Latin Quotes5

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”)

Even in Arcadia was I.

—  Latin phrase

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

(Arcadia, in Peloponnese, symbolizes Utopia)

He conquers who conquers himself.

—  Latin phrase

Necessity has no law.

—  Latin phrase

Look behind, look here, look ahead.

—  Latin phrase

Bad is the plan that cannot change.

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

The gladiator is formulating his plan in the arena.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

Nothing but the best is good enough.

—  motto of the Air Training Corps and of various schools

Thus one journeys to the stars.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

(i.e. thus one reaches high)

While I breathe, I hope.

—  Latin phrase

No further.

—  Latin phrase

(impassable obstacle)

The mouse does not rely on just one hole.

—  Plautus, c. 254-184 BC, Roman playwright

The workmanship surpassed the material.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

Beaten path, safe path.

—  Latin proverb

It is pleasant to watch the wild sea.

—  Lucretius, 98-55 BC, Roman poet

(from the land…)

You will be safest in the middle.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

There is no security in war.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

You will be safest in the middle.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

Nature does nothing in vain.

—  Latin phrase

Either don’t try at all or make sure you succeed.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

We gather strength as we go.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Actions not words.

—  Latin phrase

Let us be judged by our acts.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

Seize the day.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

Life is in motion.

—  Sundial motto

In the middle of things.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

Do what you do.

—  Latin phrase

(without distractions)

What is said is done.

—  Latin phrase

Hard work conquers all.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

What harms, often teaches.

—  Latin proverb

Now I know what Love is.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Practice is the best teacher.

—  Latin proverb

All change, nothing perishes.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

Woman is ever a fickle and changeable thing.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Nature does not make jumps.

—  Latin phrase

(meaning: natural things and properties change gradually)

Once the necessary changes having been made.

—  Latin phrase

If you want peace, prepare for war.

—  Latin phrase

Ready-Willing-Potent

—  Latin phrase

Always ready.

—  motto of the US Coast Guard

Written orders, always.

—  Latin phrase

Dedicate your life to truth.

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

Do what you do.

—  Latin phrase

(without distractions)

Dripping water hollows out stone.

—  Latin proverb

Much, not many.

—  Latin proverb

(meaning: take much care but not of many things; [replace “take care” with “earn” or whatever])

If the winds fail you, use the oars.

—  Latin phrase

The wolf with his teeth, the bull with his horns.

—  Latin proverb

What always, what everywhere, what by everybody.

—  Saint Vincent of Lerins, 5th century Gallic monk

(determining what Catholics must believe to fight heresy)

Yield not to misfortunes.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

What hurts often instructs.

—  Latin phrase

Fate will find a way.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

Hail, Caesar, those who are about to die salute you.

—  Latin phrase

Where there is unity, there is victory.

—  Latin proverb

Pray and Work.

—  Motto of the Benedictine Order

First, do no harm.

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

(the origin is uncertain; Hippocrates’ works do not include this precise phrase)

Shoemaker, not beyond the show.

—  Apelles, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek painter

(for those who try to pass judgment beyond their expertise)

Divide and conquer.

—  Latin phrase

Let them hate, as long as they fear.

—  Caligula, 12-41 AD, Roman Emperor

(originally a verse by the poet Accius)

No one is able to rule unless he is also able to be ruled.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

Like king, like people.

—  Latin proverb

The governor does not deal with the small stuff.

—  Latin phrase

(or: The law does not concern itself with trifles)

Money is the soul of war.

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

Money does not stink.

—  Vespasian, 9-79 AD, Roman Emperor

A rich man is either a knave, or the heir of a knave.

—  Latin proverb

No one gives what he doesn’t have.

—  Latin phrase

(meaning: the purchase from someone who had no ownership right, cancels the right of the purchaser too)

To possess, not be possessed

—  Gabriele D’ Annunzio, 1863-1938, Italian poet

(originally from Aristippus)

A great fortune is a great slavery.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

Nobody's

—  Latin phrase

(for things like the sun)

Everything with a price.

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

Use the hours, don’t count them.

—  Medieval Sundial Motto

If we may compare small things with great…

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

The corruption of the best is the worst of all.

—  Latin phrase

What nourishes me, destroys me.

—  Christopher Marlowe, 1564-1593, English playwright

(meaning: that which drives a person can consume him from within)

Faster, Higher, Stronger

—  Motto of the Olympic Games

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

Nobody dances sober, unless maybe he is insane.

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

Truth in wine.

—  Pliny the Elder, 23-79 μ.X., Roman natural philosopher

To drink is human, therefore let us drink.

—  Latin phrase

In a sea of delightful wine, a mouse may only die.

—  Latin phrase

(Latin tongue twister)

Everything happens for a reason.

—  Latin phrase

Bad from the good.

—  Latin phrase

Not who but what.

—  Latin proverb

Blessed is he who has been able to know the causes of things.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

The cause is hidden, the result is obvious.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

After this, therefore, because of this.

—  Latin phrase

(logical fallacy)

Upon removal of the cause, the effect is removed.

—  Latin phrase

—  Latin maxim

There is nothing without a reason.

—  Gottfried Leibnitz, 1646-1716, German philosopher & mathematician

The result justifies the deed.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, 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”)

Nothing is blessed in every part.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

He who does not advance, goes backwards.

—  Latin phrase

Fortune is like glass: the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.

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

I came, I saw, I won.

—  Julius Caesar, 100-44 BC, Roman general & Consul

(message to the Senate after his victory over Pharnaces of Pontus in 47 BC)

Where there is unity, there is victory.

—  Latin proverb

To win is everything.

—  Latin phrase

Woe to the vanquished.

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

(said by Brennus, leader of an army of Gauls who captured Rome in 390 BC)

To the victor go the spoils.

—  Latin phrase

The cause of the victors pleased the gods, but the defeat pleased Cato.

—  Lucian, 120-180 AD, Ancient Syrian-Greek satirist

(refers to the fidelity of Cato to Pompey, when he was defeated by Caesar –used to express support for a cause, though defeated)

We are slaves of the law in order to be free.

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

A great fortune is a great slavery.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

Thus one journeys to the stars.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

(i.e. thus one reaches high)

I shall not wholly die.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

If glory comes after death, I hurry not.

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

Thus passes the glory of the world.

—  Latin phrase

Fame flies.

—  Latin proverb

Who is allowed to make mistakes, makes fewer mistakes.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

To err is human.

—  Latin proverb

Splendidly false.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

The die is cast.

—  Julius Caesar, 100-44 BC, Roman general & Consul

(when crossing Rubicon river to attack Rome)

What has been wrongly gained is wrongly lost.

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

Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

The poison is in the tail.

—  Latin phrase

(for something that looks harmless, but is actually bad or dangerous)

O, the times! O, the morals!

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

Poverty is the lack of many things, avarice is the lack of all things.

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

Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus freezes.

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

(meaning: without bread and wine, love freezes)

Carthage must be destroyed!

—  Cato the Elder, 234-149 BC, Roman statesman & writer

(Cato used the phrase as the conclusion to all his speeches)

Hunger sweetens the beans.

—  Latin proverb