Latin quotations
Famous Latin quotations, translations, phrases, latin to english, quotes,
sayings, US Armed Forces mottos
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V]
A
A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi – A precipice in front, wolves behind
(between a rock and a hard place)
Ab imo pectore – From the bottom of the chest (from the heart)
Ab/Ex uno disce omnes – From one person, learn all people
Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit – He has left, absconded, escaped
and disappeared
Absit omen may the omen be absent – May this not be an omen
Abusus non tollit usum – Wrong use does not preclude proper use
Abyssus abyssum invocat – Hell calls hell; one mistep leads to another
Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam – It is better to suffer an
injustice than to do an injustice
Acta est fabula, plaudite! – The play is over, applaud! (Said to
have been emperor Augustus’ last words.)
Ad hominem – Appealing to a person’s physical and emotional urges,
rather than her or his intellect
Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora – Eggs today are better
than chickens tomorrow (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)
Adeste Fideles – Be present, faithful ones
Adversus solem ne loquitor – Don’t speak against the sun (don’t waste
your time arguing the obvious)
Aegrescit medendo – The disease worsens with the treatment (the remedy
is worse than the disease)
Aegroto, dum anima est, spes esse dicitur – It is said that for a
sick man, there is hope as long as there is life
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem – Remember when life’s
path is steep to keep your mind even. (Horace)
Aeternum vale – Farewell forever
Age quod agis – Do what you do well, pay attention to what you are
doing
Age. Fac ut gaudeam – Go ahead. Make my day!
Alea iacta est – The die has been cast. (Caesar)
Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent – Other people’s things are
more pleasing to us, and ours to other people. (Publilius Syrus)
Alis volat propriis – He flies by his own wings
Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi – The deepest rivers flow
with the least sound (still waters run deep)
Amantes sunt amentes – Lovers are lunatics
Amantium irae amoris integratio est – The quarrels of lovers are
the renewal of love. (Terence)
Amat victoria curam – Victory favors those who take pains
Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore – I hope that the
memory of our friendship will be everlasting. (Cicero)
Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi? – Baby, sweetheart,
would I lie to you?
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur – A true friend is discerned
during an uncertain matter
Amicus verus est rara avis – A true friend is a rare bird
Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur – We choose to love, we
do not choose to cease loving. (Syrus)
Amor caecus est – Love is blind
Amor est vitae essentia – Love is the essence of life. (Mackay)
Amor ordinem nescit – Love does not know order. (St. Jerome)
Amor platonicus – Platonic love
Amor tussisque non celantur – Love, and a cough, are not concealed.
(Ovid)
Amor vincit omnia – Love conquers all. (Virgil)
Amoto quaeramus seria ludo – Joking aside, let us turn to serious
matters. (Horace)
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla sapientia mundus regatur? – Don’t you
know then, my son, how little wisdom rules the world?
Animis opibusque parati – Prepared in minds and resources (ready
for anything)
Apudne te vel me? – Your place or mine?
Aquila non captat muscas – The eagle doesn’t capture flies (don’t
sweat the small things)
Arduum sane munus – A truly arduous task
Arguendo – For the sake of argument
Argumentum ad ignorantiam – Arguing from ignorance
Ars gratia artis – Art for the sake of art
Ars sine scienta nihil est – Art without science is nothing (I would
also claim that the opposite is true.)
Ascendo tuum – Up yours
Aspice, officio fungeris sine spe honoris amplioris – Face it, you’re
stuck in a dead end job
Aspirat primo Fortuna labori – Fortune smiles upon our first effort.
(Virgil)
Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit – Constant
practice devoted to one subject often outdues both intelligence and skill. (Cicero)
Astra inclinant, non necessitant – The stars incline; they do not
determine
Astra non mentiuntur, sed astrologi bene mentiuntur de astris – The
stars never lie, but the astrologs lie about the stars
Audentes fortuna juvat – Fortune favors the bold. (Virgil)
Audi et alteram partem – Hear the other side too
Auget largiendo – He increases by giving liberally
Auribus teneo lupum – I hold a wolf by the ears (I am in a dangerous
situation and dare not let go.) (Terence)
Aurora Musis amica – Dawn is friend of the muses. (Early bird catches
the worm.)
Aut disce aut discede – Either learn or leave
Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit – The fellow is either mad or
he is composing verses
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam – I’ll either find a way or make one
Avarus animus nullo satiatur lucro – A greedy mind is satisfied with
no (amount of) gain
Ave atque vale – Hail and farewell. (Catullus)
B
latin translation
Bellum omnium contra omnes. War by all against all.
Bene legere saecla vincere – To read well is to master the ages. (Professor
Isaac Flagg)
Bene qui latuit, bene vixit – One who lives well, lives unnoticed.
(Ovid)
Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere – To accept a favour is
to sell freedom. (Publilius Syrus)
Bis dat qui cito dat – He gives twice, who gives promptly. (Publilius
Syrus)
Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit – He is doubly destroyed who
perishes by his own arms. (Syrus)
Bis repetita placent – The things that please are repeated again
and again
Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria – He conquers twice who in the
hour of conquest conquers himself. (Syrus)
Bis vivit qui bene vivit – He lives twice who lives well
Bona fide – In good faith
Braccae tuae aperiuntur – Your fly is open
Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior – Our life is short but
is made longer by misfortunes. (Publilius Syrus)
C
latin language
Caelum videre iussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus – He bid
them look at the sky and lift their faces to the stars. (Ovid)
Canis meus id comedit – My dog ate it
Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet – A timid dog barks more
violently than it bites. (Curtius Rufus)
Capillamentum? Haudquaquam conieci esse! – A wig? I never would have
guessed!
Caro putridas es! – You’re dead meat
Carpe diem – Seize the day (opportunity) (Horace)
Casus belli. - Cause of war.
Cave canem, te necet lingendo – Beware of the dog, he may lick you
to death
Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui – Beware what you say, when, and to
whom
Caveat emptor – Let the buyer beware. (He buys at his own risk.)
Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse – You know, Toto,
I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore
Certum est, quia impossibile – It is certain, because it is impossible.
(Tertullianus)
Ceteris paribus – All else being equal
Cogita ante salis – Think before you leap (or look before you leap.)
Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur – Nobody should be punished for his
thoughts
Cogito, ergo sum – I think, therefore I exist. (RenŠ¹ Descartes)
Commodum ex iniuria sua nemo habere debet – No person ought to have
advantage from his own wrong
Commune periculum concordiam parit – Common danger brings forth harmony
Communi consilio – By common consent
Conditio sine qua non. – Indispensible condition.
Coniecturalem artem esse medicinam – Medicine is the art of guessing.
(Aulus Cornelius Celsus)
Conlige suspectos semper habitos – Round up the usual suspects
Construimus, Batuimus – We Build, We Fight (US Navy SeaBees motto)
Consuetudinis magna vis est – The force of habit is great. (Cicero)
Contraria contrariis curantur – The opposite is cured with the opposite.
(Hippocrates)
Cotidiana vilescunt – Familiarity breeds contempt
Cotidie damnatur qui semper timet – The man who is constantly in fear
is every day condemned. (Syrus)
Cras amet qui nunquam amavit; Quique amavit, cras amet – May he love
tomorrow who has never loved before
Credidi me felem vidisse! – I tought I taw a puddy tat!
Credite amori vera dicenti – Believe love speaking the truth. (St.
Jerome)
Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse – I think we’re on the same wavelength
Credo quia absurdum – I believe it because it is absurd (contrary
to reason)
Credo ut intelligam – I believe in order that I may understand. (St.
Augustine)
Credula vitam spes fovet et melius cras fore semper dicit – Credulous
hope supports our life, and always says that tomorrow will be better. (Tibullus)
Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit – The love of wealth
grows as the wealth itself grew. (Juvenalis)
Crudelius est quam mori semper timere mortem – It is more cruel to
always fear death than to die. (Seneca)
Cui peccare licet peccat minus – One who is allowed to sin, sins less.
(Ovid)
Culpam poena premit comes – Punishment closely follows crime as its
companion. (Horace)
Cum grano salis – With a grain of salt. (Pliny the Elder?)
Cum homine de cane debeo congredi – Excuse me. I’ve got to see a man
about a dog
Cum tacent, clamant – When they are silent, they cry out. (Their silence
speaks louder than words.) (Cicero)
Cura nihil aliud nisi ut valeas – Pay attention to nothing except
that you do well. (Cicero)
Cura posterior - A later concern
Cura ut valeas – Take care
D
latin to english
Da mihi sis cerevisiam dilutam – I’ll have a light beer
Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo – I’ll have a pizza
with everything on it
Damnant quod non intellegunt – They condemn what they do not understand
De bene esse – It shall be so, as long as it is well
De duobus malis minus est semper eligendum – One must always choose
the lesser of two evils. (Thomas a Kempis)
De facto – Something that is automatically accepted
De gustibus non est disputandum – There’s no accounting for taste
De nihilo nihil – Nothing comes from nothing. (Lucretius)
Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem! – The devil made me do it!
Dic mihi solum facta, domina – Just the facts, ma’am
Dictum sapienti sat est – A word to a wise person is sufficient
Die dulci freure – Have a nice day
Diem perdidi – I have lost a day (another day wasted) (Titus)
Dies felices – Happy Days
Dies irae – The Day of Wrath, or Judgment Day
Difficile est saturam non scribere – It is hard not to write satire.
(Juvenalis)
Difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas – It is difficult
to retain what you may have learned unless you should practice it. (Pliny the
Younger)
Diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium – Diligence is
a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence. (Seneca)
Dimidium facti qui coepit habet – Half is done when the beginning
is done. (Horace)
Dira necessitas – The dire necessity. (Horace)
Divide et impera – Divide and conquer
Do ut des – I give so that you give back
Docendo discitur – It is learned by teaching. (Seneca)
Dominus tecum – May the Lord be with you (Singular)
Dominus vobiscum – May the Lord be with you (Plural)
Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos – As long as you are fortunate,
you will have many friends (when you are successful, everyone wants to be your
friend)
Dulce bellum inexpertis – War is sweet for those who haven’t experienced
it. (Pindaros)
Dum excusare credis, accusas – When you believe you are excusing
yourself, you are accusing yourself. (St. Jerome)
Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem – As long as we are
among humans, let us be humane. (Seneca)
Dum spiro, spero – While I breathe, I hope. (Cicero)
Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum – While we have the time, let
us do good
Dum vita est spes est – While life is, hope is. / While there is
life there is hope
Dum vivimus, vivamus – While we live, let us live (Epicurean philosophy)
E
latin to english translation
Ego spem pretio non emo – I do not purchase hope for a price (I do not
buy a pig in a poke.)
Eheu fugaces labuntur anni – Alas, the fleeting years slip by. (Horace)
Eheu, litteras istas reperire non possum – Unfortunately, I can’t
find those particular documents
Emitte lucem et veritatem – Send out light and truth
Epistula non erubescit – A letter doesn’t blush. (Cicero)
Errare humanum est – To err is human. / It is human to err (Seneca)
Esse quam videri – To be rather than to seem
Est autem fides credere quod nondum vides; cuius fidei merces est videre
quod credis – Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of
this faith is to see what you believe. (St. Augustine)
Est modus in rebus – There is a medium in things. (Horace)
Est queadam fiere voluptas – There is a certain pleasure in weeping.
(Ovid)
Esto Perpetua – Let it be forever
Et tu, Brute – You too, Brutus (Caesar’s last words)
Etiam capillus unus habet umbram – Even one hair has a shadow. (Publilius
Syrus)
Ex animo – From the heart (sincerely)
Ex cearulo – Out of the blue
Ex gratia – As a favour
Ex mea sententia – In my opinion
Ex nihilo nihil – Out of nothing, nothing comes / is made
Ex uno disce omnes – From one person learn all persons (From one
we can judge the rest.)
Exceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis – An exception establishes
the rule as to things not excepted
Excitabat fluctus in simpulo – He was stirring up billows in a ladle.
