unknown seems magnificent.

—  Tacitus, 55-120 AD, Roman historian

81 likes
  
  The Truth
Aleister CrowleyVi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

—  Aleister Crowley, 1875-1945, British magician & occultist,

(or V.V.V.V.V.; mentioned also in the graphic novel “V for Vendetta”)

132 likes
JuvenalVitam impendere vero.

Dedicate your life to truth.

—  Juvenal, 1st-2nd cent. AD, Roman satiric poet

87 likes
TertullianNihil veritas erubescit.

Truth does not blush.

—  Tertullian, 155-240 AD, Berber-Roman Christian author

  
  Transience
Latin phraseSic transit gloria mundi.

Thus passes the glory of the world.

—  Latin phrase

29 likes
Mox nox.

Night, shortly.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

23 likes
Latin phraseEt in Arcadia ego.

Even in Arcadia was I.

—  Latin phrase

—  Tomb inscription in the painting of Nicolas Poussin “Shepherds of Arcadia”

(Arcadia, in Peloponnese, symbolizes Utopia)

13 likes
  
  Time
Utere, non numera.

Use the hours, don’t count them.

—  Medieval Sundial Motto

88 likes
HippocratesArs longa, vita brevis.

Art is long, life is short.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

83 likes
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat.

All hours wound, the last one kills.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

50 likes
OvidTempus edax rerum.

Time devours everything.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

45 likes
Ex hoc momento pendet aeternitas.

Eternity is hinged upon this moment.

—  Medieval Sundial Motto

29 likes
VirgilFugit inreparabile tempus.

Time flies without return.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

25 likes
Serius est quam cogitas.

It’s later than you think.

—  Sundial motto

22 likes
  
  Duration
Lente hora, celeriter anni.

An hour passes slowly, but the years go by quickly.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

37 likes
Latin phraseIn saecula saeculorum.

Unto the ages of ages.

—  Latin phrase

(from the Vulgate; translation of the original Greek “εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων”)

23 likes
HoraceExegi monumentum aere perennius.

I have made a monument more lasting than bronze.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

12 likes
  
  Origin
LucretiusCaelesti sumus omnes semine oriundi.

We are all sprung from a heavenly seed.

—  Lucretius, 98-55 BC, Roman poet

26 likes
  
  Haste & Delay
SenecaVeritas odit moras.

Truth hates delay.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

55 likes
Lente hora, celeriter anni.

An hour passes slowly, but the years go by quickly.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

37 likes
MartialSi post fata venit gloria, non propero.

If glory comes after death, I hurry not.

—  Martial, 43-104 AD, Roman poet of epigrams

30 likes
Titus LiviusPotius sero quam numquam.

Better late than never.

—  Titus Livius, 59 BC-17 AD, Roman historian

  
  Speed
Citius, Altius, Fortius.

Faster, Higher, Stronger

—  Motto of the Olympic Games

(initially, a motto of Pierre de Coubertin’s school)

147 likes
Publilius SyrusBis dat, qui dat celeriter.

He who gives quickly, gives double.

—  Publilius Syrus, 1st cent. AD, Roman author of maxims

31 likes
  
  Ending
AugustusPlaudite, amici, comedia finita est!

Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over!

—  Augustus, 63 BC-14 AD, Roman Emperor

(a little before his death)

52 likes
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat.

All hours wound, the last one kills.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

50 likes
Latin phraseFinis coronat opus.

The end crowns the work.

—  Latin phrase

(i.e. a work can be judged only after it is finished or how is finished)

49 likes
  
  Learning
Latin proverbQuod nocet, saepe docet.

What harms, often teaches.

—  Latin proverb

153 likes
OvidFas est ab hoste doceri.

One should learn even from one's enemies.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

36 likes
Latin phraseQuae nocent, saepe docent.

What hurts often instructs.

—  Latin phrase

25 likes
  
  Sleep
Latin proverbQui dormit, non peccat.

The man who sleeps does not sin.

—  Latin proverb

52 likes
  
  Void
Latin phraseNatura abhorret a vacua.

Nature abhors a vacuum.

—  Latin phrase

27 likes
  
  Road
HannibalAut viam inveniam aut faciam.

I shall either find a way or make one.

—  Hannibal, 247-183 BC, Carthaginian military commander

(crossing the Alps with his army around 212 BC)

191 likes
Latin proverbVia trita, via tuta.

Beaten path, safe path.

—  Latin proverb

54 likes
  
  Beginning
CiceroOmnium rerum principia parva sunt.

The beginnings of all things are small.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

44 likes
  
  Order
Novus ordo seclorum.

New order of the ages.

—  motto on the Great Seal of the United States

11 likes
  
  Difference
TerentiusQuot homines tot sententiae: suus cuique mos.

There are as many opinions as there are people: each has his own view.

—  Terentius, c. 185-159 BC, Roman comic playwright

93 likes
  
  Similarity
Latin proverbCanis caninam non est.

Dog does not eat dog.

—  Latin proverb

20 likes
VirgilSi parva licet componere magnis.

If we may compare small things with great…

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

13 likes
  
  Injustice
Latin phraseSummum jus, summa injuria.

Extreme justice [means] extreme injustice.

—  Latin phrase

42 likes
  
  Adaptation
Latin phraseUbi bene, ibi patria.

Homeland is where your life is good.

—  Latin phrase

45 likes
  
  Usefulness
Latin phraseAbusus non tollit usum.

Abuse does not cancel use.

—  Latin phrase

(misuse of something is no argument against its proper use)

23 likes
  
  Futility
Latin phraseMemento mori.

Remember death.

—  Latin phrase

151 likes
OvidNil homini certum est.

Nothing is certain to men.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

19 likes
Umbra sicut hominis vita.

The life of a human being is like a shadow.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

18 likes
Latin phraseEt in Arcadia ego.

Even in Arcadia was I.

—  Latin phrase

—  Tomb inscription in the painting of Nicolas Poussin “Shepherds of Arcadia”

(Arcadia, in Peloponnese, symbolizes Utopia)

13 likes
  
  No Change
CiceroSemper idem.

Always the same.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

64 likes
Latin phraseQuinon proficit deficit.

He who does not advance, goes backwards.

—  Latin phrase

45 likes
  
  New
Latin phraseNihil sub sole novum

Nothing is new under the sun.

—  Latin phrase

46 likes
  
  Rules
Latin phraseExceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis.

An exception tests the rule as to things not excepted.

—  Latin phrase

27 likes
  

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