LATIN AND GREEK PHRASES FOR TRADITIONAL CATHOLICS TRADITIO Traditional Roman Catholic Network E-mail: traditio@traditio.com, Web: www.traditio.com Copyright 1999-2024 CSM. Reproduction prohibited without authorization. Last Updated: 10/09/24 A CONTRARIO. On the contrary. A FORTIORI. By logical (all the more). A FRONTE PRAECIPITIUM, A TERGO LUPI. In front, a precipice; in the rear, wolves. (Cf. "between Scylla and Charybdis) A FURORE NORMANNORUM, LIBERA NOS, DOMINE. From the fury of the Normans, spare us, Lord. A PARI. By analogy (similar case). AB INFRA. From within. AB OPPOSITO. From the opposed [point of view]. AB OVO USQUE AD MALA. From soup to nuts (lit., from the egg to the apples). ABI ET DISCE LATINE LOQUI, NON EST MEUM IN HOC LOCO AUDIRE ALIQUEM NISI LATINE LOQUENTEM. Go away and learn to speak in Latin; it is not for me in this place to listen to anyone except one speaking in Latin. (Professor of Rhetoric at Christ Church, Oxford, to Robert Foulke in 1725) ABSIT. God forbid (lit., let it be gone). ABSIT INIURIA VERBI. May injury of word be absent (like saying "with all due respect" before an uncomplimentary statement). ABUSUS NON TOLLIT USUM. Wrong use does not take way proper use. (Just because something is abused, it should not be taken away from those who use it properly.) --Legal ACERBUM SANE ET LUCTUOSUM NUNTIUM. Bitter and lamentable news. AD CAUTELAM. For safety('s sake). ("To be on the safe side.") AD EXPERIMENTUM. As an experiment. AD HOC IPSUM CONSTITUTA. Constituted for this very purpose (e.g., an "ad hoc" committee). AD IMPOSSIBILE NEMO TENETUR. No one is held to an impossibility. --Theological AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM (A.M.D.G.). To the greater glory of God. --St. Ignatius Loyola (Jesuit motto) AD MEDULLAM FIDEI: To the marrow of the faith. AD MULTOS (ET FAUSTISSIMOS) ANNOS. To many (and very fortunate) years. (Said by a newly consecrated bishop to the consecrating bishop at the end of the Rite of Consecration of a Bishop) AD MULTOS ANNOS, ET MULTO PLURES. To many years, and many more years. AD NUTUM EPISCOPI. At a nod from the bishop. AD REM. To the point. AD SANITATEM GRADUS EST NOVISSE MORBUM. A step toward health is to have known illness. AD (IN) USUM DELPHINI. For the use of the Dauphin (i.e., expurgated). AD REM. To the subject (vs. ad hominem, to the man). ADDE PARVUM PARVO -- MAGNUS ACERVUS ERIT. Add little to little - - there will be a great heap. ADEUNT ETIAM OPTIMA. The best is yet to be. ADHUC SUB IUDICE LIS EST. The dispute is still under judgment. AD IMPOSSIBILIA NEMO TENETUR. No one is held to the impossible. --Legal ADMIRATIO POPULI. Amazement of the people. ADVOCATUS DIABOLI (PROMOTOR FIDEI). Devil's advocate (promotor of the faith). ADVOCATUS NASCITUR, NON FIT. A lawyer is born, not made. -- Cicero AEQUAM SERVARE MENTEM. To keep one's cool (lit., to keep an even temper). After Horace, Odes: aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem (remember to keep a even temper in difficulties. AEQUITAS LEGEM SEQUITUR. Equal justice under law (lit., Equity follows the law) (Legal) AGE QUOD AGIS. Do what you do (well); pay attention to what you are doing. ALEA IACTA EST. The die has been cast. --Julius Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon, as quoted by Suetonius in the Vita Divi Iuli 33 as "Iacta alea est." Plutarch (Caesar 32:6, Pompey 60:2) has "Anerriphtho kybos," Let the die be cast, from a Menander play: "It's time to roll the dice." The saying has a double meaning: (1) the decision has been made (the die has been cast), (2) the result is in the air (let the game be ventured). ALIQUANDO BONUS DORMITAT HOMERUS. Sometimes good Homer dozes (in other words, even the best people slip sometimes). --Horace ALTA DIE SOLO NON EST EXTRUCTA CORINTHUS. Lofty Corinthus was not built in a single day. --Anonymous ALTER IDEM AMICISSIMUS. Another self most friendly. AMAT VICTORIA CURAM. Victory favors those who take pains (lit., victory loves care). --Roman proverb AMICUS ANIMAE DIMIDIUM. A friend is the half of one's soul. -- St. Augustine AMICUS CERTUS IN RE INCERTA CERNITUR. A true friend is discerned in an uncertain matter. ("A friend in need is a friend indeed.") --Ennius as quoted by Cicero, De Amicitia, 17:64 AMOR CAECUS EST. Love is blind. AMOR ORDINEM NESCIT. Love does not know order. -- St. Jerome, Epistulae, 7:6 AMOR PLATONICUS. Platonic love. ANIMA NATURALITER CHRISTIANA. A soul naturally Christian (A proto-Christian, before Christ had been born, like Vergil) ANNUIT COEPTIS. He favors (our) undertakings [motto on reverse of the Great Seal of the United States]. --Adapted from Vergil, Aeneid IX.625 and Georgics I.40 ANNUS PAUCA IN VERBA REDACTUS. The year summarized into a few words. APEX EST AUTEM SENECTUTIS AUCTORITIAS. The crowning glory of old age is respect. --Cicero, De Senectute, 60 ARDUUM SANE MUNUS. A truly arduous task. ARS EST CELARE ARTEM. Art consists in concealing art. --Horace ARS PERDITA. A lost art. ASTRA INCLINANT, NON NECESSITANT (COGUNT). The stars incline; they do not determine (force). (An astrological principle.) AT EST BONUS, UT MELIOR VIR NON ALIUS QUISQUAM, AT TIBI AMICUS. But he is a good man, so that not another man is better, but he is your friend. --Horace, Sermones, 1:3:32-3 ATQUE IN PERPETUUM, FRATER, AVE ATQUE VALE. And forever, brother, hail and farewell. --Catullus, CI.10 AUCTOR IURA SUA EX LEGIBUS SIBI VINDICAT (OMNIA IURA SIBI VINDICAT AUCTOR, OMNIA IURA RESERVANTUR): The author claims for himself his legal rights under the law (the author claims all rights for himself, all rights are reserved). AUDENTIS FORTUNA IUVAT. Fortune helps the daring. --Vergil, Aeneid X.284 (cf. FORTES FORTUNA IUVAT, Terence, Phormio 203, Pliny Epistulae VI.xvi.11) AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM. Listen to the other side. AUDIATUR ET ALTERA PARS. Let the other side also be heard. AUREAM MEDIOCRITATEM. Golden mean. --Horace AUT CAESAR AUT NIHIL. Either Caesar or nothing. AUT DISCE AUT DISCEDE. Either learn or leave. AVE, IMPERATOR, MORITURI TE SALUTAMUS. Hail, Caesar; we who are about to die salute you. BARBARUS (MIHI CREDE) EST SERMO FERE OMNIS PRAETER LATINUM. All language (trust me) is well nigh barbaric beside Latin. --15th century British manuscript BENE EXEAT. May it turn out well. BENE LEGERE SAECLA VINCERE. To read well is to master the ages. --Prof. Emeritus Isaac Flagg, University of California, inscribed over the north portal of Loan Hall, Doe Library, University of California) BENE MERITUS. Well deserved. BENE SCRIPSISTI DE ME, THOMA. QUAM MERCEDEM HABEBIS? NIL NISI TE, DOMINE. (God of St. Thomas Aquinas) BENE TIBI SIT: Let it be well with you. --After Ps. 127(KJV 128):2 BENE VALEATIS ATQUE MEA QUAMVIS MODESTA CONSILIA ET OPERA BENIGNIUS RECORDEMINI. May you be well and remember somewhat kindly my however modest advice and works. --Van L. Johnson, former President of the American Classical League BIS DAT QUI CITO DAT. He give twice who gives quickly. BIS ORAT QUI BENE CANTAT. He prays twice who sings well. --St. Augustine of Canterbury (apud St. Bede the Venerable, "Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum") BIS PECCAT QUI CRIMEN NEGAT. He sins twice who denies the crime. --Theological maxim BONA VENATIO. Good hunting! BONAE LITTERAE. Philosophy, theology, history, and literature. [Studies that Renaissance humanists, returning to the classical writers of Greece and Rome, considered interrelated and necessary at the heart and soul of a good education, if one were to lead a country that aspired to be just, free, and self-governing.] BONUM ALTERIUS. The good of another. BONUM EST FACIENDUM ET PROSEQUENDUM, ET MALUM VITANDUM. (The end of human conduct) is to do and pursue good and to avoid evil. - -St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Ia IIae, Qu. 64, A. 1 BONUM EX INTEGRA CAUSA, MALUM EX QUOCUMQUE DEFECTU. Good exists only if the thing is entirely good; evil, where there is one sole fault (lit., [an act is] good from the complete cause; [an act is] evil from any defect whatever). [The axiom of Pseudo-Dionysius: of (1) the moral purpose of the act (finis operis); (2) the moral intention of the actor (finis operantis); (3) the moral circumstances of the act.] -- Pseudo-Dionysius BONUM, VERUM, PULCHRUM. The good, the true, the beautiful. BREVIA FERAMUS INCOMMODA. Let us put up with brief annoyances. --Seneca, De Ira, III.43 CAELUM VIDERE IUSSIT, ET ERECTOS AD SIDERA TOLLERE VULTUS. He bid them to look at the sky and to lift their faces upright to the stars. --Ovid CAPIAS PRO FINE. That you take for the fine. [A writ of execution for collection of a fine.] --Legal CAPUT ARTIS DECERE. The essence of art is to be appropriate. CAPUT MUNDI. (Rome,) head of the world. CARITAS AMICITIA QUAEDAM EST HOMINIS AD DEUM. Charity is a kind of love of man for God. --St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, IIa IIae, Qu. 23, A. 1 CARITAS URGET NOS. Charity urges us. CARPE DIEM, QUAM MINIMUM CREDULA POSTERO. Enjoy the day, trusting as little as possible in the future. --Horace, Odes I.11 (often mistranslated "seize the day") CASTA FUIT, DOMUM SERVAVIT, LANAM FECIT. She was faithful to her husband, she looked after the home, she spun wool. --A Roman woman's tombstone CASUS BELLI. The occasion (event that occasioned) of war. CASUS COMPLEXUS, CASUS PERPLEXUS. A complex case, a perplexing case. CASUS CONSCIENTIAE. A case of conscience. CAUSA ARTIUM ALIT SCIENTIAM. The cause of the arts nourishes science. --Motto of the Classical Association of the Atlantic States CAUSA CELEBRATIONIS. A cause of celebration. CAVE ANCILLAM. Beware the maid [what she might overhear]. CEDANT ARMA TOGAE. Let arms yield to the toga. CERTANT GRAMMATICI, ET ADHUC SUB IUDICE LIS EST. The grammarians debate, and as yet the case is under adjudication. CETERIS PARIBUS. Other things being equal. CETERUM CENSEO CARTHAGINEM ESSE DELENDAM. Further, I think that Carthage must be destroyed. --Marcus Porcius Cato, by which he ended all his speeches in the Roman senate