(He was raising a tempest in a teapot.) (Cicero)
Exitus acta probat – The outcome proves the deeds (the end justifies
the means) (Ovid)
Experientia docet – Experience is the best teacher
Experientia docet stultos – Experience teaches fools
F
latin quotes
Faber est suae quisque fortunae – Every man is the artisan of his own
fortune. (Appius Claudius Caecus)
Fac ut gaudeam – Make my day
Fac ut nemo me vocet – Hold my calls
Fac ut vivas – Get a life
Facilius est multa facere quam diu – It is easier to do many things
than to do one for a long time. (Quintilianus)
Facilius per partes in cognitionem totius adducimur – We are more
easily led part by part to an understanding of the whole. (Seneca)
Facito aliquid operis, ut te semper diabolus inveniat occupatum – Always
do something, so that the devil always finds you occupied. (St. Jerome)
Facta, non verba – Deeds, not words (Actions speak louder than words)
Factum est illud, fieri infectum non potest – Done is done, it cannot
be made undone. (Plautus)
Fallaces sunt rerum species – The appearances of things are deceptive.
(Seneca)
Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus – Untrue in one thing, untrue in
everything
Fama crescit eundo – The rumour grows as it goes. (Vergil)
Fama volat – The rumour has wings. (Vergil)
Farrago fatigans! – Thuffering thuccotash!
Fas est et ab hoste doceri – It’s proper to learn even from an enemy.
(Ovid)
Fax mentis incedium gloriae – The passion of glory is the torch of
the mind
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas – Happy is he who has been
able to learn the causes of things. (Vergil)
Feliz ano novo – Happy new year
Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt – Men readily believe
what they want to believe. (Caesar)
Festina lente – Make haste slowly
Fiat lux – Let there be light
Fide, non armis – By faith, not arms
Fides quaerens intellectum – Faith seeking understanding
Finis coronat opus – The ending crowns the work. (Ovid)
Flamma fumo est proxima – Flame follows smoke. (Plautus)
Fluctuat nec mergitur – It is tossed by the waves but it does not
sink
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit – Perhaps someday we will look
back upon these things with joy
Forsan miseros meliora sequentur – For those in misery perhaps better
things will follow. (Virgil)
Fortes et Liber – Strong and free. (Alberta)
Fortes fortuna adiuvat – Fortune helps the brave men. (Terence)
Fortiter Fideliter Forsan Feliciter – Bravely, faithfully, perhaps
successfully
Fortuna caeca est – Fortune is blind. (Cicero)
Frangar non flectar – I am broken, I am not deflected
G
latin sayings
Gaudeamus igitur (iuvenes dum sumus) – Therefore, let us rejoice (while
we are young)
Gladiator in arena consilium capit – The gladiator is formulating
his plan in the arena (i.e., too late) (Seneca)
Gloria virtutis umbra – Glory (is) the shadow of virtue
Gnothe seauton (Greek) – Know thyself
Graeca sunt, non leguntur – It is Greek, you don’t read that
Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo – The drop excavates
the stone, not with force but by falling often. (Ovid)
H
latin translation
Helluo librorum – A glutton for books (bookworm)
Heu! Tintinnuntius meus sonat! – Darn! There goes my beeper!
Heus, hic nos omnes in agmine sunt! – Hey, we’re all in line here!
Hinc illae lacrimae – Hence these tears. (Terence)
Hoc est in votis – This is in my prayers
Hoc est verum et nihili nisi verum – This is the truth and nothing
but the truth
Hoc tempore obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit – In these days
friends are won through flattery, the truth gives birth to hate. (Terence)
Homines libenter quod volunt credunt – Men believe what they want
to. (Terentius)
Homines, dum docent, discunt – Men learn while they teach. (Seneca)
Homo vitae commodatus non donatus est – Man has been lent to life,
not given. (Pubilius Syrus)
Honores mutant mores – The honours change the customs. (Power corrupts)
Horas non numero nisi serenas – I count only the bright hours. (Inscription
on ancient sundials.)
Humum mandere – To bite the dust
I
latin phrases
Id certum est quod certum reddi potest – That is certain that can be
made certain
Id imperfectum manet dum confectum erit – It ain’t over until it’s
over
Id tibi praebet speciem lepidissimam! – It looks great on you!
Ille dolet vere, qui sine teste dolet – He mourns honestly who mourns
without witnesses. (Martialis)
Illegitimis nil carborundum – Don’t let the bastards grind you down
Illiud Latine dici non potest – You can’t say that in Latin
Illius me paenitet, dux – Sorry about that, chief
Imitatores, servum pecus! – Imitators, you slavish crowd! (Horace)
Imperium et libertas – Empire and liberty. (Cicero)
Impossibilium nulla obligatio est – Nobody has any obligation to
the impossible. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
In absentia – In one’s absence
In aere aedificare – Build (castles) in the air. (St. Augustine)
In alio pediculum, in te ricinum non vides – You see a louse on someone
else, but not a tick on yourself. (Petronius)
In dentibus anticis frustrum magnum spiniciae habes – You have a
big piece of spinach in your front teeth
In dubiis non est agendum – In dubious cases, you should not act
In his ordo est ordinem non servare – In this case the only rule
is not obeying any rules
In hoc signo vinces – In this sign, you will be victorious. (Eusebios)
In libris libertas – In books (there is) freedom
In magnis et voluisse sat est – To once have wanted is enough in
great deeds. (Propertius)
In medio tutissimus ibis – In the middle of things you will go most
safe. (Ovid)
In omnia paratus – Prepared for all things
In pari materia – Of like kind
In posterum – Till the next day
In quaestione versare – To be under investigation
In silvam ne ligna feras – Don’t carry logs into the forest. (Horace)
In spiritu et veritate – In spirit and truth. (Versio Vulgata)
In vinculis etiam audax – In chains yet still bold (free)
In virtute sunt multi ascensus – In excellence there are many degrees.
(Cicero)
Indulgentiam quaeso – I ask your indulgence
infra dignitatem – Undignified (beneath (our) dignity)
Inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est. – Inhumanity is harmful in every
age. (Cicero)
Iniqua nunquam regna perpetuo manent – Stern masters do not reign
long. (Seneca Philosophus)
Iniuria non excusat iniuriam – One wrong does not justify another
Intellectum valde amat – Love the intellect strongly. (St. Augustine)
Intelligenti pauca – Few words suffice for he who understands
Intelligo me intelligere – I understand that I understand. (St. Augustine)
Inter nos – Between us
Inter vivos – Living
Interfice errorem, diligere errantem – Kill the sin, love the sinner.
