Quotes Flashcards
1
Q
Oderint dum metuant
A
Let them hate me provided they fear me
Accius
2
Q
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum
A
Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen
Thomas a’ Kempis
3
Q
Est unusquisque faber ipsae suae fortunae
A
Every man is the artisan of his own fortune
Appius Claudius
4
Q
Negotium populo Romano melius quam otium committi
A
The Roman people understand work better than leisure
Appius Claudius
5
Q
Paete, non dolet (after stabbing herself in 43 BC)
A
It does not hurt, Paetus
Arria the Elder
6
Q
Acta est fabula (last words)
A
The play is over
Augustus
7
Q
Festina lente
A
Make haste slowly
Augustus
8
Q
Quintili Vare, legiones redde!
A
Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions!
9
Q
Ipsa scientia potestas est
A
Knowledge itself is power
Francis Bacon
10
Q
Ora et labora
A
Pray and labor
St. Benedict
11
Q
Vae victis! (after capturing Rome in 390 BC)
A
Woe to the conquered!
Brennus
12
Q
Ego me bene habeo (last words)
A
With me all is well
Burrus
13
Q
Alea iacta est (after crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC)
A
The die is cast
Caesar
14
Q
Et tu, Brute? (supposed last words)
A
Even you, Brutus?
Caesar
15
Q
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres (Comentarii De Bello Gallico, I.1)
A
All of Gaul is divided into three parts
Caesar
16
Q
Hoc voluerunt (after battle of Munda in 45 BC)
A
They wished this
Caesar
17
Q
Libenter homines id quod volunt credunt (Comentarii De Bello Gallico, III.18)
A
Men gladly believe that which they wish for
Caesar
18
Q
Meos tam suspicione quam crimine iudico carere oportere (after divorce of Pompeia in 62 BC)
A
I feel that members of my family should never be suspected of breaking the law
Caesar
19
Q
Puri sermonis amator (said of Terence)
A
A lover of pure speech
Caesar
20
Q
Veni, vidi, vici (after battle of Zela in 47 BC)
A
I came, I saw, I conquered
Caesar
21
Q
Utinam populus Romanus unam cervicem haberet!
A
If only the Roman people had one neck!
Caligula
22
Q
Carthago delenda est (end of every speech)
A
Carthage must be destroyed
Cato the Elder
23
Q
Vir bonus, dicendi peritus (definition of an orator)
A
A good man, skilled in speaking
Cato the Elder
24
Q
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
A
To whom do I give my new elegant little book?
Catullus
25
Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem
It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love
| Catullus
26
Disertissime Romuli nepotum
Most eloquent of the descendants of Romulus (to Cicero)
| Catullus
27
Frater, ave atque vale
Brother, hello and good-bye
| Catullus
28
Ille mi par esse deo videtur
He seems to me to be equal to a god
| Catullus
29
Odi et amo
I hate and I love
| Catullus
30
Risu inepto res ineptior nulla est
There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh
| Catullus
31
Vivamus, mae Lesbia, atque amemus
Let us live, my Lesbia. and let us love
| Catullus
32
Bis dat qui cito dat (Don Quixote)
He gives twice who quickly gives
| Cervantes
33
De mortuis nihil nisi bonum
Say nothing but good about the dead
| Chilon
34
Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit
Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdues both intelligence and skill
Cicero
35
Aura popularis
The popular breeze
| Cicero
36
Consensus audacium
An agreement of rash men (a conspiracy)
| Cicero
37
Cui bono?
For whose benefit is it?
| Cicero
38
Cum tacent clamant (In Catilinam I)
When they remain silent, they cry out
| Cicero
39
Excitabat fluctus in simpulo
He was stirring up billows in a ladle
| Cicero
40
Ex tempore
From the moment
| Cicero
41
Inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est
Inhumanity is harmful in every age
| Cicero
42
In virtute sunt multi ascensus
There are many degrees in excellence
| Cicero
43
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus
We are slaves of the law so that we may be able to be free
| Cicero
44
Num barbarorum Romulus rex fuit?
Romulus was not a king of barbarians, was he?
| Cicero
45
O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum!