CHRISTIANI AD LEONES, CHRISTIANAE AD LENONES. Christian men to the lions, Christian women to the brothels. --After Tertullian, Apologeticum, 40:12 "Christianos ad leonem" CICERONIANUS ES, NON CHRISTIANUS. You are a Ciceronian, not a Christian. --St. Jerome, Epistulae, 22:30 CICERONIS, CUIUS LINGUAM FERE OMNES MIRANTUR, PECTUS NON ITA. Cicero, whose tongue practically all admire, but not so his heart. -- St. Augustine, Confessiones, 3:4 CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS. Faster, higher, stronger. --French Dominican Friar Louis Henri Didon, now the motto of the modern Olympic Games; Didon became friends with the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, five years before the 1896 Athens Games CITO LABITUR HORA; LAETUM MANE FUGIT, SUCCEDUNT TEMPORA NOCTIS MAESTA. The hour slips quickly; it flies happily in the morning; the sad times of night follow. --Herbert H. Huxley, Wolfson College, Cambridge, England, translated for an inscription on a sundial for Dr. Henry I. Bowditch CIVIS ROMANUS SUM. --Cicero, In Verrem, II.v.162 (used by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech of June 26, 1963, in West Berlin COGITO, ERGO SUM. I think; therefore, I am. --Cartesius (Rene Descartes) CONCORDIA IN VARIETATE: Concord in variety. CONDITIO SINE QUA NON: Condition without which not. CONTEMPLARI ET CONTEMPLATA ALIIS TRADERE. To meditate and to transmit to others what they have meditated. --St. Thomas Aquinas's motto CONTINUANDO. By way of continuing. CONTRA / IUXTA NATURAM. Contrary to / in accordance with nature. CONTRA FACTUM NON ARGUMENTUM EST. Against a fact there is no argument. COR AD COR LOQUITUR: Heart speaks to heart. --St. Francis de Sales CORRUPTIO OPTIMI PESSIMA. The corruption of the best is worst. --Pope St. Gregory the Great COTIDIANA VILESCUNT. Familiarity breeds contempt (lit., daily things become common). CREDITE AMORI VERA DICENTI. Believe love speaking the truth. --St. Jerome, Epistulae, 7:2 CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM EST. I believe because it is absurd. --Tertullian CREDO UT INTELLIGAM. I believe in order that I may understand. (Faith is the absolute standard for all rational thought.) --St. Augustine, Sermones, 43:7:9 (also St. Anselm) CREDULA VITAM SPES FOVET ET FORE CRAS SEMPER AIT MELIUS. Credulous hope supports [our] life and always says that tomorrow will be better." --Tibullus, II.vi.19-20 CRESCIT SUB PONDERE VIRTUS. Strength grows under adversity. CUI LICET QUOD EST PLUS, LICET UTIQUE QUOD EST MINUS. He who may do the greater may certainly do the less. --Boniface VIII, 1298; a rule of law CUIUS REGIO ILLIUS ET RELIGIO [also: CUIUS REGIO, EIUS REGIO]. Whose district it is, his Religion it is. (Principle of Church affiliation agreed to by Charles V and the Lutherans in 1555 at the Peace of Augsburg; said to go back to an ancient Roman maxim.] CUM SCRIPTURA DIVINA MULTIPLICITER EXPONI POSSIT, QUOD NULLI EXPOSITIONI ALIQUIS ITA PRAECISE INHAEREAT QUOD, SI CERTA RATIONE CONSTITERIT HOC ESSE FALSUM, QUOD ALIQUIS SENSUM SCRIPTURAE ESSE ASSERERE PRAESUMAT: NE SCRIPTURA EX HOC AB INFIDELIBUS DERIDEATUR, ET NE EIS VIA CREDENDI PRAECLUDATUR. Since Holy Scripture can be explained in a multiplicity of senses, one should adhere to a particular explanation, only in such measure as to be ready to abandon it, if it be proved with certainty to be false, lest Holy Scripture be exposed to the ridicule of unbelievers, and obstacles be placed to their believing). --St. Augustine, De Genesi ad Litt., 1:18 (PL 34, 260); cap. 19 (PL 34, 261); cap. 21 (PL 34, 262); cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Ia, Qu. 68, A. 1 CUM TACENT, CLAMANT. When they are silent, they shout. --Cicero, Oratio in Catilinam I, 21:6) CUNCTANDO REGITUR MUNDUS. By persevering, the world is ruled. CURA NIHIL ALIUD NISI UT VALEAS. Pay attention to nothing other except that you be well. --Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares, 16:5) CUSTOS MORUM. Keeper of the morals. CORRIGE PECCANTES, PROHIBE PECCARE VOLENTES. Correct sinners, prevent those wanting to sin. --Periander of Corinth, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, translated into Latin by Herbert H. Huxley, Wolfson College, Cambridge, England CURA UT VALEAS. Take care. DAMNANT QUOD NON INTELLEGUNT. They condemn what they do not understand. DAMNATIO MEMORIAE. Condemnation of one's memory. (Effacing of all public notice of a public figure who has subsequently gone into disfavor.) DATUR HORA QUIETI. An hour given to quiet. --Sir Walter Scott DE BENE ESSE. To be as long as it is well. (To be accepted for the time being, conditionally, provisionally.) DE INTERNIS ECCLESIA NON IUDICAT (or DE INTERNIS NEC ECCLESIA). About internal matters the Church does not judge. --Theological DE INTERNIS NON IUDICAT PRAETOR (ECCLESIA). About internal matters the praetor does not judge (i.e., internal thoughts as opposed to external actions). --Legal DE LANA CAPRINA RIXARI. To argue over goat's wool (i.e., nothing). DE MALO, BONUM. From evil [comes] good. DE MARIA NUMQUAM SATIS. About Mary nothing (is) enough. --St. Bernard DE MINIMIS NON CURAT PRAETOR (LEX). The law (praetor) does not care about inconsequentials. DE MORE. Normally (lit., according to custom). DE MORTUIS ECCLESIA NON IUDICAT. About the dead the Church does not judge. --Theological DE MORTUIS NIL NISI BONUM / NIHIL DICERE DE MORTUIS NISI BONUM. Of the dead [say] nothing except good / To say nothing about the dead except good. DENTIBUS ET UNGUIBUS. Tooth and nail. DEO IUVANTE (ADIUVANTE, FAVENTE, DUCENTE). With God's help / favor /leadership. DEO VOLENTE. God willing. [Greek: tou theou thelontos] DEUS MEUS ET OMNIA. My God and (my) all. --Franciscan motto DEUS QUI NOBIS VITAM EODEM TEMPORE ET LIBERTATEM DEDIT. The God who gave us life also gave us liberty at the same time. --Thomas Jefferson DEUS VETET. May God forbid. DEUS VULT. God wills (it). --Battle cry of the First Crusade, in response to Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095 DIABOLUS EST IESUITA. The devil is a Jesuit. DICTUM, FACTUM. (No sooner) said (than) done. DICTUM SAPIENTI SAT EST. A word to the wise is enough. (Plautus) DIES AMARITUDINIS. Day of bitterness. DIGITUS DEI. The finger of God. DISSIMULA CASUM, GNARUS NE GAUDEAT HOSTIS. Conceal your misfortune, lest your enemy rejoice knowing. --Periander of Corinth, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, translated into Latin by Herbert H. Huxley, Wolfson College, Cambridge, England DIVERTE A MALO, ET FAC BONUM: Turn from evil, and do good. --St. Benedict DIVIDE ET IMPERA. Divide and rule. --After Machievelli DIVINA PROVIDENTIA AD OMNIA SINGULARIA SE EXTENDIT, ETIAM MINIMA. --Theological DO UT DES. I give (something to you) in order that you give (i.e., something in return). DOCENDO DISCITUR. By teaching one learns. (After Seneca) DOCENT OMNIA. Everything teaches. DOCERE VERBO ET EXEMPLO: To teach by word and example. DOMINE, PATI ET CONTEMNI PRO TE. Lord, to suffer and be contemned for you. --St. John of the Cross, 1542-1591, Lectio iii ad Matutinum, November 24 DOMINI VOLUNTAS FIAT. The will of the Lord be done. DULCE EST DISSIPERE IN LOCO. It is pleasant to tarry on a topic. DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI. It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. --Horace, Odes DUM ANIMA EST, SPES EST. While there is live, there is hope. --Cicero DUM FELES DORMIT, MUS GAUDET. While the cat sleeps, the mouse rejoices. --Aphorism DUM TACET CLAMAT. While he is silent, he speaks. --Epitaph DUOS SEQUITUR NEUTRUM CAPIT LEPORES. He who chases two rabbits catches neither. DURA EST OVICIPITUM VIA. The way of eggheads is hard. --Adlai Stevenson, 1954 DURA LEX, SED LEX. The law is hard, but (it is) the law. -- Legal maxim DURATE, ET VOSMET REBUS SERVATE SECUNDIS. Endure, and do you persevere for favorable circumstances. Vergil, Aeneid I.207 DUX FEMINA FACTI. A woman was the leader of the deed. ("Cherchez la femme.") --Vergil, Aeneid I.364 DUX VITAE RATIO. Reason is the leader of life. (Latin equivalent of the Greek motto of Phi Beta Kappa, philosophia biou kybernetes) E CONVERSO. Conversely. E PLURIBUS UNUM. From many, one [motto on obverse of the Great Seal of the United States]. --Perhaps Moretum 96-104; Cicero's De Amicitia 21.81, 25.92 and De Officiis 1.17.56; Horace's Epistles 2.2.212; St. Augustine's Confessions 4.8 ECCLESIA SEMPER REFORMANDA. The Church [i.e., the members of the Church] must always be reformed. ECCLESIA VIVIT LEGE ROMANA. The Church lives under Roman law. (Ecclesiastical) EGO SUM QUOD HIC FUIT; QUOD HIC EST, EGO ERO. I am what he was; what he is, I shall be. --St. Silvester, "cadaver conspiciens," Lectio iii ad Matutinum, November 26 EI INCUMBIT PROBATIO, QUI DICIT, NON QUI NEGAT. The proof is incumbent upon him who asserts, not he who denies (the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty) EHEU FUGACES, POSTUME, POSTUME, LABUNTUR ANNI, NEC PIETAS MORAM RUGIS ET INSTANTI SENECTAE ADFERET INDOMITAEQUE MORTI. Alas, Postumus, Postumus, the years slip by, nor will righteousness give pause to wrinkles and to advancing age, and to invincible death. --Horace, Carmina, 2:14:1-4 EICE PEDICULUM. Cast out the little louse [dump the loser]. ELEPHANTUM EX MURE FACIS. You are making an elephant out of a mouse ("a mountain out of a mole hill"). --Aphorism ENTIA NON SUNT MULTIPLICANDA PRAETER NECESSITATEM. Entities are not to be multiplied except for necessity. Also: FRUSTRA FIT PER PLURA QUOD POTEST FIERI PER PAUCIORA. It is done in vain through more things what can be done by fewer things. (Ockham's Razor) --William of Ockham ERGO VALE MEMOR NOSTRI. And so farewell, mindful of us. -- Juvenal, Satirae, 3:318 ERRARE HUMANUM EST, IGNOSCERE DIVINUM. To err is human, to forgive [is] divine. --Seneca wrote "Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum, et tertia non datur" [to err is human, but to persist (is) diabolical, and a third (option) is not given]. ESSE QUAM VIDERI. To be rather than to seem. ET MODUS IN