(St. Augustine)
Inventas vitam iuvat excoluisse per artes – Let us improve life through
science and art. (Vergil)
Ipsa scientia potestas est – Knowledge itself is power. (Bacon)
Ipse dixit – He himself said it. (Cicero)
Ira furor brevis est – Anger is a brief insanity. (Horace)
Isso fede – This stinks
Ita erat quando hic adveni – It was that way when I got here
Iustita omnibus – Justice for all
L
latin quotes
Labor omnia vincit – Work conquers all things. (Virgil)
Labra lege – Read my lips
Latet anguis in herba – A snake lies in the grass. (Vergil)
Latine loqui coactus sum – I have this compulsion to speak Latin
Laudant illa, sed ista legunt – Some (writing) is praised, but other
is read. (Martialis)
Laudatores temporis acti – Praisers of time past
Lectio brevior lectio potior – The shortest reading is the more probable
reading
Lege et lacrima – Read it and weep
Leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus – The burden is made light which
is borne well. (Ovid)
Lex malla, lex nulla – A bad law is no law. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Libenter homines id quod volunt credunt – Men gladly believe that
which they wish for. (Caesar)
Liberae sunt nostrae cogitationes – Our thoughts are free. (Cicero)
Liberate Te Ex Inferis – Save yourself from hell
Libertas inaestimabilis res est – Liberty is a thing beyond all price.
(Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Liberum arbitrium – Free will
Licentia liquendi – Liberty of speaking
Licentia poetica – Poetic licence. (Seneca)
Litoralis – Beach bum
Locus classicus – The most authoritative source
Locus enim est principum generationis rerum – For place is the origin
of things. (Roger Bacon)
Lupus in fabula – The wolf in the tale (i.e. speak of the wolf, and
he will come) (Terence)
Lux et veritas – Light and Truth
M
latin sayings
Magister mundi sum! – I am the master of the universe!
Magna cum laude – With high honor
Magnas inter oper inops – A pauper in the midst of wealth. (Horace)
Male parta male dilabuntur – What has been wrongly gained is wrongly
lost. (Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.) (Cicero)
Malum consilium quod mutari non potest – It’s a bad plan that can’t
be changed. (Publilius Syrus)
Manu militari. – By military force.
Mater artium necessitas – Necessity is the mother of invention
Materiam superabat opus – The workmanship was better than the subject
matter. (Ovid)
Me fallit – I do not know
Me iudice – (I being judge) in my judgement
Me transmitte sursum, caledoni! – Beam me up, Scotty!
Mea culpa – My fault
Mea culpa – My mistake
Mea mihi conscientia pluris est quam omnium sermo – My conscience
means more to me than all speech. (Cicero)
Medice, cura te ipsum! – Physician, heal thyself! (Versio Vulgata)
Medici graviores morbos asperis remediis curant – Doctors cure the
more serious diseases with harsh remedies. (Curtius Rufus)
Medicus curat, natura sanat – The physician treats, nature cures
Medio tutissimus ibis – You will go safest in the middle (Moderation
in all things.)(Ovid)
Melius est praevenire quam praeveniri – Better to forestall than
to be forestalled
Melius frangi quam flecti – It is better to break than to bend
Melius tarde, quam nunquam – Better late than never
Mellita, domi adsum – Honey, I’m home
Mendacem memorem esse oportet – A liar needs a good memory. (Quintilianus)
Mens agitat molem – The mind moves the matter. (Vergil)
Mens regnum bona possidet – An honest heart is a kingdom in itself.
(Seneca)
Mens sana in corpore sano – A sound mind in a sound body. (Juvenalis)
Meum pactum dictum – My word is my bond
Mihi cura futuri – My concern is the future
Mihi ignosce. Cum homine de cane debeo congredi – Excuse me. I’ve
got to see a man about a dog
Minime senuisti! – You haven’t aged a bit!
Minus habens – Absentminded
Mirabile dictu – Wonderful to say/relate. (Vergil)
Modus Operandi – Way of operating
Mors ultima linea rerum est – Death is everything’s final limit.
(Horace)
Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur – Many fear their reputation,
few their conscience. (Pliny)
Multis post annis – Many years later
Multum in parvo – Much in little
Multun, non multa – Much, not many (quality not quantity)
Munit haec et altera vincit – One defends and the other conquers
Mus uni non fidit antro – A mouse does not rely on just one hole.
(Plautus)
Musica delenit bestiam feram – Music soothes the savage beast
Mutatis mutandis – What was to be changed having been changed
N
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas es – Knowledge is power. (Sir Francis
Bacon)
Natura nihil fit in frustra – Nature does nothing in vain
Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum! – Don’t you dare erase my hard
disk!
Ne feceris ut rideam – Don’t make me laugh
Ne quid nimis – Nothing in excess. (Terence)
Nec possum tecum vivere, nec sine te – I am able to live / I can live
neither with you, nor without you. (Martial)
Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres – As a true translator
you will take care not to translate word for word. (Horace)
Necessitatis non habet legem – Necessity knows no law
Nemo autem regere potest nisi qui et regi – Moreover, there is no
one who can rule unless he can be ruled. (Seneca)
Nemo dat quod non habet – No one gives what he does not have
Nemo hic adest illius nominis – There is no one here by that name
Nemo liber est qui corpori servit – No one is free who is a slave
to his body
Nemo nisi mors – Nobody except death (will part us). (Inscription
in the wedding ring of the Swedish Queen Katarina Jagellonica.)
Nemo risum praebuit, qui ex se coepit – Nobody is laughed at, who
laughs at himself. (Seneca)
Nemo surdior est quam is qui non audiet – No man is more deaf than
he who will not hear
Nemo timendo ad summum pervenit locum – No man by fearing reaches
the top. (Syrus)
Nervos belli, pecuniam. (Nervus rerum.) – The nerve of war, money.