An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf!
| Cicero
46
O tempora! O mores! (In Catilinam I)
Oh, the times! Oh, the morals!
| Cicero
47
Patria est communis omnium parens
The fatherland is the common parent of us all
| Cicero
48
Quam se ipse amans- sine rivali!
Himself loving himself so much- without a rival!
| Cicero
49
Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?
How long will you abuse our patience, Catiline?
| Cicero
50
Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit
Often it is not even advantageous to know what will be
| Cicero
51
Salus populi suprema lex
The safety of the people is the supreme law
| Cicero
52
Simia quam similis, turpissimus bestia, nobis!
How like us is that very ugly beast the monkey!
| Cicero
53
Tamquam alter idem
As if a second self
| Cicero
54
Tarditas et procrastinatio odiosa est
Delay and procrastination is hateful
| Cicero
55
Trahimur omnes laudis studio
We are all drawn by our eagerness for praise
| Cicero
56
Ut sementem feceris ita metes
As you sow so you will reap
| Cicero
57
Videtis quantum mscelus contra rem publicam vobis nuntiatum sit?
How great an evil do you see that may have been announced by you against the republic?
Cicero
58
Vixerunt (Said of the Catilinarian conspirators)
They have lived (They are dead)
| Cicero
59
Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet
A timid dog barks more violently than it bites
| Curtius Rufus
60
Medici graviores morbos asperis remediis curant
Doctors cure the more serious diseases with harsh remedies
| Curtius Rufus
61
Struit insidias lacrimis cum femina plorat
When a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears
| Dionysius Cato
62
At tuba terribili sonitu taratantara dixit
But the trumpet sounded with its terrible taratantara
| Ennius
63
Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque
On ancient ways and heroes stands the Roman state
| Ennius
64
O Tite tute Tati tibi tanta, tyranne, tulisti
Oh, you tyrant, Titus Tatius! You took such great things for yourself!
Ennius
65
Vix ulla tam iniqua pax, quin bello vel aequissimo sit potior
Scarcely is there any peace so unjust that it is better than even the fairest war
Erasmus
66
Ego nolo Caesar esse
I don't want to be Caesar
| Florus
67
Video barbam et pallium; philosophum nondum video
I see the beard and cloak, but I don't yet see a philosopher
| Gellius
68
Ars longa, vita brevis
Art is long, life is short
| Hippocrates
69
Ab ovo usque ad mala
From the egg right to the apples (From start to finish)
| Horace
70
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem
Remember to keep a clear head in difficult times
| Horace
71
Amoto quaeramus seria ludo
Joking aside, let us turn to serious matters
| Horace
72
Auream mediocritatem
Golden mean
| Horace
73
Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit (Satires)
The fellow is either mad or he is composing versus
| Horace
74
Bella detesta matribus
Wars, the horror of mothers
| Horace
75
Bis repetita placent
The things that please are those that are asked for again and again
Horace
76
Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt (Epistulae)
They change the sky, not their soul, who run across the sea
| Horace
77
Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero (Odes)
Seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow
| Horace
78
Consule Planco
In the consulship of Plancus (In the good old days)
| Horace
79
Coram populo
In the presence of the people
| Horace
80
Culpam poena premit comes
Punishment closely follows guilt as its companion
| Horace
81
Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit
The wolf attacks with his fang, the bull with his horn
| Horace
82
Disiecti membra poetae
Limbs of a dismembered poet
| Horace
83
Dulce est desipere in loco
It is sweet to relax at the proper time
| Horace
84
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori (Odes)
It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country
| Horace
85
Eheu fugaces labuntur anni (Odes)
Alas, the fleeting years slip by
| Horace
86
Est modus in rebus (Satires)
There is a middle ground in things
| Horace
87
Exegi monumentum aere perennius
I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze
| Horace
88
Extinctus amabitur idem (Epistles)
The same man will be loved whenhe is dead
| Horace
89
Favete linguis (Odes)
Keep quiet
| Horace
90
Genus irritabile vatum
The irritable race of poets
| Horace
91
Maecenas atavis edite regibus
Maecenas, born of monarch ancestors
| Horace
92
Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres
As a true translator you will take care not to translate word for word
Horace
93
Nil desperandum
Don't despair
| Horace
94
Non omnia moriar
Not all of me will die
| Horace
95
Nunc est bibendum
Now we must drink
| Horace
96
Pallida Mors
Pale Death
| Horace
97
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur
What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke's on you
Horace
98
Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat?
