| Saying/Proverb |
Translation |
Notes |
| Acta est fabula, plaudite. |
Literally:
The drama has been acted out, applaud. |
"The play is over, applaud".
Said to have been the last words of the Emperor
Augustus Caesar.
(Lived 63 BC-AD 14) |
| Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora. |
Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow. |
English equivalent:
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| Aegrescit medendo. |
The disease worsens with the treatment. |
English equivalent:
The remedy is worse than the disease. |
| A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi. |
A precipice in front, wolves behind. |
English equivalent:
Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
(or)
Between a rock and a hard place. |
| Alea iacta est. |
The die is cast. |
i.e. an irretrievable step has been taken.
Julius Caesar said this as he crossed the Rubicon in
49 BC. |
| Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi. |
The deepest rivers flow with the least sound. |
English equivalent:
Still waters run deep. |
| Amor patriae ducit. |
Love of [my] country leads me. |
|
| Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. |
I'll either find a way or make one. |
Quotation from the Carthaginian general, Hannibal
Barca.
(Lived c. 247-183 BC) |
| Aut vincere aut mori. |
Either to conquer or to die. |
|
| Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant. |
Hail, Caesar, those who are about to die salute you. |
Salutation of Roman gladiators on entering the arena. |
| Carpe diem. |
Seize the day. |
i.e. Seize the opportunity.
This is from a longer quotation from Horace
(see below). |
| Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero |
Seize the day, trust as little as possible in
tomorrow. |
Quotation from the Roman poet Horace.
(Lived 65-8 BC) |
| Cave canem. |
Beware of the dog. |
|
| Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui. |
Beware what you say, when, and to whom. |
|
| Cogito ergo sum. |
I think, therefore I am. |
Quotation from the philosopher René Descartes.
(Lived
1596-1650) |
| Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent. |
Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless. |
|
| De duobus malis, minus est semper
eligendum. |
Literally:
Of two evils, the lesser is always to be chosen. |
"One should always choose the lesser of two evils".
From The Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis.
(Lived 1380-1471) |
| Delenda est Carthago. |
Carthage must be destroyed. |
Quotation from Cato the Elder.
(Lived 234-149 BC) |
| Deus vobiscum. |
God be with you. |
|
| Dimidium facti qui coepit habet. |
A work that is begun well is already
half done. |
Quotation from the Roman poet Horace.
(Lived 65-8 BC) |
| Dixi. |
I have spoken. |
Meaning "...and that is the end of the matter". |
| Docendo discimus. |
We learn by teaching. |
Quotation from Seneca the Younger, the Roman
playwright.
(Lived c. 4 BC-AD 65) |
| Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos. |
As long as you are successful, you will have many
friends. |
Quotation from the Roman poet Ovid.
(Lived 43 BC-AD 17) |
| Domine, dirige nos. |
O Lord, direct us. |
Motto of the city of London. |
| Dominus illuminatio mea. |
The Lord is my light. |
Motto of Oxford University. |
| Dominus providebit. |
The Lord will provide. |
|
| Dulce bellum inexpertis. |
War is sweet to those not acquainted
with it. |
A proverb quoted by Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536),
and which originated with the Greek poet Pindar.
(Lived c. 518-c. 438 BC) |
| Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. |
It is sweet and seemly to die for
one's country. |
Quotation from the Roman poet Horace.
(Lived 65-8 BC) |
| Dum spiro spero. |
While I breathe I hope. |
English equivalent:
While there's life there's hope. |
| Dura lex sed lex. |
The law is hard, but it is the law. |
|
| Et tu, Brute? |
You also, Brutus? |
Said to be Julius Caesar's dying words.
(Lived 100-44 BC) |
| Exitus acta probat. |
The result validates the deeds. |
English equivalent:
The end justifies the means. |
| Fac recte
et nil time. |
Do rightly and fear
nothing. |
|
| Facta non verba. |
Deeds, not words. |
English equivalent:
Actions speak louder than words. |
| Festina lente. |
Hasten slowly. |
English equivalent:
More haste, less speed.
Quotation from Suetonius.
(Lived c. AD 69-140) |
| Fortes fortuna iuvat. |
Fortune favours the brave. |
Quotation from the Roman historian Livy.