(The nerve of things.) (Cicero)
Nescio quid dicas – I don’t know what you’re talking about
Neutiquam erro – I am not lost
Nihil agere delectat – It is pleasant to do nothing. (Cicero)
Nihil aliud scit necessitas quam vincere – Necesssity knows nothing
else but victory. (Syrus)
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione – I’m not interested in
your dopey religious cult
Nihil declaro – I have nothing to declare
Nihil est ab omni parte beatum – Nothing is good in every part. (Horace)
Nihil est incertius volgo – Nothing is more uncertain than the (favour
of the) crowd. (Cicero)
Nihil est miserum nisi cum putes – Nothing is unfortunate if you don’t
consider it unfortunate. (Boethius)
Nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari pecunia possit – No fort is so
strong that it cannot be taken with money. (Cicero)
Nihil est–In vita priore ego imperator romanus fui – That’s nothing–in
a previous life I was a Roman Emperor
Nil admirari – To admire nothing. (Horace)
Nil agit exemplum, litem quod lite resolvit – Not much worth is an
example that solves one quarrel with another. (Horace)
Nil desperandum! – Never despair! (Horace)
Nil homini certum est – Nothing is certain for man. (Ovid)
Nil Sine Numine – Nothing without providence
Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis – Unless you will have believed,
you will not understand. (St. Augustine)
Noli equi dentes inspicere donati – Do not look a gift horse in the
mouth. (St. Jerome)
Noli me tangere! – Don’t touch me! (Versio Vulgata)
Noli me vocate. Ego te vocabo – Don’t call me. I’ll call you
Noli turbare circulos meos! – Don’t upset my calculations! (Archimedes)
Nolite id cogere, cape malleum majorem – Don’t force it, get a bigger
hammer
Nomina stultorum parietibus haerent – The names of foolish persons
adhere to walls (Fools names and fools faces are often seen in public places.)
Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat – It’s not the heat, it’s
the humidity
Non compos mentis – Not in possession of one’s senses
Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema – I don’t care. If it
doesn’t rhyme, it isn’t a poem
Non erravi perniciose! – I did not commit a fatal error!
Non est ad astra mollis e terris via – There is no easy way from the
earth to the stars. (Seneca)
Non est ei similis – There is no one like him
Non est vivere sed valere vita est – Life is not being alive but being
well (life is more than just being alive)
Non Gradus Anus Rodentum! – Not Worth A Rats Ass!
Non illigitamus carborundum – Don’t let the bastards grind you down
Non mihi, non tibi, sed nobis – Not for you, not for me, but for us
Non mortem timemus, sed cogitationem mortis – We do not fear death,
but the thought of death. (Seneca)
Non multa, sed multum – Not many, but much. (Meaning, not quantity
but quality.) (Plinius)
Non omne quod licet honestum est – Not everything that is permitted
is honest. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Non omne quod nitet aurum est – Not all that glitters is gold
Non omnes qui habemt citharam sunt citharoedi – Not all those who
own a musical instrument are musicians. (Bacon)
Non omnia possumus omnes – Not all of us are able to do all things
(We can’t all do everything.) (Virgil)
Non omnis moriar – Not all of me will die. (Horace)
Non scholae sed vitae discimus – We do not learn for school, but for
life. (Seneca)
Non semper erit aestas – It will not always be summer (be prepared
for hard times)
Non sequitur – It does not follow
Non sibi sed patriae! – Not for self, but country (US Navy Motto)
Non sibi sed suis – Not for one’s self but for one’s people
Non sum qualis eram – I am not what / of what sort I was (I’m not
what I used to be.)
Non ut edam vivo, sed vivam edo – I do not live to eat, but eat to
live. (Quintilianus)
Non, mihi ignosce, credo me insequentem esse – No, excuse me, I believe
I’m next
Nonne de novo eboraco venis? – You’re from New York, aren’t you?
Nonne macescis? – Have you lost weight?
Nosce te ipsum – Know thyself. (Inscription at the temple of Apollo
in Delphi.)
Nulla regula sine exceptione – There is no rule/law without exception
Nulla res carius constat quam quae precibus empta est – Nothing is
so expensive as that which you have bought with pleas. (Seneca)
Nulli secundus – Second to none
Nullius in verba – (Rely) on the words on no one (Horace)
Nullo metro compositum est – It doesn’t rhyme
Nullum est iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius – Nothing is said
that hasn’t been said before. (Terence)
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium – There is no free lunch!
Nullum saeculum magnis ingeniis clausum est – No generation is closed
to great talents. (Seneca)
Nullus est instar domus – There is no place like home
Nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit – There is no
book so bad that it is not profitable on some part. (Pliny the Younger)
Numquam aliud natura, aliud sapientia dicit – Never does nature say
one thing and wisdom say another
Numquam non paratus – Never unprepared
Numquam se minus solum quam cum solus esset – You are never so little
alone as when you are alone. (Cicero)
O
O diem praeclarum! – Oh, what a beautiful day!
O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum! – An excellent protector of sheep,
the wolf! (Cicero)
O quam cito transit gloria mundi! – O how quickly passes the glory
of the world!
O sancta simplicitas! – Oh, holy simplicity! (Jan Hus)
O tempora, O mores! – O the times, O the customs! (Cicero)
O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem! – Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm!
Obesa cantavit – The fat lady has sung
Omne ignotum pro magnifico est – We have great notions of everything
unknown. (Tacitus)
Omne initium est difficile – Every beginning is difficult
Omne trium perfectum – Everything that comes in threes is perfect
Omnes aequo animo parent ubi digni imperant – All men cheerfully
obey where worthy men rule. (Syrus)
Omnes lagani pistrinae gelate male sapiunt – All frozen pizzas taste
lousy
Omnes una manet nox – The same night awaits us all. (Horace)
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat – All (hours) wound, the last kills.
(inscription on solar clocks)
Omnia iam fient quae posse negabam – Everything which I used to say
could not happen will happen now. (Ovid)
Omnia mea mecum porto – All that is mine, I carry with me. (Cicero)
Omnia mors aequat – Death equals all things
Omnia mutantur, nihil interit – Everything changes, nothing perishes.
(Ovid)
Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis – All things change, and we
change with them
Omnia vincit amor; et nos cedamus amori – Love conquers all things;
let us too surrender to love. (Vergil)
Omnium rerum principia parva sunt – Everything has a small beginning.
(Cicero)
Optimus magister, bonus liber – The best teacher is a good book
Ora et labora – Pray and labor. (St. Benedict)
Osculare pultem meam! – Kiss my grits!
P
Pace – Be at peace
Pacta sunt servanda – Agreements are to be kept. (Cicero)
Pactum serva – Keep the faith
Palmam qui meruit ferat – Let him who has earned it bear the reward
Para bellum. – For the war.
