Quotes Flashcards
est unusquisque faber ipsae suae fortunae
every man is the artisan of his own fortune
Appius Claudius Caecus
utinam populus Romanus unam cervicem haberet!
if only the roman people had one neck!
Caligula
mens sana in corpore sano
a sound mind in a sound body
Juvenal
vae puto deus fio
alas, i think i am becoming a god
Vespasian
bella horrida bella
wars, horrid wars
Vergil
Satura tota nostra est
satire is wholly ours
Quintilian
“esse quam videri” bonus malebat
he (cato) preferred to be good rather than seem good
Sallust
fato Metelli Romae fiunt consules
the Metelli become consuls of Rome by fate
Naevius
saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas
often the prickly thorn produces tender roses
Ovid
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres
all of gaul is divided into three parts
Caesar
cui dono lepidum novum libellum
to whom do i give my new elegant little book
Catullus
ars longa, vita brevis
art is long, life is short
originally Hippocrates
salus populi suprema lex
the safety of the people is the supreme law
Cicero
difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas
it is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practice it
Pliny the Younger
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
there is no easy way from the earth to the stars
Seneca the Younger
acta est fabula
the play is over
Augustus
cito fit quod dii volunt
what the gods want happens soon
Petronius
qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit
he who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow
Ovid
tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem
so great a task it was to found the Roman race
Vergil
est modus in rebus
there is a middle ground in things
Horace
ab ovo usque ad mala
from the egg to the apples
Horace
caeca invidia est
envy is blind
Livy
homines dum docent discunt
people learn when they teach
Seneca
facilis descensus Averno
easy is the descent to Avernus
Vergil
qualis artifex pereo!
what an artist i die!
Nero
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
it is sweet and glorious to die for one’s country
Horace
festina lente
make haste slowly
Augustus
militat omnis amans et habet sua castra Cupido
every lover is a soldier and has his camp in Cupid
Ovid
difficile est longum subito deponere amorem
it is difficult to suddenly give up a long love
Catullus
libenter homines id quod volunt credunt
men gladly believe that which they wish for
Caesar
ora et labora
pray and labor
st. benedict
dictum sapienti sat est
a word to the wise is sufficient
Terence
stultum est timere quod vitare non potes
it is foolish to fear that which you cannot avoid
Syrus
si monumentum requiris circumspice
if you seek a monument, look around (St. Paul’s Cathedral)
Sir Christopher Wren
exegi monumentum aere perennius
i have erected a monument more lasting than bronze
Horace
ut sementum feceris ita metes
as you sow so will you reap
Cicero
o Tite tute Tati tibi tanta, tyranne, tulisti
oh, you tyrant, Titus Tatius! you took such great things for yourself!
Ennius
eheu fugaces labuntur anni
alas, the fleeting years slip by
Horace
nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit
there is no book so bad that is not profitable in some part
Pliny the Younger
carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero
seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow
Horace
Quintili Vare, legiones redde!
Quintilius Vare, give me back my legions!
Augustus
inter arma leges silent
in times of war, the laws fall silent
Cicero
amor tussisque non celantur
love, and a cough, are not concealed
Ovid
nunc est bibendum
now we must drink
Horace
necesse est multos timeat quem multi timent
he must fear many, whom many fear (referring to Caesar)
Laberius
nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtur dementiae fuit
there has not been any great talent without an element of madness
Seneca the Younger
felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas
he is fortunate who had been able to learn the causes of things
Vergil
bene qui latuit bene vixit
he who has lived in obscurity has lived well
Ovid
nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres
as a true translator you will take care not to translate word for word
Horace
ex tempore
from the moment
Cicero
etiam capillus unus habet umbram
even one hair has a shadow
Publilius Syrus
de mortuis nil nisi bonum
say nothing but good about the dead
Chilon
alea iacta est
the die is cast
Julius Caesar
vir bonus, dicendi peritus
a good man, skilled in speaking
Cato the Elder
gladiator in arena consilium capit
the gladiator is making his plan in the arena
Seneca the Younger
expertus dico, nemo est in amore fidelis
i say as an expert, no one is faithful in love
Propertius
latet anguis in herba
a snake lies hidden in the grass
Vergil
in medio tutissimus ibis
you shall go safest in the middle course
Ovid
vae victis!
woe to the conquered!
