Latin Quotes Used in Thursday Newsletters. I enjoy looking for quotes that have to do with the topic I'm writing on. Have fun reading them and seeing words in Latin that you recognize.
Ab imo pectore– From the bottom of my heart.
a caelo usque ad centrum – from heaven all the way to the center of the earth
ad maiorem Dei gloriam – For the greater glory of God
a d meliora vertamur -Let us turn to better things.
ad perpetuam memoriam – to the perpetual memory
adde parvum parvo magnus acervus erit (Ovid) – Add a little to a little and there will be a great heap.
Adspicit lucem in calestis– Seeking light in heaven.
Aduro (adustum) – To set fire to, burn, singe, kindle, light
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem–Remember when life’s path is steep to keep your mind even. (Horace)
aestivus estivus – pertaining to summer
Aeterna lux solis – eternal sunshine
Age quod agis –Do what you do well.
age quod agis – Be yourself.
alis grave nil – nothing is heavy to those who have wings
Alis volat propiis– She flies with her own wings. (state motto of Oregon)
Alma Mater – Nourishing mother.
Alter ego– “Another I” (Zeno). Soul mate, close friend.
Altiora peto: I seek higher things.
Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi. – The deepest rivers flow with the least sound.
Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore– “I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting” (Cicero).
amicus– companion, friend, comrade
amo amare, amavi, amos – I love. To love. I loved. Having been loved.
Amor est vitae essentia – Love is the essence of life
amor Matris – A mother’s love.
amor quem liberis meis habeo sempiternus – The love I have for my children is everlasting.
animadverto: to turn the mind to, take notice of, see, perceive.
Animus – soul. Courage, vivacity, bravery, will, spirit, soul.
Amoris vulnis idem sanat qui facit – Wounds of love are cured by love itself.
Angelus domini – angel of the Lord
angulus terrarum – quiet corner of the world; place of repose
animus – courage, vivacity, bravery, will, spirit, soul
Ante lector morit quam millia vitas vivet. Autem ille, qui numquam legit, una vita sola digit.
A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.
Aperire – to open, to uncover (April – opening of springtime)
Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit–
“Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdoes both intelligence and skill”
(Cicero).
astra castra, numen lumen“The stars my camp, the divine Spirit my light.”
astra– star
ater caelum – dark sky
Aurora, diluculo – dawn
Avis – generic term for ‘bird’ referring to any species
aut viam inveniam aut faciam – I’ll either find a way or make one. (from Hannibal)
Bene facere et male audire regium est – To do good and be evil spoken of, is kingly. (unknown)
benevolentia, humanitas – kindness
benigno numine – By the favor of the heavens. (Horace)
bruma-“winter”
Caelitus mihi vires– My strength is from heaven
caelum – sky, heaven
cantus – a song, a singing bird-song, chant
Causa Nostrae Laetitiae– “Cause of Our Joy”
Cave ab homine unius libri – Beware of anyone who has just one book. (Latin Epigram)
Cedo manum – Give me your hand
cheiranthus lucanus – enduring beauty
coelorum gaudia – the joys of heaven.
con amore – with tenderness
con brio – with spirit, brilliantly
continere – contentment, container, contains, content, content, full, satisfied
cor – heart (encourage – to give someone heart)
Cuiusvis hominis est errare – “Every human can err” (Cicero).
cunae, cradle – nest for young birds
Custode et cura natura potentior omni – Nature is beyond all teaching.
Dei sub numine viget– It flourishes under the will of God .(motto of Princeton University)
Deus caritas est. God is love.
Deus et natua non faciunt frusta-God and nature do not work together in vain.
Deus lux Mea– God is my light.
Deum et animam scire cupio; nihil alius – I want to know God and the soul, nothing more. (Augustine)
Deus, lumen cordis mei et panis oris intus animae meae et virtus maritans mentem meamet sinum cogitationis meae –
God, light of my heart and the bread of my mouth deep in soul and the strength that ties my mind and boxom of my thoughts.
(St. Augustine Confession)
Deus tecum. May God be with you.