REBUS. There is a measure in things. EST QUAEDAM FLERE VOLUPTAS. There is a certain pleasure in weeping. ESTNE NIHIL SANCTUM? Is nothing sacred? ET ID OMNE GENUS. And that whole type. ET VERBORUM ORDO MYSTERIUM EST. Even the order of the words [of the Bible] is sacred. --St. Jerome EVINCERE MALUM BONO. To prevail over evil with good. EX ABUNDANTI CAUTELA. From abundant caution. EX ARDUIS PERPETUUM NOMEN. From difficulties, (one gets) an everlasting name. EX CAERULO. Out of the blue. EX GRATIA. As a favor (i.e., not out of necessity or obligation). EX INVERSO. Inversely. EX MALO BONUM. From evil (comes) good. EX PARITATE. By analogy (equality). EX PEDE HERCULEM. From the foot (alone we may infer) Hercules. EX PROFESSO. Purposely. EX SUPPOSITIONE. Hypothetically. EX TEMPORANEA. Temporarily. EX UMBRIS ET IMAGINIBUS IN VERITATEM. From shadows and images (on earth) to the truth (in heaven). --John Henry Cardinal Newman's gravestone EX UNGUE LEONEM. From the claw (alone we may infer) the lion. EXCEPTIO PROBAT REGULAM (IN CASIBUS NON EXCEPTIS). The action of excepting proves the rule in cases not excepted. --Legal. (By specifying the cases excepted, one strengthens the hold of the rule over all cases not excepted.) EXCEPTIS EXCIPIENDIS. With what is to be excepted having been excepted. EXCUDENT ALII SPIRANTIA MOLLIUS AERA / (CREDO EQUIDEM), VIVOS DUCENT DE MARMORE VULTUS, / ORABUNT CAUSAS MELIUS, CAELIQUE MEATUS / DESCRIBENT RADIO ET SURGENTIA SIDERA DICENT: / TU REGERE IMPERIO POPULOS, ROMANE, MEMENTO / (HAE TIBI ERUNT ARTES), PACIQUE IMPONERE MOREM, / PARCERE SUBJECTIS ET DEBELLARE SUPERBOS. Others will beat out more gently the breathing bronzes / (I (I do believe), will extract live faces from marble, / will plead cases better, and will describe the regions of the sky / with a pointer and will speak of the rising stars: / Do you, Roman, rule the peoples; remember (these are your arts) to put morality upon peace, to spare the vanquished and to war against the proud. --Vergil, Aeneid VI:847-853 (Vergil's great expression of the purpose that Providence set for Rome) EXEGI MONUMENTUM AERE PERENNIUS. I have built a monument more lasting than bronze. --Horace, Odes, III.xxx.1 EXEMPLA TRAHUNT. Examples draw. ("Set a good example.") EXITUS ACTA PROBAT. The outcome proves the deeds. ("The end justifies the means.") --Ovid, Heroides EXPERIENTIA DOCET. Experience teaches. --Tacitus EXPERIMENTUM SOLUM CERTIFICAT. Experience alone makes certain. --Roger Bacon EXPERTO (EXPERTIS) CREDITE. Believe the expert(s). EXPRESSIS VERBIS. With expressed words (expressly). EXTRA ECCLESIAM NULLA SALUS. Outside the Church (there is) no salvation. --St. Cyprian (ca. 210-258), Epistula ad Iubaianum (256), 73:21 FACILIS DESCENSUS AVERNO; / NOCTES ATQUE DIES PATET ATRI IANUA DITIS; / SED REVOCARE GRADUM, SUPERASQUE EVADERE AD AURAS, / HOC OPUS, HIC LABOR EST. Easy is the road to Hell. Night and day the gate of dark Hell stands open, but to retrace one's steps and return to the upper air -- this is the toil, this is the difficulty. --Vergil, Aeneid VI.126-129 FACTA, NON VERBA. Deeds, not words ("actions speak louder than words). FACTUS EST DEUS HOMO, UT HOMO FIERET DEUS. God was made a man in order that man might become God. --St. Augustine, Serm. 13 de Tempore FAEX URBIS, LEX ORBIS. The excrement of the City (is) the law of the world. --St. Jerome, summing up the basic strategic imperative of Rome to placate the unproductive and feckless mob at home FALLACES SUNT RERUM SPECIES. Appearances are deceiving (literally, appearances of things are deceptive). --Seneca FALSUS IN UNO, FALSUS IN OMNIBUS. Untrue in one thing, untrue in everything. --Legal FELIX QUI POTUIT RERUM COGNOSCERE CAUSAS. Happy [the man] who can understand the causes of things. --Vergil, Georgics II.490 (home to Lucretius) FESTINA LENTE. Make haste slowly. --Suetonius, Augustus (Latin translation of the Greek aphorism "speude bradêos") FIAT JUSTITIA, RUAT COELUM. Let justice be done, (though) heaven fall. --Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus FIDE, SED CUI VIDE. Trust, but take care whom (you trust). FIDELIS IN PERPETUUM. Faithful for eternity. (Epitaph) FIDEM MEAM OBLIGO VEXILLO CIVITATUM AMERICAE FOEDERATARUM ET REI PUBLICAE PRO QUA STAT, UNI NATIONI, DEO DUCENTE, NON DIVIDENDAE, CUM LIBERTATE IUSTITIAQUE OMNIBUS. --U.S. Pledge of Allegiance FIDES QUAERENS INTELLECTUM. Faith seeking understanding. --St. Anselm, first scholastic philosopher FIDES SOLA IUSTIFICAT. Faith alone justifies. --Martin Luther FINIS CORONAT OPUS. The end crowns the work. --Mediaeval proverb FINIS ORIGINE PENDET. The end depends upon the beginning. -- Motto FORSAN ET HAEC OLIM MEMINISSE IUVABIT. Some day peraps it will be pleasing to remember these things too. --Vergil, Aeneid I.203 FORTI ET FIDELI NIHIL DIFFICILE. To the brave and faithful, nothing (is) difficult. FRANGAR, NON FLECTAR. I am broken; I am not deflected. FRAUS EST CELARE FRAUDEM. It is dishonest to conceal dishonesty. --Legal FRUSTRA LABORAT QUI OMNIBUS PLACERE STUDET. He who tries to please everyone labors in vain. --Aphorism FUMUM FUGIENS IN IGNEM INCIDIT. Fleeing smoke, he falls into the fire ("out of the frying pan into the fire"). --Aphorism FURIOSUS FURORE SOLUM PUNITUR. A madman is punished only by his own madness. GAUDEAMUS IGITUR,/IUVENES DUM SUMUS;/POST IUCUNDAM IUVENTUTEM,/ POST MOLESTAM SENECTUTEM/NOS HABEBIT HUMUS!// VITA NOSTRA BREVIS EST,/ BREVI FINIETUR;/ VENIT MORS VELOCITER,/ RAPIT NOS ATROCITER,/ NEMINI PARCETUR.// UBI SUNT, QUI ANTE NOS/ IN MUNDO FUERE?/ VADITE AD SUPEROS,/ TRANSITE AD INFEROS,/ UBI IAM FUERE.// VIVAT ACADEMIA,/ VIVANT PROFESSORES;/ VIVAT MEMBRUM QUODLIBET,/ VIVANT MEMBRA QUAELIBET,/ SEMPER SINT IN FLORE! Let us rejoice, therefore, while we are youths; after pleasant youth, after difficult old age, the earth will have us! Our life is short, it will be ended in a brief time; death comes swifty, it seizes us harshly, no one will be spared. Where are those who before us have lived in the world? Go to the gods, cross to the nether regions, when they have already lived. Long live the academy, long live the professors; long live every member, long live all members, may they always be in flower! GENERI PER SPECIEM DEROGATUR. The general is derogated by the specific. --Legal GENIUS LOCI. The spirit of the place. GENTIBUS EST ALIIS TELLUS DATA LIMITE CERTO; ROMANAE SPATIUM EST URBIS ET ORBIS IDEM. The territory alotted to other nations has a definite limit, but the whole world is the domain of the City of Rome. --Ovid, Fasti, 2:683-4 GRAECIA CAPTA FERUM VICTOREM CEPIT. Captured Greece captured her uncivilized victor. --Horace GRAECUM EST, NON POTEST LEGI. It is Greek; it can't be understood. (Used by monks in monasteries of Greek books to be copied that they couldn't read. Cf. Shakespeare (Julius Caesar I.2) "It was Greek to me," spoken by Casca, who didn't understand Greek, about a speech that Cicero in Greek gave when Caesar was offered a crown) GRAMMATICI CERTANT ET ADHUC SUB IUDICE LIS EST. Grammarians dispute, and the case is still before the courts. --Horace, Ars Poetica GRANDE NIMIS. Too great. [GRATITUDO]: HAEC ENIM EST UNA VIRTUS NON SOLUM MAXIMA SED ETIAM MATER VIRTUTUM OMNIUM RELIQUARUM [For gratitude is the one virtue not only the greatest but also the mother of all the other virtues]. --Cicero GUTTA CAVAT LAPIDEM, ANULUS CONSUMITUR USU. A drop hollows out the stone, a ring is worn out by use. --Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto 4:10:5 HAEC SATIS SINT. Let these things be sufficient (of a list of examples). HAUD IGNARA MALI, MISERIS SUCCURRERE DISCO. Not unacquainted with evil, I learn to help the unfortunate. --Vergil HIC ET NUNC. Here and now. HIC LOCUS EST UBI MORS GAUDET SUCCURRERE VITAE. This is the place where death is glad to help life. --Mortuary inscription HISTORIA REPITITUR. History repeats itself. HOC EST IN VOTIS. This is in (my) prayers. HOC EST VERUM ET NIHIL NISI VERUM. This is the truth, and nothing but the truth. HOC IUBET DEUS UT NON SIMUS HOMINES ... DEUS ENIM DEUM TE VULT FACERE. God commands not that you be men.... For God wants to make you a god. --St. Augustine, Serm. 166 HOC OPUS, HIC LABOR EST. This (is) the work; this (is) the labor. ("There's the rub.") --Vergil, Aeneid VI.129 HOC PRAESTAMUS MAXIME FERIS, QUOD LOQUIMUR. In this we greatly exceed the beasts, that we speak. HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS. With this sign you will be the victor. - -Eusebius, Life of Constantine, 1:28-9, of Constantine's vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge; cf. Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum, 44:5:6) HOC SUMMUM BENEFICIUM ECCLESIAE DEBETUR, QUOD LIBROS VETERES POETARUM, ORATORUM, HISTORICORUM LATINOS GRAECOSQUE MAGNAM PARTEM AB INTERITU VINDICAVIT. The Church performed this supreme service: she saved from destruction the great part of the old books of poets, orators, and historians, both Latin and Greek. --Leo XIII, Litterae Apostolicae "Plane Quidem," May 20, 1885 HOMINES, DUM DOCENT, DISCUNT. Men, when they teach, they learn. --Seneca HOMO MASCULINUS OCCIDENTALIS. Caucasian man. HOMO PROPONIT, SED DEUS DISPONIT. Man proposes, but God disposes. -- Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, 1:19:9 HOMO SUM, HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO. I am a man; nothing human is alien to me. --Terence, Heautontimorumenos, I.i. HORAM SOLE NOLENTE NEGO. I deny the hour when the sun is unwilling. --Motto on a sundial HORAS NON NUMERO NISI AESTIVAS. I count only summer hours. -- William Willett, originator of Daylight Shifting Time (Sundial motto) IACTUS LAPIDIS. A stone's throw. (Luke 22:41/V). IGNEM IGNI NE ADDAS. Do not add fire to fire. --Aphorism ILLE DOLET VERE QUI SINE TESTE DOLET. He truly grieves who grieves when none is there. --Martial, 1:33 ID QUOD PLERUNQUE ACCIDIT. That which generally happens. IESUS IUVAT. May Jesus help. IGNORANTIA LEGIS NEMINEM EXCUSAT. Ignorance of the law excuses no one. (Legal) ILLEGITIMIS NIL CARBORUNDUM. Don't let the bastards grind you down. --From the mediaeval jingle, "Si te dominorum vis/Facit furibundum,/ Dico "illegitimis Nichil carborundum. The phrase also occurs in Pepys' Diary of March 31, 1661 IMAGINATIO LOCORUM ET MUTATIO, MULTOS FEFELLIT. Imagination and change of places has deceived many. ("The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.") --Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, I.ix.6 IMPONERE PELIO OSSAM. To pile Ossa upon Pelion [to undertake a great work]. --Vergil IN ABSENTIA. In (one's) absence. IN AETERNUM. Forever. IN ANGUSTIIS. In difficulties. IN CAMERA. In chambers (i.e., in secret). IN CAPITE ET IN MEMBRIS. In the head and in the limbs ["root and branch"]. IN CASU. In the case [mentioned]. IN CASU EXTREMAE NECESSITATIS. In case of extreme necessity. IN CAUDA VENENUM. In the tail (is) the poison. ("To save the worst for last.") IN DEO FIDEMUS. In God we trust. --Motto of Brighton, England ("fideo" is a Late Latin form of Classical "fido") IN DEO SPERAMUS. In God we trust. --Brown University's motto IN DIVERSIS VERSATI, IN UNUM VERSI. Involved in diverse things, turned to one thing. --University of California's former motto IN DOMINO NOSTRO AC DOMINA NOSTRA. In our Lord and our Lady. IN DUBIO. In doubt. IN EODEM SENSU EADEMQUE SENTENTIA. --First Vatican Council IN EXTENSO. In full. IN FUTURO. In the future. IN GLOBO. Globally (from a global view). IN HOC SIGNO VINCES (Greek: en toutoi nikai). In this sign you will conquer. The divine sign given to Constantine before his victory in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. IN MEDIAS RES. Into the middle of things. --Horace IN MEDIO STAT VIRTUS. Virtue stands in the middle (i.e., the golden mean). IN MEDIO TUTISSIMUS IBIS. You will go safest in the middle (course). --Ovid, Metamorphoses IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS, IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS, IN OMNIBUS CARITAS. In necessary things, unity; in dubious things, liberty; in all things, charity. --St. Augustine IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICETUR DEUS. In everything let God be glorified. IN PARI MATERIA. Of like kind (e.g., as in comparing two phrases grammatically). IN PRAXI. In practice. IN SILVAM NE LIGNA FERAS. Don't carry logs into the forest. ("Don't carry coals to Newcastle"). --Horace, Satirae, 1:10:34 IN VANUM LABORAT QUI OMNIBUS PLACERE CONTENDIT. He labors in vain who endeavors to please everyone. --Roman proverb INCIDIT IN SCYLLAM, CUPIENS VITARE CHARYBDIM. He runs onto Scylla, wishing to avoid Charybdis [to be destroyed by falling into one evil while trying to avoid another]. --Vergil INCLUSIO UNIUS EXCLUSIO ALTERIUS. The inclusion of one [implies] the exclusion of another. --Legal (e.g., inclusion of items on a list implies the exclusion of items not on that list) INCREDIBLE DICTU. Incredible to say. INDULGENTIAM QUAESO. I ask your indulgence. INFERIOR NON POTEST TOLLERE LEGEM SUPERIORIS. An inferior cannot take away the law of a superior. --Legal INGEMUIT ORBIS TERRARUM, SE ARIANUM ESSE MIRATUS EST. The whole world groaned and was amazed that it was Arian. --St. Jerome INIUNCTIS IUNGENDIS. With what is to be enjoined having been enjoined. INQUIETUM EST COR NOSTRUM, DONEC REQUIESCAT IN TE. Our heart is restless, until it rests in You. --St. Augustine, Confessiones, I:i INTELLECTUM VALDE AMA. Love the intellect strongly. --St. Augustine, Epistulae, 120:3:13 INTELLIGO ME INTELLIGERE. I understand that I understand. --St. Augustine, De Trinitate, 10:11 INTELLIGO ME VELLE. I understand that I will. --St. Augustine, De Trinitate, X.xi INTELLIGO UT CREDAM. I understand in order that I may believe. --Peter Abelard INTER ARMA SILENT LEGES. During war laws are silent. --Legal INTER NOS. Between us (French, entre nous). INTEREST REIPUBLICAE UT SIT FINIS LITIUM. It is in the public good that there be an end to lawsuits. INTERFICE ERROREM, DILIGERE ERRANTEM (ODISSE ERRORES, DILIGERE ERRANTES). Kill the sin, live the sinner (to hate sins, to love sinners). --St. Augustine, Epistula 211 INTERPRETATIO ROMANA. The Roman interpretation. (Of the assimilation of Christianity and, previously, other religions into the Roman religion.) INTRINSICUS SUNT CAVI. They are hollow inside. INVENIAM VIAM AUT FACIAM. I shall find a way, or I shall make one. --Peary, discoverer of the North Pole IPSA SCIENTIA POTESTAS EST. For knowledge itself is power. --Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae, De Haeresibus IPSO FACTO. By that very fact. ITA VITA. So goes life. --Sundial motto IUDICIS EST IUS DICERE, NON DARE. It is the duty of the judge to explain the law, not to make it. --Legal IUS PROPRIETATIS VINDICABITUR: Proprietary rights will be claimed. IUSTITIA AERE PERENNIUS. Justice, more permanent than bronze. IUSTITIA NEMINI NEGANDA EST. Justice is to be denied to no one. LABOR OMNIA VINCIT. Work conquers all. LABORUM DULCE LENIMEN. (Music,) sweet solace of labors. --G. Schirmer Company's motto LAESA MAIESTAS: treason (le'se majeste'). LAPSUS CALAMI. A slip of the pen. LATET ANGUIS IN HERBA. A snake lurks in the grass. --Vergil, Eclogues III.93 LAUDATOR TEMPORIS ACTI. A praiser of times past. --Horace LECTIO BREVIOR LECTIOR POTIOR. The shorter reading is the more probable reading. (Maxim of textual criticism.) LECTIO DIFFICILIOR LECTIO POTIOR. The more difficult reading is the more probable reading. (Maxim of textual criticism.) LEGEM CREDENDI, LEX STATUIT SUPPLICANDI. The law of praying has established by the law of believing. --Pope St. Celestine I to the bishops of Gaul, 422; cf. lex orandi statuat legem credendi LEGES SINE MORIBUS VANAE. Laws without morality are in vain. -- Aphorism LEX COMMUNIS OMNIUM. The common law of all (e.g., of celestial bodies). LEX DUBIA NON OBLIGAT. A doubtful law does not obligate. -- Theological LEX EST SUMMA RATIO INSITA IN NATURA. Law is the highest reason implanted in nature. --Legal LEX MALA, LEX NULLA. A bad law (is) no law. --St. Thomas Aquinas LEX NATURALIS. Natural law. (The law that has its basis in human nature itself, enunciated and dictated by reason.) LEX ORANDI, LEX CREDENDI. The standard (law) of prayer determines the standard (law) of belief. --Pope Celestine in an appeal to the liturgy as a refutation of the error of the Pelagians LEX PER SATURAM. A law by miscellany. (A law containing enactments on various subjects, which were all passed together as a whole.) LEX POSITIVA NON OBLIGAT CUM GRAVI INCOMMODO. The positive law does not oblige in cases of grave inconvenience. --Legal LEX POSTERIOR DEROGAT PRIORI NISI EXPRESSE ALIUD DICATUR. -- Legal LEX TALIONIS. Law of retribution (an eye for an eye). LEX TERRAE. Law of the land. LIBENS, VOLENS, POTENS. Ready, willing, (and) able. LIBERUM ARBITRIUM. Free will. LIBIDO DOMINANDI. The lust to dominate. Augustine, De Civitate Dei LIBRIS CLAUSIS (APERTIS)/STYLIS DEPOSITIS. With books closed (open), with pens put down. LICENTIA LOQUENDI. Liberty of speaking, free speech, freedom of speech. LITTERARUM ET ARTIUM OPTIMA MAGISTRA. The best teacher of letters and arts. --Russian philosopher Borovski, University of Leningrad, 1961/2, of the Latin language) LOCUM TENENS. One holding a place (a temporary). LOCUS STANDI. A place to stand. LUMINIS INDICIUM EST HAEC UMBRA INFERNA SUPERNI. The indication of light above is this shadow below. --Herbert H. Huxley, Wolfson College, Cambridge, England, translated for an inscription on a sundial for Dr. Henry I. Bowditch MAGNA DI CURANT, PARVA NEGLEGUNT. The gods are concerned with important things; trifles they ignore. --Cicero, De Natura Deorum, 2:66 MAGNARUM RERUM IPSE CONATUS MAGNUS EST. The very attempt at great things is great. MAGNUM MALUM. A great evil. MALA FIDE. In bad faith. MALA HERBA CITO CRESCIT. A weed grows quickly. MALA LEX, NULLA LEX. A bad law (is) no law. --St. Thomas Aquinas MALUM E CLERO. Evil from the clergy. --Theological MALUM GAUDIUM EX ALIENA [POENA]. Wicked joy from another's pain. --Seneca, De Ira, III.43 (cf. schadenfreude) MAXIMUS IN MINIMIS. A great man (is seen) in small things. MEDIUM CERTUM. The certain mean. (The safer choice in a doubtful situation.) --Theological MELIUS TARDE (TARDUM) QUAM NUMQUAM. Better late than never. MEMENTO HOMO. Remember (that you are) a man. --Said to a Roman general celebrating a triumph by a slave in his triumphal chariot MENS LEGISLATORIS. The intent of the legislator. MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO. A healthy mind in a healthy body. --Juvenal MINIMIS OPTIME PERACTIS, MAXIMA BENE AGENTUR. After the smallest things have been very well completed, the greatest things will be done well. MINUS HABENS. Absentminded. MISERABLE DICTU: Wretched to say. MODIFICATIS MODIFICANDIS. With what is to be modified having been modified. MODUS OMNIBUS IN REBUS. Moderation in all things. --Plautus MOLE SUA. By its own weight. MONSTRUM HORRENDUM, INFORME, INGENS. A horrible monster, misshapen, vast. --Vergil, Aeneid III.658 (of Polyphemus) MORE ACADEMICO. In an academic manner. MORE SOCRATICO. By the Socratic method. MULTUM IN PARVO. Much in little. MULTUM, NON MULTA. Much, not many things. ("Quality, not quantity," a Latin translation of the Greek aphorism "ou po'll', alla` poly'") --Pliny the Younger. Also: PAUCA, SET BONA. MUSICA CURAT CORPUS ET ANIMAM. Music heals the body and soul. --Motto on a harpsichord MUSICA DONUM DEI. Music, the gift of God. --Motto on a harpsichord MUSICA LAETITIAE COMES, MEDICINA DOLORUM. Music, companion of joy, medicine for grief. --Motto on a harpsichord MUSICA MAGNORUM EST SOLAMEN DULCE LABORUM. Music is the sweet solace of great labors. --Motto on a harpsichord MUTATIONE RERUM MAGIS, TANTO MAGIS STETISSE. The more things change, the more they stay the same. --Aphorism MUTATIS MUTANDIS. With what is to be changed having been changed. NATURA ABHORRET A VACUA. Nature abhors a vacuum. NATURA EST QUONDAMMODO DEUS. Nature is in a certain sense God [i.e., it reflects God's essence in creation]. NATURA NIHIL FIT IN FRUSTRA. Nature does nothing