(Lived 59 BC- AD17) |
| Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo. |
Resolutely in action, gently in manner. |
|
| Gallia est omnis divisa in partes
tres. |
Gaul as a whole is divided into three parts. |
The first sentence of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars
(De Bello Gallico). |
| Gutta cavat lapidem, consomitur annulus usu. |
Drops of water hollow out a stone, a ring is worn
thin by use. |
English equivalent:
Falling water wears away stone. |
| In bello parvis momentis magni casus
intercedunt. |
In war great events are caused by small things. |
Quotation from
Julius Caesar's De Bello Gallico. |
| Labor omnia vincit. |
Work overcomes all things. |
|
| Ligna ferre in silvam. |
To carry logs to the wood. |
English equivalent:
To carry coals to Newcastle. |
| Nemo me impune lacessit. |
No one provokes me with impunity. |
Motto of the Crown of Scotland and of all Scottish regiments. |
| Ne supra crepidam sutor iudicaret. |
Let the cobbler not judge above his sandal. |
English equivalent:
Let the cobbler stick to his last
i.e. Do not give (or take) advice beyond someone's expertise. |
| Nihil tam absurde dici potest, quod non dicatur ab
aliquo philosophorum. |
There is nothing so absurd but some philosopher has
said it. |
Quotation from
the Roman orator and philosopher, Marcus Tullius Cicero.
(Lived 106-43 BC) |
| Non sine pulvere palma. |
The prize cannot be won without effort. |
|
| Non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum. |
Do not take as gold everything that shines like gold. |
English equivalent:
All that glitters is not gold. |
| Nondum omnium dierum sol occidit. |
The sun has not yet set for ever. |
English equivalent:
It's not the end of the world.
Quotation from the Roman historian Livy.
(Lived 59 BC- AD17) |
| Nulli secundus. |
Second to none. |
|
| Orta recens quam pura
nites. |
Newly risen, how brightly
you shine. |
Motto of New South Wales. |
| Per ardua ad astra. |
Through difficulties to the stars. |
Motto of the R.A.F. |
| Pisces natare oportet. |
Fish must swim. |
i.e. Everyone acts according to their nature.
Quotation from the Roman writer Petronius.
(Lived c. AD 27-66) |
| Potius mori quam foedari. |
Rather to die than to be dishonoured. |
English equivalent:
Death before dishonour. |
| Praemonitus pramunitus. |
Forewarned, forearmed. |
English equivalent:
Forewarned is forearmed. |
| Qui scribit bis legit. |
He who writes reads twice. |
|
| Qui tacet, consentire videtur |
He who is silent seems to agree. |
English equivalent: Silence implies consent. |
| Quid novi ex Africa? |
What's new from Africa? |
Later shortened to "Quid novi?" (i.e. "What's the
news?")
Derived from a quotation from Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and
scientist.
(Lived 384-322 BC) |
| Respice, adspice, prospice. |
Examine the past, examine the present, examine the
future. |
Motto of the City University of New York. |
| Respondeat superior. |
Let the superior answer. |
|
| Salvam fac reginam, O
Domine. |
God save the queen. |
|
| Semper fidelis. |
Always faithful. |
Motto of the U.S. Marine Corps. |
| Semper paratus. |
Always prepared. |
|
| Si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nos? |
If God is for us, who can be against
us? |
Romans 8:31. |
| Sol omnibus lucet. |
The same sun shines on us all. |
Quotation from the Roman writer Petronius.
(Lived c. AD 27-66) |
| Tempora mutantur, et
nos mutamur in illis. |
Times change, and we change with them. |
Harrison, Description of Britain,
1577. |
| Tempus fugit. |
Time flies. |
|
| Tetigisti acu. |
You have touched the point with a needle. |
English equivalent:
You have hit the nail on the head
(or)
You have put your finger on the spot. |
| Tolle lege. |
Take up and read. |
Words of a child's song, heard by Augustine of Hippo,
and which were instrumental in his conversion to Christianity.
(Augustine lived AD 354-430) |
| Ut sementem feceris ita metes. |
As you sow, so shall you reap. |
Quotation from the Roman orator and philosopher,
Marcus Tullius Cicero.
(Lived 106-43 BC) |
| Vade in pace. |
Go in peace. |
|
| Veni, vidi, vici. |
I came, I saw, I conquered. |
Julius Caesar's announcement of the
victory of Zela which concluded the Pontic campaign (47 BC). |
| Veritas vincit. |
Truth conquers. |
Motto of the Keith clan. |
| Veritas vos liberabit. |
The truth shall make you free. |
John 8:32. |
| Vincit qui se vincit. |
He conquers who conquers himself. |
|
| Volens et valens. |
Willing and able. |
|
| Vulgo enim dicitur: Iucunde acti labores. |
For it is commonly said: accomplished labours are
pleasant. |
Quotation from De Finibus by Cicero.
(Lived 106-43 BC) |