Brennus
cum grano salis
with a grain of salt
Pliny the Elder
hoc voluerunt
they wished this
Julius Caesar
qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
if you want peace prepare for war
Vegetius
animis obibusque parati
prepared in mind and resources
Vergil
arma virumque cano
i sing of arms and a man
Vergil
rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cycno
a rare bird upon the earth and very much like a black swan
Juvenal
virum mihi, Camena, insece versutum
tell me, O Muse, of the skillful man
Livius Andronicus
puri sermonis amator
a lover of pure speech (said of Terence)
Julius Caesar
oderint dum metuant
let them hate so long as they fear
Caligua (originally Accius)
quot homines tot sententiae
so many men, so many thoughts
Terence
tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento
you, Roman, remember to rule peoples with your power
Vergil
qui dedit beneficium tacet; narrat qui accepit
let him who has given a favor be silent; let he who has received it tell it
Seneca the Younger
meos tam suspicione quam crimine iudico carere oportere
i feel that members of my family should never be suspected of breaking the law
Julius Caesar
non omnia moriar
not all of me will die
Horace
nemo repente fuit turpissimus
no one ever became thoroughly bad in one step
Juvenal
Carthago delenda est
Carthage must be destroyed
Cato the Elder
e pluribus unum
from many one
Vergil
fortes fortuna adiuvat
fortune helps the brave
Terence
timendi causa est nescire
ignorance is the cost of fear
Seneca the Younger
panem et circenses
bread and circuses
Juvenal
quid rides? mutato nomine de te fabula narratur
what are you laughing at? just change the name and the joke’s on you
Horace
frater, ave atque vale
brother, hello and goodbye
Catullus
senectus ipsast morbus
old age itself is a disease
Terence
forsan et haec olim meminisee iuvabit
perhaps one day it will be pleasant to remember even these things
Vergil
sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
but who will guard the guardians themselves?
Juvenal
nil desperandum
don’t despair
Horace
omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori
love conquers all, and let us yield to it
Vergil
da mihi mille basia!
give me a thousand kisses!
Catullus
tacent, satis laudant
their silence is enough praise
Terence
canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet
a timid dog barks more violently than it bites
Curtius Rufus
o tempora! o mores!
oh, the times! oh, the morals! (Catilinam I)
Cicero
erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat
he was at Misenumand and he was personally in command of the fleet with his authority
Pliny the Younger
vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love
Catullus
bis dat qui cito dat
he gives twice who quickly gives
Syrus
equo ne credite, Teucri. quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
don’t trust the horse, Trojans. whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even bearing gifts
Vergil
ride, si sapis
laugh if you are wise
Martial
dux femina facti
the leader of the deed was a woman
Vergil
et tu, Brute?
even you, Brutus?
Julius Caesar
cum tacent clamant
when they remain silent, they cry out
Cicero
sera nimis vita est crasina; viva hodie
tomorrow’s life is too late; live today
Martial
risu inepto res ineptior nulla est
there is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh
Catullus
tacitum vivtit sub pectore vulnus
the secret wound still lives within the heart
Vergil
errare humanum est
to err is human
Seneca the Younger
nomen amicitia est; nomen inane fides
friendship is but a name; fidelity but an empty name
Ovid
amici, diem perdidi
friends, i have lost a day
Titus
dis aliter visum
it seemed otherwise to the gods
Vergil
patria est communis omniun parens
the fatherland is the common parent of us all
Cicero
veni vidi vici
i came, i saw, i conquered
Julius Caesar
cui bono?
for whose benefit is it?
Cicero
agnosco veteris vestigia flammae
I feel once more the scars of the old flame
Vergil
annuit coeptis
he has smiled on our undertakings
Vergil
odi et amo
i hate and i love
Catullus
tarditas et procrastinatio odiosa est
delay and procrastination is hateful
Cicero
homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto
i am a man: i think nothing human is alien to me
Terence
nulla salus bello
there is no health in war
Vergil
aliquando et insanire iucundum est
it is sometimes pleasant even to act like a madman
Seneca the Younger
num barbarorum Romulus rex fuit?
Romulus was not a king of barbarians, was he?