in vain. --Philosophical maxim, 17th century NE QUID NIMIS. Nothing in excess. --Latin translation of Greek aphorism, "m_ede`n a'gan," as quoted by St. Jerome, Epistulae 60:7 NE SUPRA CREPIDAM SUTOR IUDICARET. Let a cobbler not judge beyond a sandal. ("Stick with what you know.") --Apelles, as quoted by Pliny the Elder NE TRANSEAT IN EXEMPLUM: Lest it become an example (for others). NEC VITIA NOSTRA NEC REMEDIA TOLERARE POSSUMUS: We can tolerate neither our vices nor their remedies. --Livy NECESSITAS LEGEM NON HABET. Necessity has no law. --St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, IIIa, Qu. 80, A. 8; III Suppl., Qu. 8, A. 6 NECESSITAS NON SUBDITUR LEGI. Necessity does not submit to the law. --St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Ia IIae, Qu. 96, A. 6 NEMO DAT QUOD NON HABET. No one gives what he does not have. --Legal NEMO LIBER EST QUI CORPORI SERVIT. No one is free who is a slave to his body. --Seneca NEMO MALUS FELIX. No evil man is happy. --Juvenal NEMO MALUS NISI PROBETUR. No one is (to be considered) evil unless it should be proved. ("Innocent until proven guilty.") --Theological NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT. No one harms me with impunity. --Motto NEMO REPENTE FUIT TURPISSIMUS. No one became very wicked overnight (suddenly). --Juvenal NEMO TENETUR SE IPSUM ACCUSARE. No one is held to accuse himself. --Legal (cf. the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution) NEMO USQUE EO TARDUS ET HEBES ET DEMISSUS IN TERRAM EST UT AD DIVINA NON ERIGATUR AC TOTA MENTE CONSURGAT, UTIQUE UBI NOVUM ALIQUOD E CAELO MIRACULUM FULSIT. No one is so dull and slow-witted and sunk to earth that he is not raised up and is not roused with his whole mind, when a new wonder has shone forth from the sky. --Seneca Major, Naturales Quaestiones, 7:1 NESCIRE AUTEM QUID ANTE QUAM NATUS SIS ACCIDERIT, ID EST SEMPER ESSE PUERUM. QUID ENIM EST AETAS HOMINIS, NISI IN MEMORIA RERUM VETERUM CUM SUPERIORUM AETATE CONTEXITUR [To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by records of history? --Cicero NESCIT QUOD BENE CESSIT RELINQURE. He does not know what he has ceased to leave well ("he does not know when to stop"). --Quintilian, of Ovid NIHIL EX NIHILO FIT. Nothing comes from nothing. --Parmenides NIHIL FIAT. Let nothing be done. --Dante NIHIL INNOVETUR NISI QUOD TRADITUM EST. Let nothing be innovated upon except what has been handed down. --Pope St. Stephen I (254-257) NIHIL NOVI NISI QUOD TRADITUM EST. Nothing new except what has been handed down. --Roman proverb NIL ADMIRARI. Nothing (is) to be admired. (Set no store by external goods.) --Horace NIL DESPERANDUM. Nothing is to be despaired of. ("Never despair.") NIL EGO CONTULERIM IUCUNDO SANUS AMICO. (As long as I am) sane, I equate nothing (on a par) with a pleasant friend. --Horace, Sermones, 1:5:44 NIL SINE MAGNO VITA LABORE DEDIT MORTALIBUS. Life gives nothing to mortals without great labor. NILI CAPUT QUAERERE. To search for the source of the Nile. -- Roman aphorism (to describe looking for something unattainable or impossible) NITOR IN ADVERSUM. I struggle against adversity. NOLENS VOLENS. Willy-nilly (lit., unwilling, willing.) NOLO EPISCOPARI. I do not want to be a bishop. ("I do not choose to run.") --St. Ambrose NOMEN EST OMEN. One's name is a sign [of what is to come]. NON AMO TE, SABIDI. I do not like you, Sabidius. ("I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.") --Martial NON ANGLI, SED ANGELI. Not Angles, but angels. --Pope St. Gregory the Great NON ENIM PROPTER HOC ORAMUS UT DIVINAM DISPOSITIONEM IMMUTEMUS, SED UT ID IMPETREMUS QUOD DEUS DISPOSUIT PER ORATIONES SANCTORUM ESSE IMPLENDUM. We do not pray on accout of this, that we may change the Divine disposition, but that we may entreat that which God has disposed to be fulfilled by the prayers of holy people. --St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, IIa IIae, Q. 83, A. 2 NON ENIM TAM PRAECLARUM EST SCIRE LATINE QUAM TURPE NESCIRE. It is not so much excellent to know [good] Latin, as it is a shame not to know it. --Cicero, Brutus 37:140 NON EST AD ASTRA MOLLIS E TERRIS VIA. There is no easy way from the earth to the stars. --Seneca NON EST ARBOR SOLIDA NEC FORTIS NISI IN QUAM FREQUENS VENTUS INCURSAT. A tree is not sturdy or strong unless the wind has frequently buffeted it. --Seneca, De Providentia, 4:16 NON EST EI SIMILIS. There is non like him (Job). NON IN MULTILOQUI SED IN PURITATE CORDIS. Not in the multitude of words, but in the purity of heart. --St. Benedict NON IN OMNIBUS, SED IN TOTO. Not in each single thing, but as a whole (as of a document to be rejected as heretical). --Theological NON NUMERO HORAS NISI SERENAS. I do not count the hours unless (they are) sunny. --Motto on a sundial NON OMNES QUI HABENT CITHARAM SUNT CITHAROEDI. Not all who own a harp are harpists. --Varro, de Re Rustica, 2:1:3 NON OMNIA POSSUMUS OMNES. Everyone cannot do everything. -- Vergil, Eclogues VIII.63 NON OMNIS MORIAR. I shall not wholly die. --Horace, Odes, III.xxx, l. 6 NON QUIA VIRTUTEM DARE POSSUNT, SED QUIA ANIMUM AD ACCIPIENDAM VIRTUTEM PRAEPARANT. (One studies the liberal arts) not because they can bestow virtue, but because they prepare the soul to receive it. --Seneca, Epistulae Morales, 88:20 NON SCHOLAE SED VITAE DISCIMUS. We learn not for school but for life. NON SEMPER EA SUNT QUAE VIDENTUR. Things are not always as they seem. NON SERVIAM: QUIS UT DEUS?. I will not serve: Who is like God? --Lucifer's battle-cry/Saint Michael's answer NON SIBI. Not for oneself. --Motto NON SIBI, SED PATRIA. Not for oneself, but for country. --Motto of U.S. Navy NON SOLUM IN NOMINE, SED IN RE. Not only in name, but in fact. NON TEMERE CREDERE. Not to trust (people) rashly. --Quintus Cicero, Commentariolum Petitionis 39 NON VERITATEM DESIDERABANT, SED CALUMNIAM PRAEPARABANT. They were not desiring the truth, but were preparing calumny. --St. Augustine, Tract. 48 in Ioann., circa init., of the Pharisees questioning Christ NORMA LOQUENDI. The standard of (everyday) speech. NOSCITUR A SOCIIS. It is known by its associates. [A canon of construction under which the questionable meaning of a doubtful word can be derived from its association with other words in the context]. --Legal. Can also be interpreted as: He is known by his associates, a Latin expression equivalent to "Birds of a feather flock together." NOTAT ET DESIGNAT OCULIS AD CAEDEM UNUMQUEMQUE NOSTRUM. He marks and plans with his eyes every one of us for slaughter. --Cicero, Oratio in Catilinam, 1:2 NOVA EPOCHA. New epoch. NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM. A new order of the ages [motton on reverse of the Great Seal of the United States]. --Adapted from Vergil's Eclogue IV.5 NOX EST PERPETUA UNA DORMIENDA. There is one eternal night to be slept. Catullus 5:6 NULLA DIES UNQUAM MEMORI VOS EXIMET AEVO. No day will ever take you away from a remembering age. --Vergil, Aeneid IX.447; used on the 9/11 Museum in New York in translation ("no day shall erase you from the memory of time (lit., a remembering age) of Nisus and Euryalus, two warriors who slaughtered the enemy and were subsequently killed and impaled by the enemy, sacrificing their lives in the interest of the future Roman state NULLA PORRO FALSA DOCTRINA EST, QUAE NON ALIQUA VERA INTERMISCEAT. There is, moreover, no false doctrine that does not intermingle some truth. --St. Augustine, Quaest. ev. 2:50 NULLA CALAMITAS SOLA. Disaster is never alone ("it doesn't rain, but it pours") NULLA VERITAS SINE TRADITIONE. No truth without Tradition. NULLAM PARTEM HABEMUS. We have no part (in it). NULLITER. Null and void, invalid. NULLIUS IN VERBA. (Rely) on the words of no one. ("Don't take anybody's word for it.") --Horace NULLUS EST INSTAR DOMUS. There is no place like home. NULLUS POTEST AMARE ALIQUID INCOGNITUM. No one can love something unknown. --St. Thomas Aquinas NUMQUAM MINUS SOLUS QUAM CUM SOLUS. Never less alone than when alone. --Henry David Thoreau, Journals, November 25, 1857 (also quoted by Leonard Bernstein) NUMQUAM PECUNIAE OBLIVISCERE. Never forget the money. ("Follow the money.") NUMQUAM REFORMATA QUIA NUNQUAM DEFORMATA. Never reformed because never deformed. [Said of the Carthusians, meaning that the Carthusian life never stood in need of any reform as the strict observance had never admitted of any deformation.] NUNC (HIC) AUT NUMQUAM. (It's) now or never. OBSEQUIUM AMICOS, VERITAS ODIUM PARIT. Flattery wins friends; the truth, hatred. --Terence, Andria, 1:1:41 ODERINT DUM METUANT. Let them hate (me), so long as they fear (me). --Caligula ODI ET AMO. I hate and I love. --Catullus ODI PROFANUM VULGUS. I hate the common throng. --Horace ODIA RESTRINGI, ET FAVORES CONVENIT AMPLIARI. It is appropriate that odious things be restrained, and favorable things be broadened. (The benefit of any doubt is given in cases of penal law.) --Regula iuris 15 O FELIX CULPA. O happy mistake. (Of the good that comes from a mistake.) O NAVIS, REFERENT IN MARE TE NOVI FLUCTUS? O QUID AGIS? O ship (of state), will new waves carry you back into the sea? O what are you doing? --Horace, Odes, 1:14 O PASSI GRAVIORA, DABIT DEUS HIS QUOQUE FINEM. O you who have suffered worse things, God will terminate even these sorrows. --Vergil, Aeneid I:199 O SI SIC OMNIA NUNC. Oh, if everything [were] so now. O TEMPORA, O MORES. O times, o customs. --Cicero, Oratio in Catilinam I O VERE IUS SUMMUM SUMMA MALITIAE. Oh, truly the greatest justice is height of injustice. (Complete legality is complete injustice.) --Terence, Heauton Timoumenos, 796 OH, POTESTNE CERNI, PRAEFULGENTE DIE, / SALUTATUM SIGNUM CIRCA NOCTIS ADVENTUM? / LATI CLAV(I) ET STELLAE, DECERTANT(E) ACIE, / GLORIOSE CINGUNT OPPIDI MUNIMENTUM! / IACULUMQUE RUBENS, GLOBUS SURSUM RUMPENS / PER NOCTEM MONSTRANT VEXILLUM FULGENS. / STELLATUMNE VEXILLUM VOLANS TEGIT NOS,/ PATRIAM LIBERAM FORTIUMQUE DOMOS? --Vexillum Stellatum ("Star Spangled Banner"), translated by F. A. Geyser, 1918 OLEUM PERDISTI. You have wasted your time (lit., oil [referring to