Latin Phrases & Quotes

Latin Quotes About Death & Dying

abiit ad maiores
S/he has gone to the ancestors (i.e., died)

abiit ad plures
S/he has gone to the majority (i.e., died)

ad patres
To the fathers (i.e., dead)

bene decessit
S/he has left (died) well (a natural death)

causa mortis
Cause of death, an anticipation of death

debitum naturae
Debt of nature (death)

corpora lente augescent cito extinguuntur
Bodies grow slowly and die quickly (Tacitus)

cogi qui potest nescit mori
S/he who can be forced has not learned how to die

cineri gloria sera est
Glory paid to ashes comes too late (Martial)

cineri gloria sera venit
Fame to the dead comes to late

de mortuis nil nisi bonum
Of the dead [say] nothing but good (Horace)

deficit omne quod nasciture
Everything that is born passes away (Quintillan)

dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
It is sweet and proper to die for one's country

morituri te salutamus
We who are about to die salute you.