LATIN PROVERBS AND THEIR ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
1.
A bene
placito = “from one who has been pleased well”
2.
Abusus non
tollit usum = Abuse does not preclude proper use.
3.
A caelo
usque ad centrum = from the sky to the centre.
4.
A capite ad
calcem = from head to heel.
5.
A contrario
= from the opposite.
6.
A fortiori
= from the stronger.
7.
Abundans
cautela non nocet = abundant caution does not harm.
8.
Acta
santorum = deeds of the saints.
9.
Acta non
verba = actions not words.
10.
Actus non facit
reum nisi mens sit rea = the act is not guilty unless the mind is also guilty.
11.
Ad interim
= for meantime.
12.
Adsum = I am here.
13.
Agnus Dei =
Lamb of God.
14.
15.
Amor est
vitae essential = love is the essence of life.
16.
Amor et
melle et felle est fecundissmismus = love is rich with both honey and venom.
17.
Amor
patriae = love of one’s country.
18.
Ante bellum
= before the war.
19.
Aqua vitae
= water of life.
20.
Aquila non
capit muscas = an eagle does not catch flies.
21.
Aut via
inveniam aut faciam = I will find a way or I will make one.
22.
Aut vincere
aut mori = either to conquer or to die.
23.
Beatus homo
qui invenit sapentiam = blessed is the man who finds wisdom.
24.
Caritas
Christi = the love of God.
25.
Carpe diem
= seize the day.
26.
Carpe
noctem = seize the night,
27.
Causa
mortis = cause of death.
28.
Cave canem
= beware of dog.
29.
Certum est
quod certum reddi potest = it is certain if it is capable of being rendered
certain.
30.
Cessante
rationale legis cessat ipsa lex = when the reason for the law ceases the law
itself ceases.
31.
Christus
Rex = Christ the King.
32.
Cogito ergo
sum = I think therefore I am.
33.
Concordial
cum veritate = in harmony with truth.
34.
Condemnant
quod non intellegunt = they condemn what they do not understand.
35.
Consummatum
est = it is completed or finished.
36.
Contra spem
spero = hope against hope.
37.
Cor ad cor
loquitur = heart speaks to heart.
38.
Corruptio
optima pessima = the corruption of the best is the worst.
39.
Cred in
Unum Deum = I believe in one God.
40.
Crescat
scientia vita exclatur = let knowledge grow, let life be enriched.
41.
Cruci dum
spiro fido = While I trust in the cross, I have life.
42.
Cucullus
non facit monachum = the hood does not make the monk.
43.
Cura
peronalis = care for the whole person.
44.
Cura te
impsum = take care of your own self.
45.
Curriculum
vitae = course of life.
46.
Dat Deus
incrementum = God grants the increase.
47.
Dei gratia
= god’s grace.
48.
Deo gratias
= thanks be to God.
49.
Dictum meum
pactum = my word is my bond.
50.
Diem Ex Dei
= day of God.
51.
Disce quasi
semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus = learn as if always going to live,
live as if going to die tomorrow.
52.
Ditat dues
= God enriches.
53.
Docendo
disco, scibendo cogito = Ilearn by teaching, think by writing.
54.
Dominus
illuminatio mea = the Lord is my light.
55.
Dona nobis
pacem = give us peace.
56.
Ductus
exemplo = leadership by example.
57.
Dulce
bellum inexpertis = war is sweet to the inexperienced.
58.
Dulce et
decorum est pro patria mori = It is sweet and honorable to die for the
fatherland.
59.
Dum spiro
spero = while I breathe, I hope.
60.
Dum vita
est, spes est = while there is life there is hope.
61.
Ecce Homo =
behold the man.
62.
Ex
abundantia enim cordis os loquitur = for out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh.
63.
Ex nihilo
nihil fit = nothing may come from nothing.
64.
Exercitus
sine duce corpus est sine spiritu = an army without leader is like a body
without spirit.
65.
Extra
territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur = he who administers justice outside
of his territory is disobeyed with impunity.
66.
Falsus
unum, falsus in omnibus = false in one thing, false in everything.