the oil lamps used by the Romans]). OMNE INITIUM EST DIFFICILE. Every beginning is difficult. OMNE BONUM TRIUM. Everything in threes (is) good. ("All good things come in threes.") OMNE IGNOTUM PRO MAGNIFICO EST. Everything unknown is (taken) for a miracle. --Tacitus, Agricola, I.30 OMNE FACTUM PRAESUMITUR RITE FACTUM. An action performed is presumed to have been performed correctly. --Theological OMNE TRIUM EST PERFECTUM. Everything that comes in threes is perfect ("Good things come in threes"; "the third time's the charm"). OMNIA FAUSTA OMINAMUR. We predict all things (to turn out) well. OMNIA MUTANTUR, NIHIL INTERIT. Everything changes; it makes no difference. --Ovid, Metamorphoses XV.165 (cf. panta rei, ouden menei) OMNIA PUTA, EXPECTA. Think everything (might happen), anticipate everything. --Seneca, De Ira (II.31) OMNIS VIRTUS IN MEDIO CONSTITIT. Every virtue stands in the middle [the golden mean]. --St. Thomas Aquinas OMNIUM CONSENSU CAPAX IMPERII NISI IMPERASSET. In the opinion of all (judged) capable of (wielding) supreme authority if he had not ruled. --Tacitus, of the Emperor Galba ONUS DIEI. The burden of the day. OPTIMUS MAGISTER BONUS LIBER. The best teacher is a good book. OPTIMUS STATUS RERUM. The best state of things. OPTO ET HUNC NATALEM ET PLURIMOS ALIOS QUAM FELICISSIMOS AGAS. I hope that you will enjoy this birthday and very many others as happy as possible. Pliny the Younger, X.88 ORA ET LABORA. Pray and work. --Benedictine motto ORATIO EST PETITIO DECENTIUM DEO ... ASCENSUS MENTIS IN DEUM. Prayer is the petitioning to God for proper things ... the lifting of the mind to God. --St. John Damascene, Orthodoxa Fides, 1:33:24 ORDO A CHAO. Order from chaos. PANEM ET CIRCENSES. Bread and circuses. --Juvenal PAPA HERETICUS IPSO FACTO DEPOSITUS EST. A heretic pope is by that very fact deposed. --St. Robert Bellarmine, Doctor of the Church PAR CONDITIO. Equal status, equality, on equal terms. PAR IN PAREM POTESTATEM NON HABET. An equal does not have power against [cannot bind] an equal. --Legal PARES CUM PARIBUS FACILLIME CONGREGANTUR. --Aphorism (Cicero, De Senectute 7; cf. "birds of a feather flock together") PARI PASSU: In equal proportion. PARS PRO TOTO. Part for the whole (synecdoche). PARS TUTIOR. The safer course. --Theological PARTURIUNT MONTES, NASCETUR RIDICULUS MUS. The mountains labor and give birth to a ridiculous mouse. --Horace PARVA DOMUS, MAGNA QUIES: Small house, great peace. --Motto on the organist's house at Exeter Cathedral in England PATROCINIUM ORBIS TERRAE, VERIUS QUAM IMPERIUM POTERAT NOMINARI. (The Roman empire) could more truly be called the protection of the world, rather than an empire over the world. --Cicero, De Officiis, 2:8 PAX ET BONUM! Peace and salvation! --Franciscan greeting PECCATUM TACITURNITATIS. Sin of silence. PECCAVIMUS OMNES. We have all sinned. --Seneca PECUNIA IN ARBORIBUS NON CRESCIT. Money does not grow on trees. PER ANGUSTA AD AUGUSTA. Through difficulties to great things. PER ARDUA (ASPERA) AD ASTRA. Through difficulties to the stars. --Motto of the Royal Air Force PER IMPOSSIBLE. By an impossibility. PER MODUM GRATIAE. By way of a favor. PER MOLESTIAS ERUDITIO. Learning [comes] through blows. --St. Augustine PHILOSOPHIA PERENNIS. Perennial philosophy (the classical philosophical tradition). PIA CONSUETUDO. Pious custom. PLAUDITE, CIVES! Applaud, citizens. (Announcement indicating the end of the game at the Circus Romanus.) PLEBS SORDIDA. The great unwashed (literally, the dirty common people). PLUSVE MINUSVE. More or less. POPULI VOLUNTAS LEGITIME UNICA REGENDI RADIX. The will of the people legitimately united is the root of governing. --After Cicero PORRIGE MANUM. Extend [the back of] the hand [for the ferule]. POSITIS PONENDIS. With what is to be propounded having been propounded. POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC. After this, therefore because of it. ("Correlation does not prove causation." A logical error confusing condition with cause, association with causation.) POST TENEBRAS LUX. After the darkness (comes) light. POTIUS SERO QUAM NUMQUAM. Better late than never. PRAECIPEREM ALIQUID VOLUPTATIS EX VERBORUM DULCEDINE. I would anticipate some of the enjoyment from the sweetness of words. [To think about an enjoyment in advance that one will not have until later; "wishful thinking"] --Seneca, "De Brevitate Vitae," IV PRIMA SEDES NON IUDICATUR A QUOQUE. The primary see is not judged by anyone. --Canon law PRIMA SIBI CHARITAS. First, charity to oneself. ("Charity begins at home.") PRIMUM FACILIUS EST EXCLUDERE PERNICIOSA QUAM REGERE ET NON ADMITTERE QUAM ADMISSA MODERARI. It is easier at first to shut out harmful things than to govern them, easier to deny them entry than to moderate them once they have entered. --Seneca, De Ira, I.7 PRIMUM NON NOCERE. The first thing is to do no harm. --Hippocratic Oath PRINCIPIIS OBSTA; SERO MEDICINA PARATUR, CUM MALA PER LONGAS CONVALUERE MORAS. Resist the beginnings; too late is the medicine prepared, when the disease has gained strength by long delay. ("Nip it in the bud.") --Ovid, Remedia Amoris, 91 PRO CAPTU LECTORIS, HABENT SUA FATA LIBELLI. According to the capacity of the reader, my tracts have their fate. --Terentianus Maurus PRO HAC VICE TANTUM. For this time only. PRO OPPORTUNITATE. As circumstances allow (lit., as an opportunity. PRO TANTO. To a certain extent. PROMOVEATUR UT AMOVEATUR. Let him be promoted that he may be removed. PROSIT. May it be to (your) good. (Used in toasts) PURPUREUS PANNUS. Purple patch. (Exaggerated language.) -- Horace, Ars Poetica, 1:15-16 QUAE DOCEMUS DISCIMUS. What we teach, we learn. (After Seneca) QUANDOQUE BONUS DORMITAT HOMERUS. Whenever the good Homer sleeps. --Horace, Ars Poetica [referring to occasional slips of great authors] QUAM TERRIBILIS EST HAEC HORA. How fearful is this hour. QUANDO TU RESPICIS AD CREATURAS, SUBTRAHITUR TIBI ASPECTUS CREATORIS. When you look around you at the creatures, a look at the Creator is taken away. --Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi 3:42:10 QUANDO ULLUM INVENIET PAREM? When shall (one) find any equal (to him)? --Horace, Odes I.xxi.8 (of Vergil) QUANTA DEMENTIA FUIT! What madness that was. --De Ira I.xx (of Caligula) QUEM DEUS VULT PERDERE, PRIUS DEMENTAT. He whom God wishes to destroy, He first drives crazy. QUEM DI DILIGUNT ADOLESCENS MORITUR. He whom the gods love dies young. --Plautus, Bacchides, 4:7:18, from Menander, Dis Expaton, Fragment 4: hôn hoi theoi philousin apothnêskei neos: Those whom the gods love die young QUI CULPAE IGNOSCIT UNI SUADET PLURIBUS. Who forgives one fault persuades more people to make similar ones. --Publilius Syrus QUI CUM CANIBUS CONCUMBUNT, CUM PULICIBUS SURGENT. He who lies down with dogs will get up with fleas. --Seneca QUI DERELINQUUNT LEGEM, LAUDANT IMPROBOS. Those who abandon the law praise the wicked. QUI DESIDERAT PACEM PRAEPARET BELLUM. Let him who wishes for peace prepare for war. Sometimes shortened to as SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM. --Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, "De Re Militari" QUI FACIT PER ALIUM FACIT PER SE. He who acts through another acts through himself. (The instigator of a crime is as culpable as the one who actually perpetrates it.) --Roman law QUI LATUIT BENE VIXIT: He who has lived in obscurity has lived well. QUI PARCIT NOCENTIBUS INNOCENTES PUNIT. He who spares the guilty punishes the innocent. QUI CUM CANIBUS CONCUMBUNT, CUM PULICIBUS SURGENT. Those who sleep together with dogs will get up with fleas. QUI GENUS HUMANUM INGENIO SUPERAVIT. Who surpassed the human race with his genius. --Lucretius, De Rerum Natura III (originally referring to Epicurus, but also used at the foot of the statue of Isaac Newton in Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge) QUI TACET CONSENTIRE VIDETUR. He that is silent is thought to consent. --Decretals, V.12 QUI VIVAT ATQUE FLOREAT AD PLURIMOS ANNOS. May he live and flourish for many years. QUIA NOMINOR LEO. Because I am named the lion (i.e., I am the strongest; argument by superiority of physical force). --Legal QUID ENIM MIRUM EST MALOS MALA FACINORA EDERE? For what is so surprising for wicked people to do wicked crimes? --Seneca, De Ira (II.31) QUID HOC AD AETERNITATEM? What (good is) this for eternity? --St. Bernard QUID PLURA? What more? QUIDQUID NON POSSIDET ARMIS, RELIGIONE TENET. Whatever (Rome) does not possess by arms, she holds by religion. --Prosper of Aquitania, Carmen de Ingratis, 41-44, in Migne's Patrologia Latina 51:97 QUIETA NON MOVERE. Not to move quiet things. ("Let sleeping dogs lie.") QUIS AUTEM SUM EGO, QUI VELIM IN HAC ME INGERERE CONTROVERSIA? Who am I to want to inject myself into this controversy? --Gardellini QUIS CUSTODIET CUSTODES IPSOS. Who will guard the guards themselves? --Juvenal, Satires VI.347-348 QUIS, QUID, UBI, QUIBUS AUXILIIS, CUR, QUOMODO, QUANDO. Who, what, where, by what aids, why, how, when. (The 7 circumstances are contained in this verse [like the 5 W's of journalism], to which Aristotle in Ethica 3:1 adds another, "de quo," which Cicero includes in the circumstance "quid.") --Cicero, De Inventione Rhetorica 1, as quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Ia IIae, Qu. 7, A. 3 QUISQUIS PRAESUMITUR BONUS, DONEC PROBETUR MALUS. Someone is presumed good, until he be proven evil. --Legal QUO CELERIUS, EO MELIUS: The quicker, the better. QUO CITIUS, EO MELIUS: The sooner, the better. QUO VADIS, ET AD QUID? Whither do you go, and why? --St. Ignatius QUOD DEUS AVERTAT. God forbid (lit., which may God turn away). QUOD EST NECESSARIUM LICITUM. What is necessary is lawful. -- Legal QUOD MINIMUM, MINIMUM EST, SED IN MINIMO FIDELEM ESSE, MAGNUM EST. --St. Augustine, De Doctrina Christiana, IV, 35 QUOD OMNES TANGIT AB OMNIBUS APPROBARI DEBET. What touches everyone must be approved by everyone. --Legal QUOT LIBRI, TOT VERSIONES. As many books as there are, so many versions are there. QUOT SENTENTIAE, TOT DOCTORES. So many advocates as opinions. (There are as many opinions