Cicero
perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim
be patient and tough; one day this pain will be useful to you
Ovid
caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt
they change the sky, not their soul, who run across the sea
Horace
nil posse creari de nilo
nothing can be created from nothing
Lucretius
Bruta fulmina et vana
thunderbolts that strike blindly and in vain
Pliny the Elder
aut insanit homo, aut versus facit
the fellow is either mad or he is composing verses
Horace
at tuba terribili sonitu taratantara dixit
but the trumpet sounded with its terrible taratantara
Ennius
video barbam et pallium; philosophum nondum video
I see the beard and cloak, but i don’t yet see a philosopher
Gellius
quorum pars magna fui
of which I was a great part
Vergil
paete, non dolet
it does not hurt, Paetus
Tacitus
bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter
you might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure
Tacitus
amantium irae amoris integratio’st
the quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love
Terence
quam se ipse amans- sine rivali!
himself loving himself so much- without a rival!
Cicero
ego me bene habeo
with me all is well
Burrus
mus uni non fidit antro
a mouse does not rely on just one hole
Plautus
beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere
to accept a favor is to sell one’s freedom
Syrus
disertissime Romuli nepotum
most eloquent of the descendants of Romulus (to Cicero)
Catullus
diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium
diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence
Seneca the Younger
nemo malus felix
no bad man is lucky
Juvenal
omnia iam firnt fieri quae posse negabam
everything which I said could not happen will happen now
Ovid
ille mi par esse deo videtur
he seems to me to be equal to a god
Catullus
a cane non magno saepe tenetur aper
a boar is often held by a not-so-large dog
Ovid
o curas hominum! o quantum est in rebus inane!
ah, the human cares! ah, how much futility in the world!
Lucilius
inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est
inhumanity is harmful in every age
Cicero
ars est celare artem
it is art to conceal art
Ovid
tantum religio potuit suadere malorum
so potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds
Lucretius
bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem
it is not goodness to be better than the worst
Seneca the Younger
dabit deus his quoque finem
God will even grant an end to these [troubles]
Vergil
saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit
often it is not even advantageous to know what will be
Cicero
mendacem oportet esse memorem
a liar must have a good memory
Quintilian
sedit qui timuit ne non succederet
he who feared he would not succeed sat still
Horace
tempus exax rerum
time that devours all things
Ovid
nil actum reputa si quid superest agendum
don’t consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done
Lucan
quaedam non iura scripta sed omnibus scriptis certiora sunt
some laws are unwritten, but they are better established than all the written ones
Seneca the Elder
interfice errorum, diligere errantem
kill the sin, love the sinner
St. Augustine
aequam memento rebus in arduis serbare mentem
remember to keep a clear head in difficult times
Horace
nullum’st iam dictum quod non sit dictum prius
nothing is already said which hasn’t been said before
Terence
Roma, urbs aeterna
Rome, the eternal city
Tibullus
aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent
other people’s things are more pleasing to us, an ours to other people
Syrus
probitas laudtur et alget
honesty is praised and left in the cold
Juvenal
assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit
constant practice devoted to one subject often outdoes both intelligence and skill
Cicero
alere flammas
to feed the flames
Ovid
aura popularis
the popular breeze
Cicero
auri sacra fames
the cursed hunger for gold
Vergil
divina natura dedit agros, ars humana aedificavit urbes
divine nature gave us fields, human skill built our cities
Varro
grammatici certant
the scholars quarrel
Horace
auream mediocritatem
golden mean
Horace
consensus audacium
an agreement of rash men
Cicero
ubi solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant
when they make a desolation they call it peace
Tacitus
Mantua me genuit, Calabri rapuere, tenet nunc Parthenope, cecini pascua, rura, duces
Mantua gave me birth, Calabri snatched me away, now Parthenope holds me; I sang of shepherds, pastures, and heroes
Vergil
Aeneadum genetrix, hominum divomque voluptas
mother of Aeneas, pleasure of men and gods
Lucretius
satis eloquentiae sapientiae parum
plenty of eloquence, not much intelligence
Sallust
facilius per partes in cognitionem totius adducimur
we are more easily led part by part to an understanding of the whole
Seneca the Younger
experto credite
trust the expert
Vergil
favete linguis
keep quiet
Horace
coram populo
in the presence of the people
Horace
simia quam similis, turpissimus bestia, nobis!
how like us is that very ugly beast the monkey!
