Famous Latin quotes and sayings, with English translation.

"Forma viros neglecta decet - neglect of appearance becomes men." - Ovid.

"Longum iter est per præcepta, breve et efficax per exempla - Teaching by precept is a long road, but brief and beneficial is the way by example." - Seneca.

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - It is sweet and proper to die for one's country." - used ironically in a poem by Wilfred Owen from an Ode by Horace

"Vini, vidi, vici - I came, I saw, I conquered." - Julius Caesar.

"Acta est fabula, plaudite! - The play is over, applaud!" - last words of Emperor Augustus.

"Scio me nihil scire - I know that I know nothing," Socrates, translated from the Greek to Latin, and then from Latin to English.

"Memoria est thesaurus omnium rerum e custos -  Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things." - Cicero.

"Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas - Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses." - Ovid.

"Facte nova virtute, puer; sic itur ad astra - Go on and increase in valour, young man; thus is the path to the stars." - Virgil.

"Virtus est medium vitiorum et utrinque reductum - Virtue is the middle between two vices, and is equally removed from either extreme." - Horace.

"Semita certe tranquillæ per virtutem patet unica vitæ - only one path in this life leads to tranquility: the path of virtue." - Juvenal

"Absentem qui rodit amicum, qui non defendit, alio culpante; hic niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto - He who attacks an absent friend, or who does not defend him when spoken ill of by another; that man is a dark character; you, Romans, beware of him." - Horace

"Abstineas igitur damnandis; hujus enim vel una potens ratio est, ne crimina nostra sequantur ex nobis geniti; quoniam dociles imitandis turpibus ac pravis omnes sumus - Let us refrain from doing ill; for one powerful reason, lest our children should follow our crimes; we are all too prone to imitate whatever is base and depraved." - Juvenal) 

"Et tu, Brute (filie mi) - And you, Brutus (son of mine)." Said by Julius Caesar to Brutus who was aboout to assisinate him.

Anonymous Latin proverbs and maxims

"Scientia est potentia - Knowledge is power."

"Mundas vult decipi - The world wants to be deceived."

"Errantem in viam reductio - lead the wanderer back into the right way."

"Nec habeo, nec careo, nec curo -  I have not, I want not, I care not."

"Via trita, via tuta - The beaten path is the safe path."

"mox nox - night is approaching (soon night)."

"sunt pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant - children are children, and children occupy themselves with childish things."

"ad præsens ova cras pullis sunt meliora - a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"

"Accipe nunc, victus tenuis quid quantaque secum afferat. In primis valeas bene. - now learn what and how great benefit a moderate diet brings with it. Before all, you will enjoy good health." - Horace

"Amicus est unus animus in duobus corporibus - a friend is one soul in two bodies."

Latin words and phrases

aretê - the highest Greek ideal, translated into Roman thought as the maintenance of balance between social duties and honour gained through heroic acts.

amabilis insania - an amiable insanity

aurea mediocritas - the golden mean.

canis in præsepi - a dog in the manger

caveat emptor - let the buyer beware.

caveat lector! - caution reader!

delectando pariterque monendo - delights, at the same time, instructs

honos - honour, the highest Roman ideal.

virtus - virtue.

fides - faith.

magnanimitas - greatness of spirit.

tabula rasa - blank slate.