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
diat deus – God Enriches (Motto of Arizona)
diat deus God enriches (Motto of Arizona) regnat populus The people rule (Motto of Arkansas) eureka! I’ve found it! (Motto of California) nil sine numine Nothing without God (Motto of Colorado) qui transtulit sustinet He who came across, holds up. (Motto of Connecticut) iustitia omnibus Justice for all. (Motto of District of Columbia) esto perpetua […]
initium sapientiae timor domini – the Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom (U of Aberdeen Motto)
initium sapientiae timor domini The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Motto of University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland).
Domine, dirige nos – Lord, Direct Us
Domine, dirige nos Lord, direct us (Motto of London, UK)