67.
Fiat
justitia et pereat mundus = let justice be done even should the world perish.
68.
Fiat
justitia ruat caelum = let justice be done even should the sky fall.
69.
Fiat lux =
let there be light.
70.
In manus
tuas commendo spiritum meum = into your hands I entrust my spirit.
71.
Ipsa
scientia potestas est = knowledge itself is power.
72.
Ignorantia
legis non excusat = ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
73.
Juris
ignorantia est cum jus nostrum ignoramus = It is ignorance of the law when we
do not know our own rights.
74.
Justitia
omnibus = justice for all.
75.
Labor omnia
vincit = work conquers all things.
76.
Lapsus
linguae = slip of the tongue.
77.
Leges sine
moribus vanae = laws without morals are vain
78.
Lex non
scripta = law that has not been written.
79.
Lupus non
mordet lupum = wolf does not bite a wolf.
80.
Malum quo
communius eo peius = the more common an evil is, the worse it is.
81.
Manus manum
lavat = one hand washes the other.
82.
Media vita
in morte sumus = in the midst of our lives we die.
83.
Mens sana
in corpora sano = sound mind in a sound body.
84.
Missit me
Dominus = the Lord had sent me.
85.
Mors vincit
omnia = death conquers all.
86.
Multum in
parvo = much in little.
87.
Ne cede
malis do not give in to misfortune.
88.
Nemo dat
quod non habet = no one gives what he does not have.
89.
Nemo judex
in sua causa = no man shall be a judge in his own case.
90.
Nemo nisi
per amicitiam cognoscitur = no one learns except by friendship.
91.
Nihil dicit
= he says nothing.
92.
Nihil
obstat = nothing prevents.
93.
Nil
admirari = be surprised at nothing.
94.
Nil
desperandum nothing must be despaired at.
95.
Nil satis
nisi optimum = nothing enough unless the best.
96.
Nil sine
numine = nothing without the divine will.
97.
Nil
volentibus arduum = nothing is impossible for the willing.
98.
Nisi
Dominus frustra = without the Lord, it is in vain.
99.
Non bis in
idem = cannot be litigated
100.
Non facias
malum ut inde fiat bonum = you should not make evil in order that good may be
made from it.
101.
Non in
legend sed in intelligendo legis consistunt = the laws depend not on being read
but on being understood.
102.
Non liquet
= not proven.
103.
Non
progredi est regredi = to not go forward is to go backward.
104.
Non scholae
sed vitae discimus = we learn not for school but for life.
105.
Non vi sed
verbo = not through violence but through the word alone.
106.
Homo nosce
te ipsum = man know thyself.
107.
Nulla dies
sine linea = not a day without a line drawn.
108.
Nulli
secundus = second to none.
109.
Nullum
crimen nulla poena sine lege = no crime, no punishment without law.
110.
Omne
ignotum pro magnifico = every unknown thing is taken for great.
111.
Omnia dicta
fortiori si dicta Latina = everything said is stronger if said in Latin.
112.
Omnia munda
mundis = everything is pure to the pure.
113.
Ophidia in
herba = a snake in the grass.
114.
Opus Dei =
the work of God.
115.
Orbital
dictum = the entire judgement of the court.
116.
Ordo ab
chao = out of chaos comes order.
117.
Pecta sunt
servanda = agreement must be kept.
118.
Parva sub
ingenti = the small under the huge ie the weak are under the protection of the
strong.
119.
Pater
peccavi = father, I have sinned.
120.
Pax
vobiscum = peace be with you (plural).
121.
Pax tecum =
peace be with you (singular).
122.
Per ardua
ad astra = through adversity to the stars.
123.
Per aspera
ad astra = through hardships to the stars.
124.
Per
defintionem = by definition.
125.
Post cibum
= after food.
126.
Praemonitus
praemunitus = forewarned is forearmed.
127.
Primum non
nocero = first do no harm.
128.
Primus
inter pares = first among equals.
129.
Pro bono
publico = for the public good.
130.
Pro deo et
patria = for God and country.
131.
Provehito
in altum = lunch forward into the deep.