on the details as there are advocates for the position.) -- Aphorism REBUS SIC STANTIBUS. With things being as they are (lit., with things standing thus.) RECEDE LONGIUS ET RIDE! Take a step back [from things that make you angry] and laugh. --Seneca, De Ira, III.37 REDIRE AD FONTEM. To return to the source. --Commonplace REM TENE, VERBA SEQUUNTUR. Grasp the subject, the words will follow. --Cato REPETITIO MATER MEMORIAE. Repetition (is) the mother of memory. REPETITIO EST MATER STUDIORUM. Repetition is the mother of studies. RES FIRMA MITESCERE NESCIT. A firm resolve does not know how to weaken. RES JUDICATA: An issue that has been adjudicated by a court. RES LOQUITUR IPSA (RES IPSA LOQUITUR). The matter speaks for itself. --Cicero, Pro Milone, 53 RES NON VERBA. Deeds, not words. ROMA, CUI PAR EST NIHIL ET NIHIL SECUNDUM (Martial) ROMA LOCUTA EST, CAUSA FINITA EST. UTINAM ALIQUANDO FINIATUR ERROR. (Simply, ROMA LOCUTA, CAUSA FINITA.) Rome has spoken, the case is closed. Would that the error were finished at the same time. --St. Augustine, Sermones 131 SACERDOS PROPTER ALIOS. A priest [is] for others. --Theological SACRA SCRIPTURA OSTENDIT NON MOTUS CAELORUM, SED VIAM AD CAELOS. Sacred Scripture shows not the motions of the heavens, but the way to heaven. -- Cardinal Caesar Baronius (?1538-1607) SACRAMENTA SUNT PROPTER HOMINES. The sacraments are for men. --Theological SAECULUM AUTEM OPERIBUS EST. Moreover, the secular world is the (place) for (doing) our (good) works. --St. Augustine SAEPE CREAT MOLLIS SPINA ROSAS. Often the prickly thorn creatses tender roses. --Aphorism SALUS ANIMARUM SUPREMA EST LEX. The saving of souls is the highest law. --Cf. Codex Iuris Canonici [1983], sec. 1752 SALUS POPULI SUPREMA EST LEX. The welfare of the people is the supreme law. --Cicero, De Legibus SALVO PUDORE. Decency being observed. SANABILIBUS AEGROTAMUS MALIS. We are sick with curable ills. --Seneca, Epistulae Morales, 108:3 SANCTA SIMPLICITAS. Holy simplicity. SANGUIS MARTYRUM SEMEN EST CHRISTIANORUM. The blood of martyrs (is) the seed of Christians. --Tertullian SAXA LOQUUNTUR. The stones speak. SCIENTI ET VOLENTI NULLA FIT INIURIA. To one who is aware and willing there is not injury. --Theological (If a man acts knowledgeably and willingly, the responsibility of the act is his.) SCIENTIA CRESCAT, VITA COLATUR. Let knowledge grow (that) life may be enriched. SCIRE LEGES NON HOC EST VERBA EARUM TENERE, SED VIM ET POTESTATEM. To know the law is not this to remember their words, but their force and power. --Legal SCITO (NOSCE) TE IPSUM. Know thyself. --Peter Abelard; Latin translation of Thales's Greek aphorism "gnôthi seauton") SCRIBERE EST AGERE. To write is to act. SE DEFENDENDO: Self-defense. SED IN COMPARATIONE ILLORUM [IUDAEORUM] MULTO IPSE [PILATUS] INNOCENTIOR. But in comparison to them he was much more innocent. --St. Augustine, Tractatus super Psalmos, in Psalm. 63 ad vers. 2 (Lectio vi Feria VI in Parasceve ad Matutinum in II Nocturno) SEMPER EADEM. Always the same (Church). --Theological SEMPER FIDELIS. Always faithful -- United States Marines motto SEMPER PARATUS. Always prepared. -- United States Coast Guard motto SEMPER (ET) UBIQUE IDEM. Always (and) everywhere the same. -- Theological SENECTUS EST NATURA LOQUACIOR. Old age is by nature more talkative --Cicero, De Senectute, 55 SENIORES PRIORES. Elders first. SERA NIMIS VITA EST CRASTINA: VIVE HODIE. Tomorrow is too late to live (lit., life is too late tomorrow): live today. --Martial SERVA ME, SERVABO TE. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours (lit., serve me; I shall serve you). --Horace, Satires, 1:3:6 SERVATIS SERVANDIS: With what is to be preserved having been preserved. SERVUS SERVORUM DEI: Servant of the servants of God. --Pope St. Gregory the Great, Epistularum 13:1 SEXAGENARII DE PONTE. Sexagenarians down from the bridge. (The Romans disqualified anyone over sixty from campaigning for public office. Since these campaigns took place at the city's bridges, which were the main thoroughfares, the law gave birth to the proverb. In general, a policy of retiring those over a certain age.) SEXUS INFIRMA. The weaker sex (woman). --St. Jerome, Epistulae, 1:4 SI MONUMENTUM REQUIRIS, CIRCUMSPICE. If you seek his monument, look around you. --Written by the son of Christopher Wren, which is the motto on the arch of St. Paul's, London, which Sir Christopher Wren built, but where he is not interred SIC ME DEUS ADIUVET. So help me God. SIC PASSIM. Thus everywhere (in textual annotation). SI CUM IESUITIS ITIS, NON CUM IESU ITIS. If you go with the Jesuits, you don't go with Jesus. SI TACUISSES, PHILOSOPHUS MANSISSES. If you had been silent, you should have remained a philosopher [if you had kept your mouth shut, you might have been thought clever]. --Boethius SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM. If you want peace, prepare for war. - -After Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI. Thus passes the glory of the world. (This phrase is repeated three times to the newly elected Pontiff, during the ceremony of his coronation.) --Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, 1:3:6 SILENT ... LEGES INTER ARMA. Laws are silent amidst arms. --Cicero SILENTIUM EST AUREUM. Silence is golden. SIMILIA SIMILIBUS QUOD ANTE. Similar things for similar things which (were used) before. A principle of mediaeval medicine. "The hair of the dog that bit you." SANCTA SANCTE. [Do] holy things in a holy way. SINE DOMINICO NON POSSUMUS. Without the Lord's Day we cannot go on. --Early African Martyrs SINE STIPENDIO/PRO DEO. Without a stipend/for God. SOBRIA INEBRIETAS. Sober intoxication. --Bishop Ambrose of Milan, of Gregorian chant SOL OMNIBUS LUCET. The sun shines upon us all. --Petronius SOLA SCRIPTURA, SOLA FIDES, SOLA GRATIA, SOLUS DEUS. Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, God alone. --Martin Luther. SOLET FIERI. These things happen. --Seneca, De Ira, III.19 SOLI DEO GLORIA ET HONOR: To God alone (be) glory and honor. SOLUTIO OMNIUM DIFFICULTATUM CHRISTUS. The solution to all problems is Christ. --Theological SPECTACULUM PROCEDERE DEBET. The show must go on. SPIRITUS FRUMENTI. The spirit of the grain [i.e., alcohol]. STARE DECISIS, ET NON QUIETA MOVERE. To stand on decided matters and not to change decided matters. --Legal STAT CRUX, DUM VOLVITUR ORBIS. The Cross stands, while the earth turns. --Motto of the Carthusian Order STATUS QUESTIONIS. The state of the question. [A summary of the current thinking on an issue.] STATUS QUO ANTE. The state in which (it was) before. STRICTO SENSU. In a strict sense. STULTORUM PLENA SUNT OMNIA. Everything is full of foolish people. --Cicero STULTUS VERBIS NON CORRIGITUR. --Mediaeval motto STYLUS PHILOSOPHICUS. Scientific style [of Latinity]. SUAVITER IN MODO, SED FORTITER IN RE. Gently in manner, but bravely in deed. --St. Ignatius Loyola SUB SILENTIO. In silence. SUB SECRETO. In secret. SUFFICIT MIHI CONSCIENTIA MEA; NON CURO QUID DE ME LOQUANTUR HOMINES. My conscience is enough for me; I do not care what men say about me. --St. Jerome, Epistulae 123.15 SUGGESTIO VERI, SUGGESTIO FALSI. An intimation of truth (and) an intimation of falsity. ("Half truth.") SUI COMPOS. Competent in self. (Also "compos mentis.") SUMMUM OPUS: His greatest work. SUNT LACRIMAE RERUM, ET MENTEM MORTALIA TANGUNT. There are tears for things, and human mattes touch the mind. --Vergil, Aeneid I.462 SUUM CUIQUE (PULCHRUM EST). To each his own (of justice or taste). --Cicero (also: UNICUIQUE SUUM) TABULA RASA IN QUA NIHIL EST SCRIPTUM. A clean slate on which nothing has been written. --Aristotle, De Anima, 3:4, as quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica TEMPUS FUGIT. Time flies. TEMPORA MUTANTUR, NOS ET MUTAMUR IN ILLIS. Times change, and we change with them. --Cicero; also ascribed by Nicholas Borbonius (16th century) in is "Dicta" to Lothar I (795-855), Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, who had said, "Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis"; this is a hexameter variant TEMPUS NEMINEM MANET. Time waits for no man. THEOLOGIA DEUM DOCET, AB DEO DOCETUR, AD DEUM DUCIT. Theology teaches God, is taught by God, leads to God. --Mediaeval proverb TANTUM RELIGIO POTUIT SUADERE MALORUM. Religion can recommend so much evil. --Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, I.102) TEMPUS ABIRE TIBI EST. It is time for you to go. --Horace, Ep. 2:2:215 TEMPUS VINCIT OMNIA. Time conquers all things (cf. time heals all wounds). --Sundial motto TEMPUS VITAM REGIT. Time rules life. (Clock motto) TESTUDO ET LEPUS. The tortoise and the hare. TIMEO DANAOS, ET DONA FERENTES. I fear Greeks, even when they bear gifts. --Vergil, Aeneid II.49 TOLERABILES INEPTIAE. Bearable absurdities (trifling matters). TOLLE, LEGE; TOLLE, LEGE. Take, read; take, read. --St. Augustine, Confessiones, VIII.viii [the voice in the garden, from which he read Romans 13:12-13, "non in comissationibus et ebrietatibus...."] TOLLE MISSAM, TOLLE ECCLESIAM. Take away the Mass [and you] take away the Church. --Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman TOT POPULORUM DISCORDES FERASQUE LINGUAS SERMONIS COMMERCIO CONTRAXIT. (Latin) united through the fellowship of language the discordant and wild tongues of so many peoples. --Pliny the Elder, Historia Naturalis, 3:6:2 TOTUS MUNDUS AGIT HISTRIONEM. The whole world plays the actor (is a play). TROS, TYRIUSVE MIHI NULLO DISCRIMINE AGETUR. Whether Trojan or Greek shall make no difference to me. --Vergil TU NE CEDE MALIS, SED CONTRA AUDENTIOR ITO. Yield not to adversity, but, on the contrary, press on the more bravely. --Vergil, Aeneid VI.95 TURRIS EBURNEA: ivory tower. TUUS, O REGINA, QUID OPTES EXPLORARE LABOR; MIHI IUSSA CAPESSERE FAS EST. --Vergil, Aeneid I.76-77 (Aeolus to Juno) UBI AMOR, IBI OCULUS. Where love is, there is insight. (The lover sees the truth of the person). --Richard of St. Victor UBI LEGISLATIO, IBI INTERPRETATIO. Where the legislation (is), there is the interpretation (of the legislation). (It