Cicero
genus irritabile vatum
the irritable race of poets
Horace
amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time
Syrus
maxima debetur puero reverentia
the greatest respect in owed to a child
Juvenal
in virtute sunt multi ascensus
there are many degrees in excellence
Cicero
fata viam invenient
the fates will find a way
Vergil
omniun consensu capax imperii nisi imperasset
by general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled
Tacitus
non est ars quae ad effectum casu venit
that which achieves its effect by accident is not art
Seneca the Younger
Nescio quid maius nascitur Iliade
something greater than the Iliad now springs to birth (about the Aeneid)
Propertius
colossus magnitudinem suam servabit etiam si steterit in puteo
a giant will keep his size even though he will have stood in a well
Seneca the Younger
moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque
on ancient ways and heroes stands the Roman state
Ennius
videtis quantum scelus contra rem publicam vobis nuntiatum sit?
how great an evil do you see that may have been announced by you against the Republic?
Cicero
materiam superbat opus
the workmanship surpassed the subject matter
Ovid
flamma fumo est proxima
flame follows smoke
Plautus
maiorum consuetudini deditus
devoted to the tradition of his ancestors
Seneca the Younger
legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus
we are slaves of the law so that we may be able to be free
Cicero
vitanda est improba siren desidia
one must avoid that wicked temptress Laziness
Horace
insanabile cacoëthes scribendi
an incurable passion to write
Juvenal
donec gratus eram tibi
as long as I was pleasing to you
Horace
oderint dum probent
let them hate provided they approve
Tiberius
vixerunt
they have lived (they are dead)
Cicero
otium sine litteris mors est et hominis vivi sepultura
leisure without literature is death, or rather the burial of a living man
Seneca the Younger
fallaces sunt rerum species
the appearances of things are deceptive
Seneca the Younger
fidus Achates
faithful Achates
Vergil
ego nolo Caesar esse
I don’t want to be Caesar
Florus
trahimur omnes laudis studio
we are all drawn by our eagerness for praise
Cicero
splendide mendax
splendidly false
Horace
vis consili expers mole ruit sua
brute force bereft of wisdom falls to ruin by its own weight
Horace
fama volat
rumor flies
Vergil
amoto queramus seria ludo
joking aside, let us turn to serious matters
Horace
o praeclarim custodem ovium lupum!
an excellent protector sheep, the wolf!
Cicero
ridentem docere verum quid vetat?
what forbids a laughing man from telling the truth?
Horace
Sicelides Musae, paulo maiora canamus
Sicilian Muses, let us sing of slightly grander things
Vergil
malum consilium quod mutari non potest
it is a bad plan that cannot be changed
Syrus
aspirat primo Fortuna labori
fortune smiles upon our first effort
Vergil
excitabat fluctus in simpulo
he was stirring up billows in a ladle
Cicero
curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent
light cares speak, great ones are speechless
Seneca the Younger
et stultus labor est ineptiarum
‘tis silly to waste time on foolish trifles
Martial
potest ex casa magnus vir exire
a great man can come from a hut
Seneca the Younger
quo usque tabdem abutere, Catalina, patientia nostra?
how long will you abuse our patience, Catiline?
