Latin Sayings and Quotations

Study Sheet

Rīdent stolidī verba Latīna. ~ Ovid

Fools laugh at the Latin language.

Saepe creat mollīs aspera spīna rosās. ~ Ovid

Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses.

Nōn est astra mollis ē terrīs via. ~ Seneca

There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.

Salūs populī suprēma lēx. ~ Cicero

The safety of the people is the highest law.

Absēns hērēs nōn erit.

The absent person will not be an heir.

Quōs amor vērus tenuit, tenēbit. ~ Seneca

Those whom true love has held, it will go on holding.

Materiam superābat opus. ~ Ovid

The workmanship was better than the subject matter.

Mendācem oportet esse memorem. ~ Quintilian

A liar must be good at remembering.

Patria est commūnis omnium parēns. ~ Cicero

Our native land is the common parent of us all.

Stultum est timēre quod vitāre nōn potes. ~ Publilius Syrus

It is foolish to fear that which you cannot avoid.

Culpam poena permit comes. ~ Horace

Punishment closely follows crime as its companion.

Ut sēmentem fēceris ita metēs. ~ Cicero

As you will have sown so will you reap.

Ignōscitō saepe aliīs, numquam tibi.

Forgive others often, yourself never.

Quī nōn prōficit, dēficit.

The one who does not advance falls behind.

Ipsa scientia potestās est. ~ Bacon

Knowledge itself is power.

Fallācēs sunt rērum speciēs. ~ Seneca

The appearances of things are deceptive.

Potest ex casā magnus vir exīre. ~ Seneca

A great man can come from a cabin.

Praeceptōrēs suōs adulēscens venerātur et suspicit. ~ Seneca

Young people respect and look up to their teachers.

Possunt quia posse videntur. ~ Virgil

They can because they think they can.

Crēdula vitam spēs fovet et melius crās fore simper dīcit. ~ Tibullus

Credulous hope supports our life and always says that tomorrow will be better.

Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet. ~ Curtius Rufus

A timid dog barks more violently than it bites.

Propria domus omnium optima.

One’s own home is the best of all.

Curta supellex

Scanty furniture, i.e., “not much upstairs”; ignorance or stupidity

Dē gustibus nōn est disputandum.

One ought not to argue about tastes.

Fervet olla, vīvit amicitia.

As long as the pot boils, friendship is alive.

Pānis fādix vinum cēna pauperōrum.

Bread, turnip, wine: the dinner of the poor.

Fabās indulcet famēs.

Hunger sweetens beans.

Aqua profunda est quiēta.

Deep water is calm. (Still waters run deep.)

in locō parentis

in the place of a parent

Maxima dēbētur puerō reverential. ~ Juvenal

The greatest respect is due a child.

Experientia docet.

Experience teaches.

Lānam fēcit, domī mānsit.

(Epitaph of a good wife) She did her wool; she stayed at home.

Cēdant arma togae.

Let arms yield to the toga.

Vestis bona quaerit habēri.

A good garment seeks to be worn.

Mēns sāna in corpore sānō ~ Juvenal

A sound mind in a sound body

Ars grātiā artis

Art for art’s sake

Vulnerātus nōn victus.

Wounded but not conquered.

Moritūrī tē salūtāmus.

We, destined to die, salute you (the opening greeting of gladiators to the

giver of the games)

Festīnā lentē. (A proverb frequently quoted by the emperor Augustus)

Make haste slowly.

Via trīta, via tūta.

The beaten path is the safe one.

Mare liberum.

The sea (is) free (to all).

Deō volente

God willing

Dō ut dēs.

I give so that you will give.

Crambē bis cocta

Cabbage twice cooked (i.e. the same old story)

Dum vita est, spēs est.

While there is life there is hope.

Ars longa, vīta brevis. ~ Hippocrates

The science is long; a lifetime is short.

Dē mortuīs nīl nisi bonum.

(Say) nothing but good of the dead.

Fortūna sequātur!

Let fortune follow (Good luck to the project)!

Labor omnia vincit.

Hard work overcomes everything.

Magnum opus

A great work, (i.e.) a masterpiece