Dies Natalis – day of birth
Difficilia quae pulchra – Things that are beautiful are difficult to attain.
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).
Dimidium facti qui coepit habet. Sapere aude, incipe!–”He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin!” (Horace).
disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus – learn as if you’re always going to live; live as if tomorrow you’re going to die
Dominus firmamentum meum – The Lord is my strength
domus – home, house, residence
Dum, spiro, spero – While I breathe, I hope (motto of South Carolina)
Dum vita est, spes est – While there’s life, there’s hope.
Eis quos amo vivo – I live for those I love.
empus omnia sed memorias privat– Time deprives all but memories
en la mano de Dios – In the hand of God.
Eo domum – “I am going home”
Eosphorus– “bringer of dawn” Phosphorus – “bringer, bearer of light”
Erat hiems summa-It was the very depth of winter (Cicero – In Verrem II)
Errare est humanum. – To err is human. (Seneca the Younger, an ancient Roman philosopher)
Est deus in nobis– There is a God inside us.
et animam scire cupio; nihil aliud – I want to know God and the soul, nothing more. (Augustine).
et luxin tenebris lucet And light shines in the darkness.
Ex libris– From the library of…
Ex luna, scientia – from the moon, knowledge (motto of Apollo 13)
Experientia docet – Experience teaches. (Tacitus)
femina pulchra – beautiful woman
Fiat Lux” –Let there be light,
Fide, sed qui, vide– Trust, but take care whom.
Fidem habe– Have Faith
filios deus – children see God
firmo – to make firm, encourage, to strengthen, to put into the heart
flos – flower, blossom
Flos caeli – flower of heaven
Fluctuat nec mergitur – “It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink.”
fortiter in re, suaviter in modo– Resolute/unhesitant in action, gentle in manner.
Gaudeamus igitur juvenes dum sumus– let us be joyful (while we are young).
Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo– A drop drills the rock – not with force but by
falling repeatedly”(Ovid). Endurance can overcome an obstacle even without force.
Gutta cavat lapidem non bis, sed saepe cadendo; sic homo fit sapiens non bis, sed saepe legend
A drop drills a rock by falling not twice, but many times; so too is a human made
smart by reading not two, but many books” (Giordano Bruno).
Helluo librorum– A glutton for books (bookworm).
hibernates – to pass winter
Hic habitat felicitas– Here dwells happiness.
Hiems-winter
Hoc est in votis – This is in my prayers.
hominem unius libri timeo – I fear the man of a single book.
Homo doctus in semper divitias habet.-A learned person always has wealth within.
Hortus medicus-A medicinal garden.
Hortus Siccus-A dry garden. Hortus Conclusus-An enclosed garden.
humilis– low, small, slight
Imminente Luna carpe noctem – By the light of the moon, seize the night.
In imo animo stat pulchritudo– Beauty lies in the depths of one’s soul.
In libris libertas– In books (there is) freedom
In loco frigido– In a cold place.
in nocte consilium – advice comes over night
(“Tomorrow is a new day.” Motto of Birkbeck College, London.
in omnia paratus – ready for anything
In sol solis, vires, in luna, venia. – In the sun, strength, in the moon, grace.
In TenebrisLux – In darkness there is light.
in utero – expected, awaited, embryonic
infinitus amor enim filios meos – Infinite love for my sons.
Integritas vitae=character (literally, integrity of life).
Intimus– a close friend or confidant.
Laetatio Letatio-Rejoicing, delight, happiness.
legendo delector – I love to read.
legere – to read
lego – to gather, choose, collect, pass through, read
lepidus – pleasant, charming, elegant, witty
lentus – lethargic, inactive, slow, lingering
Libertas inaestimabilis res est – Liberty is a thing beyond all price.
liberi – infant, children
Liberi mei anima mea – my children, my soul
luctor et emergo – I struggle and emerge
lucubrare – study or composition lasting late into the night
luctor et emergo-I struggle and emerge.