is for the legislator to interpret his own legislation.) --Theological UBI PETRUS, IBI ECCLESIA. Where Peter (is), there (is) the Church. --St. Ambrose UBI SOLITUDINEM FACIUNT, PACEM APPELLANT. They make a wilderness and call it peace. --Tacitus ULTIMUM IN EXECUTIONE, PRIMUM IN INTENTIONE. That which is first in the order of intention is last in the order of executio. --St. Thomas Aquinas UNDE CHRISTO E ROMANO. Whence from Christ as from a Roman. (Providence prepared Rome to become the Seat of Peter and center for the radiation of the Gospel). UNDE MALUM. Whence evil? [the great philosophical issue]. UNITAS IN VARIETATE, ET VARIETAS IN UNITATE. Unity in diversity, and diversity in unity. --St. Thomas Aquinas (definition of beauty) UNITATIS MIRABILE VINCULUM. The wonderful bond of unity. UNO AVULSO NON DEFICIT ALTER. Another is not lacking [to step in] when one is lost. --Vergil UNUM AD FINEM. Toward one end. UNUM NECESSARIUM. The one necessity. UNUS ATHANASIUS CONTRA MUNDUM. One Athanasius against the world. UNUS ET LONGUS ANNUS. --Tacitus of the "Year of the Four Emperors," A.D. 69 URBANUS ET INSTRUCTUS. A gentleman and a scholar. --Migne, Patrologia Latina, 79, of Isaiah, ca. 356 UT CETERI VIVANT. That others may live. --Motto of the U.S. Air Force Para Rescue unit (UT) FIANT OMNES UNO ORE LATINI. That all Latins might become of one tongue. --Vergil UT IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICETUR DEUS. That in all things God may be glorified. --Motto of the Benedictine Order UT ROMA CADIT, SIC OMNIS TERRA. As Rome falls, so [falls] the whole world. UTILITAS ANTE IUSTITIAM. Expediency before justice. UTINAM TAM FACILE POSSEM VERA REPERIRE, QUAM FALSA CONVINCERE. Would that I were able so easily to find the truth as to condemn falsehood. --Cicero, De Natura Deorum, I.91 UVA UVAM VIDENDO VARIA FIT. A grape by seeing a grape becomes varied [in color]. The sense is that a grape next to another grape darkens, to the point of spoilage. The old proverb, which is used in the Lonesome Dove, is more or less equivalent to our "one bad apple spoils the barrel." The source is a scholiast's comment on a line from Juvenal's Satire II. VADIT ET VENIT: It goes, and it comes. --Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, 3:6:11 VANUS EST: QUI SPEM SUAM PONIT IN HOMINIBUS AUT IN CREATURIS. He is vain who places his hope in men or in created things. --Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, 1:7:1 VARIUM ET MUTABILE SEMPER FEMINA. Ever a fickle and changeable thing is woman. --Vergil, Aeneid, IV.569-570 (of Dido) VENI, VICI, VICI. --Julius Caesar's summary of his swift victory at Zela in 47 B.C. over Pharnaces in the Pontic Campaign (Suetonius, Julius Caesar, XXXVII) VENIT HOSPES, VENIT CHRISTUS. [When] the stranger comes, Christ comes. --Motto of a monastery VERA VOCABULA RERUM AMISIMUS. We have lost the right words for things. --Sallust, Catiline, 52 VERBA DE FUTURO. Words about the future. VERBA MOVENT, EXEMPLA TRAHUNT. Words move (people, but) examples draw (them). ("Practice what you preach.") VERBUM SAPIENTI(BUS) SAT EST. A word to the wise is sufficient. VERE DIGITUS DEI HIC. Truly the finger of God [is] here. VERSUS POPULUM/AD ORIENTEM. Toward the people, toward the East. --Ecclesiatical VESTIGIA ... NULLA RETRORSUM. No footprints (lead) back. --Horace, Epistles, 1:1:74 VESTRA CAUSA TOTA NOSTRA EST. Your cause is entirely ours. VIA MEDIA. The middle way (i.e., between extremes). VIA TRITA, VIA TUTA. The tried way [is] the safe way. VICINUS EORUM TEMPORUM. A contemporary (lit., a neighbor of those times). VIDE QUOD SPERAS, NE TIBI VERE DETUR. Be careful what you hope for, lest it truly be given to you. VINCIT QUI PATITUR. He conquers who endures. VINCULUM UNITATIS. The bond of unity. VIDE ET CREDE. See and believe. ("Seeing is believing.") VIDE ... UT INVICEM SE DILIGENT. See how they (Christians) love one another. --Tertullian, Apologeticus, 39:9 VIDEBIMUS ET EXPECTABIMUS. We shall see and shall await ("Wait and see"; hysteron proteron). --Pope Adrian VI VIDEO MELIORA PROBOQUE, DETERIORA SEQUOR. I see and approve the better things; I follow the worse ones. --Ovid, Metamorphoses VII:20 VIM VI REPELLERE LICET. It is lawful to repel force with force. --Cicero VINCIT OMNIA AMOR (LABOR, VERITAS). Love (work, truth) conquers all. --Vergil, Eclogues X.69 VIR BONUS DICENDI PERITUS. A good man skilled in speaking. --Cato, definition of an orator VIRTUS IN MEDIO STAT. Virtue stands in the middle (i.e., between two extremes; the Aristotelian philosophy). VIS MEDICATRIX NATURAE. The healing power of nature. VITA BREVIS, ARS LONGA. Life is short, art is long. VITA SINE LIBRIS (LITERIS) MORS EST. Life without books (letters) is death. VITA UMBRATILIS. A life in the shadows (out of the spotlight). VITAE NECISQUE POSTESTAS. Power of life and death. VITAQUE CUM GEMITU FUGIT INDIGNATA SUB UMBRAS. And with a moan her life fled resentfully to the shades below. --Vergil, Aeneid X:381 (of the death of Camilla) VITIA NOSTRA REGIONUM MUTATIONE NON FUGIMUS. We do not flee our vices by a change of location (the contrary of "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence" or fleeing one location because another location is fancied to be better). --Anonymous VIVA FUI IN SILVIS; DUM VIXI TACUI; MORTUA DULCE CANO. I was alive in the woods; while I lived, I was silent; now dead, I sing sweetly. --Inscription on a harpsichord VIVAMUS, MEA LESBIA, ATQUE AMEMUS. Let us live and love, my Lesbia. --Catullus VIVAT ATQUE FLOREAT. May it live and prosper. VIVAT REX. Long live the king. VIVE ET VIVAS. Live and let live. VIVOS VOCO, MORTUOS PLANGO, FULGURA FRANO. I call the living, I mourn the dead, I dispel the storm. --Inscription on church bells VOCABULA ARTIS. Technical terms. VOCATUS ATQUE NON VOCATUS DEUS ADERIT. Bidden or not bidden, God will be present. --Inscription over Karl Jung's door and on his tombstone VOLVITUR ORBIS. The earth has moved on [literally, turned]. VOX ET PRAETEREA NIHIL. "All talk and no action" [lit., a word and nothing else]. VULTU AC FRONTE, QUAE EST ANIMI IANUA. Your face and expression, which are the door to your soul. --Quintus Cicero, Commentariolum Petitionis GREEK PHRASES Aith' ophelon agamos t' emenai agonos t' apolesthai. Ah, never to have married, and childless to have died! --Homer, Iliad (Quoted by Augustus, who was frequently disappointed in the conduct of his children, apud Suetonius Divus Augustus, para. 65) Archê hemisu pantos. A (good) beginning is half the whole. Dôron tou potamou. [Egypt is the] gift of the river [Nile]. --Herodotus II.5, often encapsulated as "gift of the Nile." Dos moi poustô kai kinô tên gên. Give me a place to stand, and I will move the earth. --Archimedes (ca. 287-ca. 212), quoted by Pappus of Alexandria (ca. A.D. 40), Synagoge (Collection), Book VIII Eis ta haidou. Go to Hell (Hades). --Aristophanes Gnôthi seauton. Know yourself (inscription upon the Temple of Apollo at Delphi), attributed to Thales. Ho anexetastos bios ou biotos. The unexamined life is not worth living. --Plato, Apology of Socrates, 38a Hoi aristoi / hoi polloi. The aristocracy / the many. Hoiê per phyllôn genê, toiê de kai andrôn. As the generation of leaves, so is that of men. --Homer, Iliad, 6:146) Hôn hoi theoi philousin apothnê iskeineos. Those whom the gods love die young. --Menander, Dis Exapaton, Fragment 4 Ouk oida, oude oiomai. As I do not know, nor do I think (I know). --Plato, Apology of Socrates, 21d Kalos kindynos. A beautiful risk. Klêdôn. An omen or presage contained in a word; an utterance charged with a meaning not intended by the speaker, but sent as a divine message to the accidental hearer. Ktêma eis aei. A possession for eternity. (Thucydides) (Logikê psyche) perierchetai tôn holon kosmon, kai to peri auton kenon, kai to schêma autou, kai eis tên apeirian tou alônos ekteinetai. (The rational soul) goes about the whole universe and the void surrounding it and traces its plan and stretches forth into the infinitude of time. --Marcus Aurelius, Meditationes, 11:1:2, on the scientific spirit of inquiry) Mega biblion, mega kakon. A big book (is) a big evil. -- Callimachus of Alexandria Meletê to pan. Practice is everything. ("Practice makes perfect"). Mia gar chelidôn ear ou poiei, oude mia êmera. For one swallow does not make a spring, nor does one day. --Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, I.7 Nekusis. Harrowing [oppression] of Hell (as of Odysseus, Aeneas, Christ). Nikesomen. We shall overcome. (Said by the Greeks before battle) Ou polla alla poly. Not many things, but much. ("Not quantity, but quality.") Panta rei kai ouden menei. Everything flows (changes), and nothing remains the same. --Heraclitus, ca. 580-ca. 500 B.C. Pantes antropoi tou eidenai oregontai physei. All men by nature desire to know. --Aristotle, Metaphysics, 1:1 Pantôn chrêmatôn anthropôn metro einai. Man is the measure of all things. --Quoted by Plato in Theaetetus, 160d) Politikon ho anthropos zôon. Man is a political (social) animal. --Aristotle, Politics 1253a1 Speude bradeôs. Make haste slowly. --Suetonius, Augustus (Latin, "festina lente"); Greek aphorism Symphônta tôn holôn. Harmony of the universe. --Epictetus, Dialogi, I.12 Tauta mnêmêi kechristhô. Color (show kindness to) these things in memory. To anthropinon agathon psychês energeia ginetai kat' aretên. The good of man [happiness] is the exercise of his soul in accordance with virtue [excellence]... or if there be several human excellences or virtues, in conformity with the best and most perfect among them. Moreover, this activity must occupy a complete lifetime. --Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, I.vii.15 (1098a13) To apodêmein hê arestê paideia. Traveling is the best teacher. Tou theou thelontos. God willing (cf. Latin Deo volente]. Toutêi nika. Be victorious with this. --Eusebius, Life of Constantine, 1:28-9, of Constantine's vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge; cf. Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum, 44:5:6)