What forbids a laughing man from telling the truth?
| Horace
99
Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet
He who feared he would not succeed sat still
| Horace
100
Simplex munditiis
Unaffected by manners
| Horace
101
Splendide mendax
Splendidly false
| Horace
102
Vis consili expers mole ruit sua
Brute force bereft of wisdom falls to ruin by its own weight
| Horace
103
Vitanda est improba siren desidia
One must avoid that wicked temptress Laziness
| Horace
104
Insanabile cacoethes scribendi
An incurable passion to write
| Juvenal
105
Maxima debetur puero reverentia
The greatest respect in owed to a child
| Juvenal
106
Mens sana in corpore sano
A sound mind in a sound body
| Juvenal
107
Nemo malus felix
No bad man is lucky
| Juvenal
108
Nemo repente fuit turpissimus
No one ever became thoroughly bad in one step
| Juvenal
109
Panem et circenses
Bread and circuses
| Juvenal
110
Probitas laudatur et alget
Honesty is praised and left in the cold
| Juvenal
111
Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cycno
A rare bird upon the earth and very much like a black swan
| Juvenal
112
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
But who will guard the guardians themselves?
| Juvenal
113
Necesse est multos timeat quem multi timent
He must fear many, whom many fear
| Laberius
114
Virum mihi, Camena, insece versutum
Tell me, O Muse, of the skillful man
| Livius Andronicus
115
Caeca invidia est
Envy is blind
| Livy
116
Res ad triarios rediit
The situation has come down to the triarii
| Livy
117
Nil actum reputa si quid superest agendum
Don't consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done
Lucan
118
O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane!
Ah, human cares! Ah, how much futility in the world!
| Lucilius
119
Aeneadum genetrix hominum divomque voluptas
Mother of Aeneas, pleasure of men and gods
| Lucretius
120
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum
So potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds
| Lucretius
121
Per varios usus artem experientia fecit
Practice has brought skill through different exercises
| Manilius
122
Fato Metelli Romae fiunt consules
The Metelli become consuls of Rome by fate
| Naevius
123
Nowvem Iovis concordes filiae sorores
You nine daughters of Jupiter, sisters of one heart
| Naevius
124
Qualis artifex pereo! (last words)
What an artist I die!
| Nero
125
A cane non magno saepe tenetur aper
A boar is often held by a not-so-large dog
| Ovid
126
Alere flammas
To feed the flames
| Ovid
127
Amor tissisque non celantur
Love, and a cough, are not easily concealed.
| Ovid
128
Ars est celare artem
It is art to conceal art
| Ovid
129
Bene qui latuit bene vixit
He who has lived in obscurity has lived well
| Ovid
130
Donec eris felix multos numerabis amicos; tempora si fuerint nubia, solus eris
As long as you are lucky, you will have many friends; if cloudy times appear, you will be alone
Ovid
131
Gutta cavat lapidem
Dripping hollows out rock
| Ovid
132
Ingenio maximus, arte rudis (said of Ennius)
Greatest in genius, rough in skill
| Ovid
133
Leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus
A burden which is done well becomes light
| Ovid
134
Materiam superabat opus
The workmanship surpassed the subject matter
| Ovid
135
Militat omnis amans et habet sua castra Cupido
Every lover is a soldier and has his camp in cupid
| Ovid
136
Omnia iam fient fieri quae posee negabam
Everything which I said could not happen will happen now
| Ovid
137
Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim
Be patient and tough; one day this pain will be useful to you
Ovid
138
Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit
He who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow
| Ovid
139
Rident stolidi verba Latina
Fools laugh at the Latin language
| Ovid
140
Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas
Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses
| Ovid