Pars maior lacrimas ridet et intus habet – You smile at your tears
but have them in your heart. (Martialis)
Par Oneri - Equal to the Task (Royal Australian Corps of Transport motto)
Paulatim - Little by Little (Royal Australian Army Medical Corps motto)
Parva leves capiunt animas – Small things occupy light minds (small
things amuse small minds)
Patria est communis omnium parens – Our native land is the common
parent of us all. (Cicero)
Pavesco, pavesco – I’m shaking, I’m shaking
Pax et bonum! – Peace and salvation!
Pax tecum – May peace be with you (Singular)
Pax vobiscum – May peace be with you (Plural)
Peccatum tacituritatis – Sin of silence
Pecunia in arbotis non crescit – Money does not grow on trees
Per angusta in augusta – Through difficulties to great things
Per ARDUA ad astra. Through endeavour (toil, struggle etc)
to the stars (official motto of the R.A.F.).
Per aspera ad astra – Through the thorns to the stars
Per varios usus artem experientia fecit – Through different exercises
practice has brought skill. (Manilius)
Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim – Be patient and tough;
some day this pain will be useful to you. (Ovid)
Pericula in mora. Danger in delay.
Periculum in mora – There is danger in delay. (Livy)
Perpetuo vincit qui utitur clementia – He is forever victor who employs
clemency. (Syrus)
Perscriptio in manibus tabellariorum est – The check is in the mail
Pessimus inimicorum genus, laudantes – The worst kind of enemies,
those who can praise. (Tacitus)
Philosophum non facit barba! – The beard does not define a philosopher
Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate – Entities should not
be multiplied unnecessarily
Plusque minusque – More or less
Poeta fit, non nascitur – A poet is made, he is not born
Poeta nascitur, non fit – The poet is born, not made
Pollice verso. Thumbs down (’Kill him off). Finish off the
enemy hurled to the ground (shouts to the victorious gladiator in Coliseum in
ancient Rome).
Poli, poli, di umbuendo – Slowly, Slowly we will get there
Pone ubi sol non lucet! – Put it where the sun don’t shine!
Possunt quia posse videntur – They can because they think they can
Post bellum. – After war.
Post tenebras lux – After the darkness, light
Potes currere sed te occulere non potes – You can run, but you can’t
hide
Potest ex casa magnus vir exire – A great man can come from a hut.
(Seneca)
Potius Mori Quam Foedar – Death Before Dishonor (Massachusetts
Maritime Academy Honor Guard Motto)
Potius sero quam numquam – It’s better late than never. (Livy)
Praemonitus pramunitus – Forewarned, forearmed
Praetio prudentia praestat – Prudence supplies a reward
Prehende uxorem meam, sis! – Take my wife, please!
Pret toujours pret – Ready, Always Ready (304TH Signal Battalion Motto)
Primum non nocere – The first thing is to do no harm (Hippocratic
oath)
Primum viveri deinde philosophari – Live before you philosophize,
or Leap before you look
Primus inter pares – First among his equals
Pro bono publico – For the public good
Pro di immortales! – Good Heavens!
Pro opportunitate – As circumstances allow
Probae esti in segetem sunt deteriorem datae fruges, tamen ipsae suaptae
enitent – A good seed, planted even in poor soil, will bear rich fruit
by its own nature. (Accius)
Promoveatur ut amoveatur – Let him be promoted to get him out of the
way
Propino fibi salutem! – Cheers!
Proximus sum egomet mihi – I am closest to myself. (Charity begins
at home.) (Terence)
Pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant – Children are children, (therefore)
children do childish things
Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum – Garbage in, garbage out
Puris omnia pura – To the pure all things are pure
Q
Quad nesciunt eos non interficiet – What they don’t know won’t kill them
Qualis pater talis filius – As is the father, so is the son; like
father, like son
Qualitas potentia nostra – Quality is our power (Finnish Air Force motto)
Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu – The important thing isn’t
how long you live, but how well you live. (Seneca)
Quam se ipse amans-sine rivale! – Himself loving himself so much-without
a rival! (Cicero)
Quam terribilis est haec hora – How fearful is this hour
Quemadmodum possums scire utrum vere simus an solum sentiamus nos esse?
- How are we to know whether we actually exist or only think we exist?
Qui bene cantat, bis orat – He who sings well, prays twice
Qui dedit benificium taceat; narret qui accepit – Let him who has
done a good deed be silent; let him who has received it tell it. (Seneca)
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum – Let him who wishes for peace
prepare for war. (Vegetius)
Qui docet discit – He who teaches learns
Qui dormit, non peccat – One who sleeps doesn’t sin
Qui habet aures audiendi audiat – He who has ears, let him understand
how to listen
Qui ignorabat, ignorabitur – One who is ignorant will remain unnoticed
Qui nimium probat, nihil probat – One who proves too much, proves
nothing
Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit – He who is not prepared
today will be less so tomorrow. (Ovid)
Qui omnes insidias timet in nullas incidit – He who fears every ambush
falls into none. (Pubilius Syrus)
Qui scribit bis legit – He who writes reads twice
Qui tacet consentire videtur – He that is silent is thought to consent
Qui tacet, consentit – Silence gives consent
Qui vir odiosus! – What a bore!
Qui vivat atque floreat ad plurimos annos – May he live and flourish
for many years
Qui vult dare parva non debet magna rogare – He who wishes to give
little shouldn’t ask for much
Quia natura mutari non potest idcirco verae amicitiae sempiternae sunt
- Since nature cannot change, true friendships are eternal. (Horace)
Quid agis, medice? – What’s up, Doc?
Quid Novi – What’s New?
Quid nunc – What now?! (a nosy busybody)
Quid pro quo – Something for something (tit for tat)
Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum videtur – Anything said in Latin
sounds profound
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur – Why do you laugh?
Just change the name and the tale is told of you. (Horace)
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum – Whatever is rightly
done, however humble, is noble
Quieta non movere – Not to move (things lying) quiet
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? – Who shall keep watch over the guardians?
(Luvenalis)
Quis separabit? – Who shall separate us?
Quis, quid, ubi, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando? – Who, what,
where, with what, why, how, when?
Quo ad hoc – As much as this (to this extent)
Quo animo? – With what spirit? (or intent?)
Quo fas et gloria docunt – Where right and glory lead
Quo signo nata es? – What’s your sign?
