The most famous Latin quotes of all time, from Seneca, Julius Caesar, Ovid, Horace and many others. Learn from the wisdom of the ancients. Each quote is given in Latin, and is immediately followed by the 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."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."
Some 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.