We are but dust and shadow.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

I am human: Nothing human is alien to me.

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

Hard work conquers all.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Let there be light.

—  Old Testament ‐ Genesis 1:3

(from the Vulgate)

Bad from the good.

—  Latin phrase

All good from God, all evil from man.

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

An evil thing known is best.

—  Latin phrase

Art is long, life is short.

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

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

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

Life is one long struggle in the dark.

—  Lucretius, 98-55 BC, Roman poet

Life is in motion.

—  Sundial motto

Life flows away as it seems to stay the same.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

Remember death.

—  Latin phrase

Let us live, since we must die.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

Death has the last word.

—  Latin proverb

Death equals all things.

—  Latin phrase

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

—  Latin phrase

Death is certain, the hour is not certain.

—  Latin phrase

I shall not wholly die.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

They lived.

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

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

One night awaits everyone.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

So potent was Religion in persuading to do wrong.

—  Lucretius, 98-55 BC, Roman poet

It is certainly no part of religion to compel religion.

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

God wills.

—  Latin phrase

(the motto of the Christian warriors in the Crusades)

Leave all else to the gods.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

The gods are on the side of the stronger.

—  Tacitus, 55-120 AD, Roman historian

What the gods want happens soon.

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

First of all, worship the gods.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Called or not called, God is present.

—  Erasmus, 1469-1536, Dutch humanist

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

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

The king can do no wrong.

—  Latin proverb

Abuse does not cancel use.

—  Latin phrase

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

Pray and Work.

—  Motto of the Benedictine Order

I believe because it is absurd.

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

What always, what everywhere, what by everybody.

—  Saint Vincent of Lerins, 5th century Gallic monk

(determining what Catholics must believe to fight heresy)

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

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Get off my back, Satan

—  Gospel of Mark ‐ 8:33

(from the Vulgate, spoken by Jesus to Peter)

Everything unknown seems magnificent.

—  Tacitus, 55-120 AD, Roman historian

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”)

Dedicate your life to truth.

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

Truth does not blush.

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

Thus passes the glory of the world.

—  Latin phrase

Night, shortly.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

Even in Arcadia was I.

—  Latin phrase

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

(Arcadia, in Peloponnese, symbolizes Utopia)

Use the hours, don’t count them.

—  Medieval Sundial Motto

Art is long, life is short.

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

All hours wound, the last one kills.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

Time devours everything.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

Eternity is hinged upon this moment.

—  Medieval Sundial Motto

Time flies without return.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

It’s later than you think.

—  Sundial motto

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

—  Medieval Sundial motto

Unto the ages of ages.

—  Latin phrase

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

I have made a monument more lasting than bronze.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

We are all sprung from a heavenly seed.

—  Lucretius, 98-55 BC, Roman poet

Truth hates delay.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

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

—  Medieval Sundial motto

If glory comes after death, I hurry not.

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

Better late than never.

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

Faster, Higher, Stronger

—  Motto of the Olympic Games

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

He who gives quickly, gives double.

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

Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over!

—  Augustus, 63 BC-14 AD, Roman Emperor

(a little before his death)

All hours wound, the last one kills.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

The end crowns the work.

—  Latin phrase

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

What harms, often teaches.

—  Latin proverb

One should learn even from one's enemies.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

What hurts often instructs.

—  Latin phrase

The man who sleeps does not sin.

—  Latin proverb

Nature abhors a vacuum.

—  Latin phrase

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)

Beaten path, safe path.

—  Latin proverb

The beginnings of all things are small.

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

New order of the ages.

—  motto on the Great Seal of the United States

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

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

Dog does not eat dog.

—  Latin proverb

If we may compare small things with great…

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Extreme justice [means] extreme injustice.

—  Latin phrase

Homeland is where your life is good.

—  Latin phrase

Abuse does not cancel use.

—  Latin phrase

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

Remember death.

—  Latin phrase

Nothing is certain to men.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

The life of a human being is like a shadow.

—  Medieval Sundial motto

Even in Arcadia was I.

—  Latin phrase

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

(Arcadia, in Peloponnese, symbolizes Utopia)

Always the same.

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

He who does not advance, goes backwards.

—  Latin phrase

Nothing is new under the sun.

—  Latin phrase

An exception tests the rule as to things not excepted.

—  Latin phrase