The most famous and most significant Latin phrases to dedicate
Latin is a very ancient language that was once spoken all over the world. Although now it is no longer used to communicate, it is still present in our culture and there are many people who every day like to insert quotations, maxims or aphorisms in Latin in their speeches. Here are all the most famous phrases to know. And don't forget to talk to your partner - it's explained in the video below!
The most famous Latin phrases
Latin is a language that was, and still is, the expression of our culture. Today we no longer speak it (with the exception of some environments, such as the religious one) but it is still very present in the Italian language.When we talk to a person it is nice to know how to use some Latin quotes about it, to reinforce the meaning of our words and give authority to the speech. Here is a list of the most famous and most used Latin phrases, with their translation:
Ante litteram.
Before the letter (which runs through the times)
Obtorto neck.
Wrong neck (against the will)
Vox populi, vox Dei.
Voice of the people, voice of God
Way of the cross.
Way of the Cross (i.e. the painful and long path of Christ who starts to crucifixion)
The other way around.
Changed to the contrary
Ad hoc. For this (it's perfect)
Electa una via, non datur recursus ad alteram.
Having chosen one way, it is not allowed to resort to another
Lapsus linguae.
Language error.
Fluctuat nec mergitur.
It is battered by the waves, but it does not sink.
The motto of the city of Paris
Honoris causa.
For reasons of honor (academic recognition awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in a particular subject)
Mindset. Mind shape (it's the way of thinking)
Mutatis mutandis.
Changed the things that need to be changed (i.e. changed the things that need to be changed)
Ad maiora!
Towards greater things! (to be used as a wish for future new successes)
Conditio sine qua non.
Necessary condition
Mors your life mea.
Your death is my life (your defeat is my victory)
Quotations from the great Latin authors
This is a collection of quotes and aphorisms taken from the works of the most important Latin authors:
Ars longa, vita brevis.
Art is long, life is short. Lucio Anneo Seneca
Scientia potentia est.
Knowledge is power. Francis Bacon
Errare humanum est, persevere autem diabolicum.
To err is human, but to persevere is diabolical. Augustine of Hippo
Oderint dum metuant.
May they hate me as long as they fear me. Caligula
Labor omnia vincit.
Fatigue wins everything. Virgil
Amicum cum vides obliviscere miserias.
When you see a friend, forget about misfortunes. Appio Claudio Blind
Nemo propheta at home.
No one is a prophet in [his] homeland. (from the Gospel)
Noli me tangere. Don't touch me (from the gospel)
Omnia praeclara rare.
All exalted things are rare. Marco Tullio Cicerone
Accipere quam facere praestat iniuriam.
It is better to suffer injustice than to do it. Marco Tullio Cicerone
Senectus insanabilis morbus est.
Old age is an incurable disease. Lucio Anneo Seneca
The famous Latin phrases themed wisdom
Latin civilization was the cradle of Western wisdom. Numerous philosophers, writers and intellectuals have left us the works in which they expounded their reflections on life, death and wisdom. These are the most significant quotes and aphorisms:
Absentem edit cum inebrio qui litigat.
Arguing with a drunk is like arguing with someone who is not present. Publilius Syrus
Si vis pacem, para iustitiam.
If you want peace, prepare justice
Perfer et obdura: multo graviora tulisti.
Endure and persevere; much more serious things you endured. Publius Ovid Naso
Errare humanum est, persevere autem diabolicum.
Making mistakes is human, but persevering in making mistakes is diabolical
Etiam capillus unus habet umbram suam.
Even a single hair has its shadow (i.e. everything leaves a trace). Publilius Syrus
Melius abundare quam deficere.
Better to abound than to lack
Cogito ergo sum.
I think therefore I am. Descartes
Mala tempora currunt sed peiora parantur.
There are bad times, but worse ones are being prepared
Omne ignotum pro magnificent.
All that is unknown is sublime. Tacit
Ars aemula naturae.
Art emulates nature. Apuleius
Non nobis solum nati sumus.
We weren't born only for ourselves. Marco Tullio Cicerone
Proverbs and quotations from the Latin popular tradition
Ubi maior minor cessat.
Where there is the greater, the lesser lapses (it is used when in the presence of a more powerful person, the one who has less power loses its importance).
Habere non haberi.
To own and not to be possessed
Carpe Diem. Catch the moment
Si vis pacem, para bellum.
If you want peace, prepare for war
At the end.
The dessert comes at the end of the meal
Pray and work.
Pray and work
Quos Deus perd vult, dementat prius.
Those the gods want to destroy first drive them mad
Pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est, si nescis, dominates.
If you know how to use money, you need it, if you don't know how to use it, you are masters
Amicus omnibus, amicus nemini.
Friend of all, friend of none
One pro puncto caruit Martinus Asello.
For a point Martin lost his hood
Una hirundo non facit ver.
A swallow does not make spring
Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant.
Hail, Caesar, those who go to die greet you. (And "the sentence pronounced by the gladiators before the games started)
Frangar, don't flectar.
I break, but I don't fold
Here scit sanare scit destruere.
Who knows how to heal knows how to destroy
The most famous Latin phrases about love, luck and life
These are the most beautiful and most famous phrases that Latin poets and philosophers have dedicated to love, luck and, in general, to all the passions of man. To always live to the fullest, day after day, as the ancient sages teach. Latin, as we know, is the language at the base of our Italian, therefore we all already know many of these quotes (or have heard of them).
Homo homini lupus.
Man is a wolf to other men. Plautus
Pulvis et umbra sumus.
We are dust and shadow. Fifth Orazio Flacco
Nec sine te, nec tecum vive possum.
I cannot live with you, nor without you. Publius Ovid Naso
Odero, yes I could; yes not, invitus amabo.
I will hate you if I can; otherwise I will love you in spite of myself. Publius Ovid Naso
Omnia tempus habent.
Everything has its time
Mors last line rerum est.
Death is the limit of everything. Fifth Orazio Flacco
Omnia vincit amor.
Love wins over everything. Virgil
Hecce omo. here's the man
Quod non vetat lex, hoc vetat proud modesty.
What the law does not prohibit, shame forbids. Lucio Anneo Seneca
De mortuis nihil nisi bonum.
Nothing is said about the dead but good. Chilo
Nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari
Nothing is so strong that it cannot be won with money. Marco Tullio Cicerone
Homo faber fortunae suae.
Man is the architect of his own fate. Appio Claudio Blind
Animum debes mutare, not caelum.
It is the soul that you have to change, not the sky under which you live. Lucio Anneo Seneca
Fama nihil est celerius.
Nothing is faster than fame. Tito Livio
Regnabo, Regno, regnavi, sum sine Regno.
I will reign, kingdom, I reigned, I am without a kingdom.
(this is the motto that accompanied the depictions of the wheel of fortune)
Forma bonum fragile est.
Beauty is a fragile good. Publius Ovid Naso
Memento homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris.
Remember man, what dust you are and dust you will return. From the Bible
Memento audere semper.
Remember always to dare. Gabriele D'Annunzio (although D'Annunzio was not Latin this is one of the most famous quotes)
Amor est vitae essentia.
Love is the essence of life
Amor caecus.
Love is blind
Nihil hard puto lovers.
Nothing is difficult for those who love. Marco Tullio Cicerone