magnum opus – great work (said of someone’s masterpiece)
Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem. – “I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.” (Thomas Jefferson)
mane – early morning, early in the morning
Manus in Mano– Hand in hand.
maximus in minimis – very great in very little things
Maxima debetur puero reverentia– We owe the greatest respect to a child.
me ad lunam volant – “Fly me to the moon”
Meam amare matrem – To love my mother
Medicus curat, natura sanat – Doctor cures, nature saves.
mellifera apis – honey bee (melli = honey; ferre = to bear)
memento mori – much in little
memoria– memory, remembrance, recall, recollection
memoratus in aeternum – forever remembered
Minima maxima sunt– The smallest things are most important.
miraculum – an object of wonder, a miracle
Mortem vincit amor– love (AMOR) survives/prevails (VINCIT) even after the death (MORTEM) of someone close.
Mortem vincit amor-Love survives even after the death of someone close.
mors est pulchra – death is beautiful; in death there is beauty
Multum in parvo – much in little
Musica Donum Dei-Music is a Gift from God.
Mutantur omnia nos et mutamur in illis– All things change, and we change with them.
musica remedium optimum mentis maerentis – music is the cure for a sorrowful mind
Nahil admirari cum acciderit, nihil ante quam evenerit, non evenire posse arbitrary –
Don’t wonder at anything that has already happened.
And anything that has not happened yet, don’t judge as impossible. Cicero.
nascor nasci natus: to be born, spring forth.
natura artis magistra – Nature is the teacher of art
Ne cede malis, seal contra audentior ito–Do not yield to misfortunes, on the contrary, go more boldly to meet them.
Nemo mortalium omnibus boris sapit–No man is wise at all time. The wisest may make mistakes.
nil ego contulerim jocundo sanus amico – “There is nothing which, in my senses, I should prefer to a dear friend.” (Horace)
niva– snow, snowy, snowiness
nival– living in a snowy environment
niveous– resembling snow in color; snow-white
nivicole, nivicolous– living in snow or snow-covered habitats
Nivose– the fourth month of the French revolutionary calendar (1793)
nocturnalis – active at night
noli benignitatem inerpretare quasi infirmitatem– Do not mistake kindness for weakness.
non semper erit aestas – Life is more than just being alive.
Nosce te ipsum – Know thyself.
nostrum monumentum – Our memories
Nova cantica – there are angels singing
Noverim me, noverim Te – Let me know myself, let me know You. (St. Augustine)
nox noctis – night
Nullus est instar domus– There is no place like home.
Numquam secundus– Never second best.
Nunquam desiderium– never regret
Numquam matris erga filias peribit amor – A mother’s love for her daughters will never die.
O Mater Luna, Regina nocias, adiuvo me nunc – O Mother Moon, Queen of the night, help me now.
Obdurare –to remain firm, to hold out, persist
Omne initium est difficile– Every beginning is difficult.
Omnium rerum principia parva sunt– “Everything has a small beginning” (Cicero).
Optimis parentibus– To my excellent parents. A common dedication in a book.
Optimus magister, bonus liber-The best teacher is a good book
oscen – songbird, a singing bird
parvus – little, small
Passeres – refers to any small bird, especially to a sparrow.
Pathos – empathy
paulatim – little by little
Per aspera ad astra – Through difficulties to the stars
Perseverando– by perseverance (Motto on the seal of the State of Virginia)
Persevero – I persevere.
pluvialis – bringing rain, growing after rain
prex precis – request, entreaty, prayer
prima rosa – first rose
Psalmi 46:10 Latin: Biblia Sacra Vulgata
cessate et cognoscite quoniam ego sum Deus exaltabor in gentibus exaltabor in terra –
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nation. I will be exalted in all the earth.
prodigiosus – amazing, unnatural, wonderful, miraculous
puer rosa – child is a rose
pueri visum – child’s view pueri prospectu – child’s perspective
pulchritudine m natura – beauty in nature
pulchra simphonia – beautiful symphony
pulchrum est paucorum hominum – beauty is for the few
Pulvis et umbra sumus. – We are but dust and shadow (Horace)
Quae legis es – You are what you read
Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu – The important thing isn’t how long you live, but how well you live. (Seneca)
Quaere verum– Seek the Truth.