Cicero
negotium populo Romano melius quam otium committi
the Roman people understand work better than leisure
Appius Claudius Caecus
ab uno disce omnes
learn all from one thing
Vergil
certum est quia impossibile
it is certain because it is impossible
Tertullian
nullum saeculum magnis ingeniis clausum est
no era is closed to great intellects
Seneca the Younger
simplex muditiis
unaffected by manners
Horace
gigni de nihilo nihil; in nilium nil posse reverti
nothing can be produced from nothing; nothing can be returned into nothing
Persius
donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos; tempora si fuerint nubila, solus eris
as long as you are lucky, you will have many friends; if cloudy times appear, you will be alone
Ovid
res ad triarios rediit
the situation has come down to the triarii
ipsa scientia potestas est
knowledge itself is power
Francis Bacon
arcades ambo
Arcadians both
Vergil
non omnes qui habent citharam sunt citharoedi
not all who own a lyre are lyre-players
Varro
medici graviores morbos asperir remediis curant
doctors cure the more serious diseases with harsh remedies
Curtius Rufus
struit insidias lacrimis cum femina plorat
when a women weeps, she is setting traps with her tears
Dionysius Cato
tamquam alter idem
as if a second self
Cicero
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
fama obstant
the Fates oppose
Vergil
vos vestros servate, meos mihi linquite mores
you keep to your own ways and leave mine to me
Petrarch
leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus
a burden which is done is well becomes light
Ovid
in alio pediculum, in te ricinum non vides
you see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself
Petronius
bella detesta matribus
war, the horror of mothers
Horace
dulce est desipere in loco
it is sweet to relax at the proper time
Horace
gutta cavat lapidem
dripping hollows out rock
Ovid
bis repetita placent
the things that please are those that are asked for again and again
Horace
per varios usus artem experientia fecit
practice has brought skill through different exercises
Manilius
pallida mors
pale death
Horace
novem Iovis concordes filiae sorores
you nine daughters of Jupiter, sisters of one heart
Naevius
extinctus amabitur idem
the same man will be loved when he is dead
Horace
culpam poena premit comes
punishment closely follows guilt as its companion
Horace
dente lupus, cornu taurus petit
the wolf attacks with his fang, the bull with his horn
Horace
abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit
he has left, absconded, escaped, and disappeared
Cicero
Gracia capta ferum victorem cepit
captive Greece captured her savage victor
Horace
vita non est vivere, sed valere vita est
life is not to live but life is to be well
Martial
ante senectutem curavi ut bene viveremi; in senectute curavi ut bene moriar
before old age I took call to live well; in old age I take care to die well
Seneca
disiecti membra poetae
limbs of a dismembered poet
Horace
integer vitae scelerisque purus
upright of life and free from wickedness
Horace
secrete amicos admore; lauda palam
advise friends in secret; praise them openly
Publilius Syrus
si post fata venit gloria, non propero
if glory comes after death, I hurry not
Martial
possunt, quia posse videntur
they can because they think they can
Vergil
maximum remedium irae est mora
the greatest remedy for anger is delay
Seneca
non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare
I do not love you, Sabidi, and I don’t know why
Martial
da dextram misero
give a hand!
Vergil
ille dolet vere qui sine teste dolet
he mourns honestly who mourns without witnesses
Martial
nihil est ab omni parte beatum
nothing is good in every part
Horace
non est iocus esse malignum
there is no joking where there is spite
Horace
fundamentum iustitiae primum est ne cui noceatur
the first foundation of justice is not to harm others
Cicero
quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit
those who true love has held, it will go on holding
Seneca
invidiam, tanquam ignem, summa petere
envy, like fire, always makes for the highest points
Livy
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo
may it remain everlasting, more than one lifetime
Catullus
semper ad eventum festinat et in medias res, non secus ac notas, auditorem rapit
he always hurries to the main event and whisks his audience into the middle of things as though they already know
Horace
necessitas dat legem non ipsa accipit
necessity gives the law without itself acknowledging one
Publilius Syrus
extincto amabitur idem
the hated man will be loved after he’s dead
Horace
parvum parva decent
small things become the small
Horace
nemo liber est qui corpori servit
no man is free who is a slave to the flesh
Seneca
interfice errorem, diligere errantem
kill the sin, love the sinner
St. Augustine
nimium amator ingenii sui
a conceited person
Quintillian
crescit amor nummi quintum ipaa pecunia crescit
the love of money increases as wealth itself increases
Juvenal
quisquis ubique habitat, Maxime, nusqua habitat
he has no home whose home is all the world
Martial
cras amet qui numquam amavit quique amavit cras amet
let him love tomorrow who has never loved and let he who has loved love tomorrow
Pervigilium Veneris
tolle lege
take up and read
St. Augustine
Iuppiter ex alto periuria ridet amantum
Jupiter from on high laughs at the perjury of lovers
Ovid
ingenio maximus, arte rudis
greatest in genius, rough in skill (said of Ennius)
Ovid
Aurum irrepertum et sic melius situm
gold discovered and all the better for being so
Horace
Iuppiter ex alto periuria ridet amantum
Jupiter from on high laughs at the perjury of lovers
Ovid
Aurum irrepertum et sic melius situm
gold discovered and all the better for being so
Horace
aut viam inveniam aut faciam
I’ll either find a way or make one
Livy
dimidium facti qui coepit habet
once you’ve started, you’re halfway there
Horace