132.
Pulvis et
umbra sumus = we are dust and shadow.
133.
Punctum
saliens = essential point.
134.
Quaerite
primum regnum Dei = seek ye first the kingdom of God.
135.
Qaque hora
(qh) = every hour.
136.
Quaque mane
(qm) = every morning.
137.
Quaque
nocte = every night.
138.
Quaque die
(qd) = everyday.
139.
Qui tacet
consentire videtur = he who is silent is taken to agree.
140.
Quidquid
Latine dictum sit altum viditur = whatever has been said in Latin seems deep.
141.
Quo vadis =
where are you going?
142.
Quod erat
demonstrandum (Q.E.D) = which was to be demonstrated Also : WWWWW = Which Was
What We Wanted.
143.
Quod erat
faciendum (Q.E.F) = which was to be done.
144.
Quod licet
lovi non licet bovi = What is permitted to Jupiter is not permitted to an ox.
145.
Quod me nutrit
me destruit = what nourishes me destroys me.
146.
Quomodo
vales = how are you?
147.
Quod natura
non dat Samantica non praestat = what nature does not give Salamanca does not
provide.
148.
Radix
malorum est cupiditas = greed is the root of all evil.
149.
Ratio legis
= basis of the law.
150.
Ratio
disdendi = the basic decision of the court (the court order)
151.
Regnat
populous = the people rule.
152.
Repetitio
est mater studiorum = repetition is the mother of study.
153.
Requiescat
in pace = let him rest in peace.
154.
Res ipsa loquitur
= the thing speaks for itself.
155.
Res
judicata = judged thing = double jeopardy.
156.
.
157.
Respice
finem = look back at the end.
158.
Momento
mori = remember your death.
159.
Res nullius
= nobody’s thing.
160.
Terra
nullius = nobody’s land.
161.
Salus
populi suprema lex esto = the welfare of the people is to be the highest law.
162.
Salvato
mundi = savior of the world.
163.
Sapere aude
= dare to be wise.
164.
Sapientia
et Doctrina = wisdom and learning.
165.
Dictum
sapient sat est = a word is enough to the wise.
166.
Servus
servorum Dei = servants of the servants of God (title for the pope).
167.
Semper
excelcius = always higher.
168.
Semper
fidelis = always faithful.
169.
Semper
paratus always prepared.
170.
Semper
reformanda = always reforming.
171.
Si
tacuisses philosophus manisses = if you had kept your silence you would have
stayed a philosopher.
172.
Si vis
pacem para bellum = if you want peace, prepare for war.
173.
Sic vita
est = such is life (whether good or bad).
174.
Silentium
est aureum = silence is golden.
175.
Sine ira et
studio = without anger and fondness (impartially).
176.
Sine
scientia ars nihil est = without knowledge skill is nothing.
177.
Sit venia
verbo = may there be forgiveness for the word.
178.
Solas = the
five solas of the protestants reformation.
179.
Sola fide =
by faith alone.
180.
Sola gratia
= by grace alone (a teaching that salvation is an unearned gift, not a direct
result of merit).
181.
Sola
scriptura = by scripture alone (a teaching that the
Bible is the ultimate
authority, not the pope or tradition).
182.
Soli Deo
gloria = glory to God alone (a teaching that God is the creator of all things
and deserves all the praise).
183.
Solus
Christus = Christ alone (a teaching that Jesus is the only mediator between God
and mankind).
184.
Spectemur
agendo = let us be judged by our deeds.
185.
Spes
anchora vitae = hope is the anchor of life.
186.
Spiritus
mundi = spirit of the world.
187.
Spiritus
ubi vult spirat = the spirit spreads wherever it wants.
188.
Stipendium
peccati mors est = the wages of sin is death.
189.
Strenius
ardus cedunt = the heights yield to endeavour (the level one attains in life is
a product of one’s hard work).
190.
Stupor
mundi = wonders of the world.
191.
Sub Cruce
Lumen = the light under the cross.
192.
Sub specie
aeternitatis = under the sight of eternity (from eternity’s point of view).
193.