Quo vadis? - Where are you going? / Whither goest thou?
Quod bonum, felix faustumque sit! – May it be good, fortunate and
prosperous! (Cicero)
Quod erat demonstrandum (QED) – Which was to be shown or demonstrated
Quod erat faciendum – Which was to be done
Quod incepimus conficiemus – What we have begun we shall finish
Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri? – How do you get your hair to
do that?
Quomodo vales – How are you?
Quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit – True love will hold on to those
whom it has held. (Seneca)
Quot homines, tot sententiae – As many men, so many opinions. / There
are as many opinions as there are men/people
R
Radicitus, comes! – Really rad, dude!
Radix lecti – Couch potato
Raptus regaliter – Royally screwed
Rara avis – A rare bird
Ratio et consilium propriae ducis artes – Reason and deliberation
are the proper skills of a general
Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert – Frankly my dear, I don’t give
a damn
Redde Caesari quae sunt Caesaris – Render unto Caesar the things
that are Caesar’s
Regnat non regitur qui nihil nisi quod vult facit – He is a king
and not a subject who does only what he wishes. (Syrus)
Relata refero – I tell what I have been told. (Herodotos)
Rem tene, verba sequentur – Keep to the subject and the words will
follow. (Cato Senior)
Repetitio est mater memoriae/ studiorum/ – Repetition is the mother
of memory/studies
Requiescat in pace – Let him/her rest in peace. (May he/she rest
in peace)
Rerum concordia discors – The concord of things through discord.
(Horace)
Res firma mitescere nescit – A firm resolve does not know how to
weaken
Res severa est verum gaudium – True joy is a serious thing. (Seneca)
Respice post te, mortalem te esse memento – Look around you, remember
that you are mortal. (Tertullianus)
Respice, adspice, prospice – Examine the past, examine the present,
examine the future (look to the past, the present, the future)
Revelare pecunia! – Show me the money!
Rex regnant sed non gubernat – The king reigns but does not govern
Rident stolidi verba Latina – Fools laugh at the Latin language.
(Ovid)
Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat? – What prevents me from speaking
the truth with a smile? (Horace)
Risu inepto res ineptior nulla est – There is nothing more foolish
than a foolish laugh. (Catullus)
Romani ite domus – Yankee go home! (Monty Phyton’s The Life of Brian)
Romani quidem artem amatoriam invenerunt – You know, the Romans invented
the art of love
Rumores volant. / Rumor volat – Rumors fly. / Rumor flies
S
Semper fi, Semper fidelis
Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas – Often the prickly thorn produces
tender roses. (Ovid)
Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit – Often it is not
even advantageous to know what will be. (Cicero)
Saepe stilum vertas – May you often turn the stylus (You should make
frequent corrections.)
Sane ego te vocavi. Forsitan capedictum tuum desit – I did call. Maybe
your answering machine is broken
Sapere aude! – Dare to be wise! (Horace)
Sapiens nihil affirmat quod non probat – A wise man states as true
nothing he does not prove (don’t swear to anything you don’t know firsthand)
Sat sapienti – Enough for a wise man. (Plautus)
Satius est impunitum relinqui facinus nocentis, quam innocentem damnari
- It is better that a crime is left unpunished than that an innocent man
is punished. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Scio cur summae inter se dissentiant! Numeris Romanis utor! – I know
why the numbers don’t agree! I use Roman numerals!
Scito te ipsum – Know yourself
Scribere est agere – To write is to act
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes? – Who watches the watchmen? (Juvenal)
Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet – He who feared he would not succeed
sat still. (For fear of failure, he did nothing.) (Horace)
Semper fidelis – Always faithful (US Marines Motto)
Semper Gumby – Always flexible (United States Air Forces, Europe,
Contracting squadron motto)
Semper idem – Always the same thing. (Cicero)
Semper Letteris Mandate – Always get it in writing!
Semper paratus – Always ready (US Coast Guard Motto)
Semper Primus – Always first (US Army Pathfinder motto)
Semper ubi sub ubi ubique – Always wear underwear everywhere
Sequens mirabitur aetas – The following age will be amazed
Serva me, servabo te – Save me and I will save you. (Petronius Arbiter)
Si fallatis officium, quaestor infitias eat se quicquam scire de factis vestris
- If you fail, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your activities
Si fecisti nega! – If you did it, deny it (stonewall!)
Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit – If the end is good, everything
will be good (all’s well that ends well)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere – If it ain’t broke, don’t fix
it
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes – Essentially it says,
‘if you can read this, you’re overeducated.’
Si post fata venit gloria non propero – If glory comes after death,
I’m not in a hurry (if one must die to be recognised, I can wait)
Si tacuisses, philosophus manisses – If you had kept quiet, you would
have remained a philosopher. (Boethius)
Si vis amari, ama – If you wish to be loved, love. (Seneca)
Si vis pacem, para bellum. If you wish to have peace you
should be prepared for war.
Sic ad nauseam – And so on to the point of causing nausea
Sic faciunt omnes – Everyone is doing it
Sic itur ad astra – Such is the path to the stars (i.e. gain reputation)
(Vergil)
Sic volo, sic iubeo – I want this, I order this. (Juvenalis)
Silent enim leges inter arma – Laws are silent in times of war. (Cicero)
Sine die – Without a day (being set)
Sine ira et studio – Without anger or bias. (Tacitus)
Sine nobilitatis – Without nobility (SNOB)
Sit vis nobiscum – May the Force be with you
Sobria inebrietas – Sober intoxication
Sol omnibus lucet – The sun shines upon us all. (Petronius)
Solitudinem fecerunt, pacem appelunt – They made a desert and called
it peace. (Tacitus)
Sona si latine loqueris – Honk if you speak Latin
Spectaculorum procedere debet – The show must go on
Spemque metumque inter dubiis – Hover between hope and fear. (Vergil)
Spero nos familiares mansuros – I hope we’ll still be friends
Splendor sine occasu – Splendour without end
Status quo ante bellum. – State before the war.
Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes – It is foolish to fear that
which you cannot avoid. (Publilius Syrus)
Sub secreto – In secret
Sub silentio – In silence
Sub sole nihil novi est – There’s nothing new under the sun
Subucula tua apparet – Your slip is showing
Suggestio veri, suggestio falsi – An intimation of truth, an intimation
of falcity
Sui generis – Of one’s own kind
Summa cum laude – With highest honor
Summam scrutemur – Let’s look at the bottom line
Summum ius, summa iniuria – The extreme law is the greatest injustice.