quid sit futurum cras, fuge quaerere – Do not ask what tomorrow brings. (Horace)
O diem praeclarum! – Oh, what a beautiful day!
oemusica vita est – music is life
Quies Quietis-quiet, rest, peace
Quiescit Anima Libris“The soul (spirit) finds respite in books.” (respite: rest, relief)
Qvalis pater talis filivs –Like father like son.
recordatio-recollection, memory, recall
Redolet Ivcernam (It) smells of the lamp (critical remark that one has worked too hard on something).
respice, adspice, prospice– Examine the past, examine the present, examine the future (look to the past, the present, the future)
respice adimendum orbem terrarum cum pueri oculus – look at the world with a child’s eye
risus – laughter ridere – to laugh
Rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior, omnibus formosior, semper in te glorior –
Redder than the rose, whiter than the lilies, fairer than everything, I will always glory in thee.
saecula saeculorum expresses the idea of eternity
Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas– Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses. (Ovid)
Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet– “He who feared he would not succeed sat still” (Horace). For fear of failure he did nothing.
Selige felicitatem– Choose Happiness.
semper ad meliora – always towards better things
Semper naturam tuam sequere – Always be true to yourself.
Septentrio – north wind and bringer of cold winter
sic itur ad astra – thus you shall go to the stars
silentium – silence; absence of any sound or noise; stillness
sol lucet omnibus – the sun shines on everyone
solum Deum prae oculis habentes – having only God before your eyes
somnium – dream
suavitas verni tempporis – the charms of spring
Sub specie aeternitatis– “From eternity’s point of view” (Spinoza).
summum bonum – the highest good
Sunt pueri pueri, puerilia tractant– Children are children, (therefore), children do childish things.
Sursum Corda Lift Up Our Hearts
Sypathia – suffering together
Tabula rasa – clean slate (referring to someone not affected by past experiences)
tempus anima rei – time is the soul of things
Tempus edax rerum– Time is the devourer of things (time flies) …
Tempus fugit, non autem memoria – Time flies, but not memory.
Tempus omnia sed memorias privat – Time deprives all but memories.
Tene quod habes – Hold what you have.
theism – belief in an actively intervening God
Tot amici mihi sunt quot inimici sunt– My joy was as great as my sorrow.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito – Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them.
Ubi bene, ibi patria – Where you feel good, there is your home.
Ubi in dubito, redo simpliciorem. When in doubt, simplify.
Unum Deum – I believe in one God.
Urbs in horto– City in a garden, Hortus in urbe-A garden in the city.
vade ad formicam– Go to the ant
Valē habēque somnia suāvēs! – Good night & sweet dreams!
Veni, Vidi, volo in domum redire – I came, I saw, I want to go home.
VENI VIDI VICI”,I came, I saw, I conquered.
(Cesaer’s message back to the Senate in Rome after a great defeat in May 47 B.C.)
venustas – loveliness, charm, attractiveness, beauty
ver, veris:spring, the production of spring
Verbis defectis musica incipit – music springs from failing words
veritas, bonitas, pulchritudo, sanctitas – truth, goodness, beauty & holiness
vesper – evening
Vi et animo– By strength and courage
vita haec bella – Life is beautiful.
Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est – Life is more than merely staying alive.
Vita pulchra est– Life is beautiful.
(This phrase was written by Leon Trotsky. While being targeted for execution, he was
staring out of a window and watching his wife in the garden. This scene inspired Trotsky
to write that life is beautiful, even though his world was coming to an end.)
Vita sine litteris mors est: Life without literature is death.
vive ut vivas – live so that you may live
Votum – Prayer, wish, desire, promise to God
Domine, fac me servum pacis tuae,
ubi odium, amorem seram;
ubi iniuria, veniam;
ubi dubium, fidem;
ubi desperatio, spem;
ubi caligo, lucem;
ubi tristitia, laetitiam.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy. St. Francis of Assisi