falsi crimem – Crime of falsification
falsi crimen / crimen falsi Crime of falsification; perjury doli incapax Incapable of crime actus reus The criminal act; the guilty act corpus delicti Body of the crime; objective proof of crime crimen Crime; criminal crimen innominatum Nameless crime; crime against nature crimem laesae maiestatis Crime of high treason culpa lata Gross negligence culpa levis […]
curia – A court of law
curia A court of law claves curiae Keys of the court dies juridicus A day on which the court is in session dies non juridicus A day on which the court is not in session Camera Stellata The Star Chamber (renowned court of 16th century England) accedas ad curiam You may approach the court certiorari […]
ab extra – from Outside
ab extra From outside ab initio From the beginning actus reus A guilty deed or act ad hoc For this purpose ad infinitum To infinity, without limit, forever alibi Elsewhere, at another place aliunde From elsewhere, from a different source ante Before bona fide Sincere, in good faith bona vacantia Vacant goods, i.e., goods without […]
aut disce aut discede – Either learn or leave
aut disce aut discede Either learn or leave assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit. (M.Tullius Cicero). Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdoes both intelligence and skill. docendo discimus Teach in order to learn (we learn by teaching) diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium Diligence is a very great […]
dare pondus idonea fumo – Fit only to give weight to smoke
Latin Insults dare pondus idonea fumo Fit only to give weight to smoke (Persius) ab asino lanam Wool from an ass (blood from a stone) Latin Tell-Offs delphinum natare doces You are teaching a dolphin to swim adversus solem ne loquitor Don’t speak against the sun (i.e., an obvious fact) age quod agis Do what […]
divide et impera – Divide and rule
Inspirational Latin Quotes divide et impera Divide and rule or Divide and conquer or Divide in order to conquer durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis Carry on and preserve yourselves for better times (Virgil) bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria He conquers twice who conquers himself in victory (Publius Syrus) dimidium facti qui coepit […]
dum vita est spes est – While there is life, there is hope
dum vita est spes est While there’s life, there’s hope dum spiro, spero While I breathe, I hope (a motto of South Carolina) duplici spe uti To have a double hope
bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem – It is not goodness to be better than the worst.
bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem It is not goodness to be better than the worst.
bibamus, moriendum est – Let us drink, for we must die
bibamus, moriendum est Let us drink, for we must die (Seneca) absentem laedit cum ebrio qui litigat To quarrel with a drunk is to wrong a man who is not even there
abiit ad maiores – He/she has died
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 […]
de fumo in flammam – Out of the smoke into the flame
de fumo in flammam Out of the smoke into the flame de pilo pendet It hangs by a hair (reaching a critical stage)
consuetudo est altera lex – Custom is another law
consuetudo est altera lex Custom is another law consuetudo pro lege servatur Custom is held as the law ad usum… According to custom…
castigat ridendo mores – Corrects customs laughing
castigat ridendo mores One corrects customs by laughing at them damnant quodnon intelligunt They condemn what they do not understand parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus Mountains will be in labour, and an ridiculous mouse will be born So much work and the result is ridiculous facile est inventis addere it is easy to add to […]
corruptio optimi pessima – The curruption of the best is the worst
corruptio optimi pessima The curruption of the best is the worst corruptissima re publica plurimae leges In the most corrupt state are the most laws (Terence)
conscientia mille testes – Conscience a thousand witnesses
conscientia mille testes Conscience is as good as a thousand witnesses
accessit – runner up
accessit S/he came near (i.e., a runner-up)
ad iudicium – To judgement; to common sense
ad iudicium To judgement; to common sense
certum est quia impossible est – It is certain because it is impossible
certum est quia impossible est It is certain because it is impossible (Tertullian)
caveat – Let one beware, take caution
caveat Let one beware, take caution caveant consules Consuls (of the Roman Senate) beware caveant consules ne quid detrimenti respublica capiat Beware consuls that the commonwealth is not harmed caveat actor Let the doer beware caveat emptor Let the buyer beware caveat venditor Let the seller beware caveat viator Let the traveller beware cave canem […]
Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow
ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora ad quem ad quod Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow cave quid dicis, quando, et cui Beware of what you say, when, and to whom
audaces fortuna iuvat – Fortune favours the brave
audaces fortuna iuvat or fortes fortuna iuvat Fortune favours the brave fortiter in re, suaviter in modo Resolute/unhesitant in action, gentle in manner. consilio et animis By wisdom and courage constantia et virtute By firmness and courage
credo ut intelligam – I believe so that I may understand
credo ut intelligam I believe so that I may understand cras credemus, hodie nihil tomorrow we believe, but not today credo quia absurdum est or credo quia impossible est I believe it because it is absurd/impossible credat Iudaeus Apella Let Apella the Jew believe it (I won’t) (Horace) crede quod habes, et habes Believe that […]
ab aeterno – From the beginning of time
Latin Phrases: Beginning ab aeterno From the beginning of time ab incunabulis From infancy (from the cradle) ab initio From the beginning ab Iove principium From Jove is my beginning (words of Aeneas, Virgil) ab origine From the origin; from the first ab ovo From the egg (i.e., from the beginning) ad initium At the […]
ars est celare artem – True art is to conceal art
ars est celare artem True art is to conceal art ars longa vita brevis Art is long life is short ars gratia artis Art is the reward of art. dramatis personae Characters of the play
concordia discors – Harmony in discord
concordia discors Harmony in discord (Horace) adversus solem ne loquitor Don’t speak against the sun (i.e., don’t argue an obvious fact) disputandi pruritus ecclesiarum scabies An itch for disputation is the incurable disease of the church ad verecundiam Appeal to modesty in an argument componere lites To settle disputes (Horace)
bis pueri senes – Old men are twice children
bis pueri senes Old men are twice children durante minore aetate During minority; at an early age; while one is young aetatis At the age of aetatis suae In the year of one’s life
aut viam inveniam aut faciam – I’ll either find a way or make one
aut viam inveniam aut faciam I will either find a way or make one aut vincere aut mori Either to conquer or to die nulli secundus /nulli secunda Second to none (male)/(female) perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you. per aspera […]
credo quia absurdum est – I believe it because it is absurd
credo quia absurdum est I believe it because it is absurd ab asino lanam [Like getting] wool from an ass (i.e., blood from a stone) ab absurdum To the absurd
semper paratus – Always Ready
semper paratus Always ready