(Cicero)
Sumptus censum ne superet – Let not your spending exceed your income
(live within your means)
Suo jure – In one’s rightful place
Suos cuique mos – Everyone has his customs. (Gellius)
Sursum corda – (lift) up (your) hearts
Suum cuique pulchrum est – To each his own is beautiful. (Cicero)
T
Tam diu minime visu! – Long time, no see!
Tamdiu discendum est, quamdiu vivas – We should learn as long as
we may live. (We live and learn.) (Seneca Philosophus)
Te capiam, cunicule sceleste! – I’ll get you, you wascally wabbit!
Te precor dulcissime supplex! – Pretty please with a cherry on top!
Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis – The times change, and
we change with them. (John Owen)
Tempus edax rerum – Time is the devourer of things (time flies)
Tempus neminem manet – Time waits for no one
Tetigisti acu – You have hit the nail on the head. (Plautus)
Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas – Thank you for not smoking
Timendi causa est nescire – Ignorance is the cause of fear. (Seneca)
Timor mortis conturbat me – The fear of death confounds me
Tintinnuntius meus sonat! – There goes my beeper!
Tolerabiles ineptiae – Bearable absurdities
Totum dependeat – Let it all hang out
Trahimur omnes laudis studio – We are all led on by our eagerness
for praise. (Cicero)
Transit umbra, lux permanet – Shadow passes, light remains (On a
sun dial)
Tu, rattus turpis! – You dirty rat!
Tuis pugis pignore! – You bet your bippy!
U
Ubi amor, ibi oculus – Where love is, there is insight
Ubi dubium ibi libertas – Where there is doubt, there is freedom
Ubi fumus, ibi ignis – Where there’s smoke, there’s fire
Ubi spiritus est cantus est – Where there is spirit there is song
Ubicumque homo est, ibi benefici locus est – Wherever there is a man,
there is a place of/for kindness/service
Ultima ratio regum – The final argument of kings. (Inscription on
French canons in the times of Louis XIV.)
Ultra posse nemo obligatur – No one is obligated beyond what he is
able to do
Un idea perplexi na – The idea is strange to us
Una voce – With one voice, unanimously
Unitam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant – May faulty
logic undermine your entire philosophy
Unitas mirabile vinculum – The wonderful bond of unity
Uno Ab Alto – One over all (US Air Force Motto)
Unum necessarium – The one necessary
Unus multorum – One of many. (Horace)
Urbanus et instructus – A gentleman and a scholar
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas – Although the power
is lacking, the will is commendable. (Ovid)
Ut humiliter opinor – In my humble opinion
Ut incepit fidelis sic permanet – As loyal as she began, so she remains
Ut sementem feceris, ita metes – As you sow, so shall you reap. (Cicero)
Uti, non abuti – To use, not abuse
Utile et dulce – Useful and pleasant
V
Vacca foeda – Stupid cow
Vade in pace – Go in peace (Roman way of saying goodbye)
Vae victis! – Woe to the conquered! (vanquished) (Livy)
Vagans – Cruising
Vale, lacerte! – See you later, alligator!
Variatio delectat – There’s nothing like change! (Cicero)
Velle est posse – To be willing is to be able
Veni vidi vici – I came, I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar)
Veni, Vidi, volo in domum redire – I came, I saw, I want to go home
Venienti occurrite morbo – Meet the misfortune as it comes. (Persius)
Ventis secundis, tene cursum – Go with the flow
Ventis secundis, tene/tenete cursum – The winds being favorable,
hold the course
Verba de futuro – Words about the future
Verba volant, (littera) scripta manet – Words fly away, the written
(letter) remains
Verbum sapienti sat est – A word to the wise is sufficient
Veritas vincit – Truth conquers
Veritas vos liberabit – The truth shall make you free
Verveces tui similes pro ientaculo mihi appositi sunt – I have jerks
like you for breakfast
Vescere bracis meis – Eat my shorts
Vestigia terrent – The footprints frighten me. (Horace)
Vestis virum reddit – The clothes make the man. (Quintilianus)
Veto – I forbid
Via media – A middle way or course
Vice versa – In reverse
Victis honor – Honour to the vanquished
Victoria, non praeda – Victory, not loot
Victurus te saluto – He who is about to win salutes you
Vide et credere – See and believe
Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor – I see the better way and
approve it, but I follow the worse way
Vidistine nuper imagines moventes bonas? – Seen any good movies lately?
Vigilando, agendo, bene consulendo, prospera omnia cedunt – By watching,
by doing, by counsulting well, these things yield all things prosperous. (Sallust)
Vincit omnia amor – Love conquers all
Vincit omnia veritas – Truth conquers all
Vincit qui se vincit – He conquers who conquers himself
Vinculum unitatis – The bond of unity
Vinum bellum iucunumque est, sed animo corporeque caret – It’s a
nice little wine, but it lacks character and depth
Vinum et musica laetificant cor – Wine and music gladden the heart
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit – A wise man does not urinate
against the wind
Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur – That man is wise who talks little
(know when to hold your tongue)
Vires acquirit eundo – It gains strength by going / as it goes. (Virgil)
Virtus in medio stat – Virtue stands in the middle
Virtute et armis – By courage and by arms
Virus – Poison or slime
Vis comica – Sense of humour
Vis medicatrix naturae – The healing power of nature
Visa – Things seen
Vita brevis, ars lunga – Life is short, art is long
Vita luna! – Crazy life!
Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est – Life is more than merely
staying alive
Vita sine libris mors est – Life without books is death
Vitam impendere vero – To risk one’s life for the truth
Vitanda est improba siren desidia – One must steer clear of the wicked
temptress, Laziness. (Horace)
Vitiis nemo sine nascitur – No-one is born without faults. (Horace)
Vivos voco, mortuos plango – I call the living, I mourn the dead
(on a church bell)
Volo, non valeo – I am willing but unable
Vos vestros servate, meos mihi linquite mores – You cling to your
own ways and leave mine to me. (Petrarch)
Vultus est index animi – The face is the index of the soul/mind
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V]