Summum bonum = supreme good.
194.
Summum
malum = supreme evil.
195.
Supero
omnia = I surpass everything.
196.
Surgam = I
shall rise.
197.
Suum cuique
tribuere = to render every man his due.
198.
Tabula rasa
= scraped tablet.
199.
Temet nosce
= know thyself.
200.
Tempora
mutantur et nos mutamur in illis = the times are changing and we change in
them.
201.
Tempus edax
rerum = time devourer of all things.
202.
Tempus
fugit = time flees.
203.
Tempus
rerum imperator = time commander of all things.
204.
Tempus
vernum = summer time.
205.
Tempus
volat hora fugit = time flies, the hour flees.
206.
Terra
incognitia = unknown land.
207.
Tertium non
datur = a third is not given (either true or false).
208.
Timid mater
non flet = a coward’s mother does not weep.
209.
Timor
mortis conturbat me = the fear of death confounds me.
210.
Tu ne cede
malis, sed contra audenitor ito = you should not give in to evils, but proceed
ever more boldly against them.
211.
Tuebor = I
will protect.
212.
Ubertas et
fidelitas = fertility and faithfulness.
213.
Ubi caritas
et amor Deus ibi est = where there is charity and love, God is there.
214.
Ubi mel ibi
apes = where there is honey, there are bees.
215.
Ubi non
accusatory ibi non iudex = where there is no accuser, there is no judge.
216.
Ubi sunt =
where are they?
217.
Una salus
victis nullam sperare salute = the only safety tor the conquered is to hope for
no safety.
218.
Ultimo
mense = in the last month.
219.
Ultra vires
= beyond power (without authority).
220.
Unus
mutorum = one of many (an average person).
221.
Usus
magister est optimus = practice makes perfect.
222.
Ut prosim =
that I may serve.
223.
Ut res
magis valeat quam pereat = that the matter may have effect rather than fail.
224.
Ut supra =
as above.
225.
Vade ad
formicam = go to the ant (to learn hardwork).
226.
Vade mecum
= go with me.
227.
Vade retro
Satana = go behind me Satan!
228.
Vae
victis = woe to the conquered.
229.
Vanitas
vanitatum omnia vanitas = vanity of vanities all is vanity.
230.
Veni vidi
vici = I came, I saw, I conquered.
231.
Vera causa
= true cause.
232.
Verba
Volant, scripta manent = words fly away, writings remain.
233.
Verbatim et
literatim = word by word and letter by letter.
234.
Verbi
divini minister = servant of the divine Word.
235.
Verbum Dei
= Word of God.
236.
Verbum
Domini Manet in Aeternum (VDMA) = The Word of the Lord Endures Forever (Motto
of Lutheran Reformation).
237.
Veritas =
truth.
238.
Veritas
omnia vincit = truth defeats all things.
239.
Veritas,
unitas, caritas = truth, unity, love.
240.
Veritas vos
liberabit = The truth will set you free.
241.
Veritate et
virtute = with truth and courage.
242.
Versus =
against.
243.
Veto = I
forbid.
244.
Vi very
universum vivus vici = by the power of truth, I, a living man have conquered
the universe.
245.
Via,
veritas and vitae = way, truth, life.
246.
Victoria
aut mors = victory or death.
247.
Victoria
Concordia crscit = victory comes from harmony.
248.
Vide infra
= see below.
249.
Vide supra
= see above.
250.
Video sed
non credo = I see it but I don’t believe it.
251.
Video et
taceo = I see and keep silent.
252.
Vim promvet
insitam = promote one’s innate power.
253.
Videre
licet = It is permitted to see.
254.
Vincit qui
se vincit = he that conquers himself conquers.
255.
Virtus
unita fortiori = virtue united is stronger.
256.
Vis legis =
power of the law.
257.
Viva voce =
living voice.
258.
Vivat
crescat floreat = may it live grow and flourish.
259.
Vivat Rex =
may the king live!
260.
Vox
clamantu in deserto = the voice of the one shouting in the desert.
261.
Vox populi
vox Dei = the voice of the people is the voice of God.
