Best Latin Quotes and Sayings
These Latin quotes and sayings reflect the work of real thinkers. Some of the beauty in these quotes is in their short and to-the-point nature.
Here are some of the most famous Latin quotes and sayings that will give you a new perspective on life.
For this collection, we have included the Latin quote first, then the Latin meaning in English, and then the author, if known. These Latin quotes certainly merit some contemplation—enjoy!
Latin Quotes
- Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore.
I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting.
Cicero - Accensa domo proximi, tua quoque periclitatur.
When the house of your neighbor is in flames, your own is in danger.
Unknown - Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem.
As long as we are among humans, let us be humane.
Seneca - Acceptissima semper munera sunt, auctor quae pretiosa facit.
Those gifts are always the most acceptable, and our love for the donor makes them precious.
Ovid
Latin Phrases About Life
- Accidit in puncto, quod non contingit in anno.
That may happen in a moment, which does not occur in a whole year.
Unknown - Ad turpia virum bonum nulla spes invitat.
No expectation can allure a good man to the commission of evil.
Seneca - Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora.
Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Unknown - Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat.
The mind, intent upon false appearances, refuses to admit better things.
Horace - Dulce bellum inexpertis.
War is sweet for those who haven’t experienced it.
Pindaros - Acerrima proximorum odia.
The hatred of those most nearly connected is the bitterest of all.
Tacit - Ubi concordia, ibi Victoria.
Where there is unity, there is the victory.
Publius Syrus - Semper inops quicumque cupit.
Whoever desires is always poor.
Claudian - Ad calamitatem quilibet rumor valet.
Every rumor is believed when directed against the unfortunate.
Syrus
Latin Love Quotes
- Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori.
Love conquers all things; let us yield to love.
Virgil - Militat omnis amans.
Every lover is a soldier. Love is warfare.
Ovid, Amorum - Amor gignit amorem.
Love begets love.
Unknown - O ego quam videor felix, immobile pectus Pectoris immoti semper amantis amans.
Then I am happy that I love and am beloved, where I may not remove nor be removed.
Shakespeare - Si vis amari, ama.
If you want to be loved, love.
Seneca - Amor est vitae essentia.
Love is the essence of life.
Robert B. Mackay - Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time.
Publilius Syrus and Laberius - Nescit amor habere modum.
Love does not know how to keep within bounds.
Propertius - Ammor magnus doctor est.
Love is a great teacher.
Saint Augustine of Hippo - Sensim amor sensus occupat.
Slowly but surely, love takes over the senses.
Unknown - Non inter se, sed in eandem intueri directionem, verus est amor.
Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Cool Latin Phrases
- Amorem acuit absentia,eum praesentia confirmat.
Absence sharpens love; presence strengthens it.
Thomas Fuller - Amantium iræ amoris redintegratio est.
The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love.
Terence - Amor addit inertibus alas.
Love adds wings to sluggish folk.
Vaenius, Amorum Emblemata - Quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit.
True love will hold on to those whom it has held.
Seneca - Blanditia, non imperio, fit dulcis Venus.
Love grows sweet with coaxing, not commands.
Unknown - Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur.
We choose to love; we do not choose to cease loving.
Syrus
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Quotations About Living
- Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem.
Remember, when life’s path is steep, keep your mind even.
Horace - Ad vitam Paramus.
We are preparing for life.
Unknown - Nil sine magno vita labore dedit mortalibus.
Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.
Unknown - Ampliat aetatis spatium sibi vir bonus; hoc est vivere bis vita posse priore frui.
The good man extends the period of his life; it is to live twice, to enjoy with satisfaction the retrospect of our past life.
Martial - Viva enim mortuorum in memoria vivorum est posita.
The life of the dead is retained in the memory of the living.
Cicero - Vitanda est improba siren desidia.
One must avoid that wicked temptress, Laziness.
Horace - Ars longa, vita brevis.
Art (work) is long, but life is short.
Unknown - Vitam regit fortuna, non sapientia.
Fortune, not wisdom, rules lives.
Cicero - Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior.
Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes.
Publilius Syrus - Vita turpis ne morti quidem honestae colum relinquit.
A life of shame leaves no room even for an honorable death.
Cicero - Credula vitam spes fovet et melius cras fore semper dicit.
Credulous hope supports our lives and always says that tomorrow will be better.
Tibullus
Beautiful Latin Phrases
- Tamdiu discendum est, quamdiu vivas.
We should learn as long as we may live.
Seneca Philosophus - Vita sine libris mors est.
Life without books is death.
Unknown - Cum dubia et fragilis sit nobis vita tributa, in morte alterius spem to tibi ponere noli.
Seeing that life has been given us precarious and full of uncertainty, fix not your hopes on the death of another.
Cato - Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est.
Life is more than merely staying alive.
Unknown
Short Latin Phrases
Note: Some short Latin quotes and phrases are popular for everything from tattoos to Instagram and Facebook captions to school mottoes.
- Non scholae sed vitae discimus.
We do not learn for school but for life.
Seneca - Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur.
That man is wise who talks little.
Unknown - In omina paratus.
Ready for anything. - Acribus initiis, incurioso fine.
Zealous at the commencement, careless towards the conclusion.
Tacit - Si vis amari, ama.
If you wish to be loved, love.
Seneca - Vestis virum reddit.
The clothes make the man.
Quintilianus
Quotes in Latin
- Ad nullum consurgit opus, cum corpore languet.
The mind cannot grapple with any task when the body is languid.
Gallus - Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.
If I can not bend the will of Heaven, I shall move Hell.
Unknown - Risus abundat in ore stultorum.
Laughter is abundant in the mouths of fools.
Latin Proverb - A bove ante, ab asino retro, a muliere undique caveto.
Beware of the bull from the front, the donkey from behind, and women from all sides
Unknown - Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur.
Many fear their reputation, and few their conscience.
Pliny - Beati monoculi in terra caecorum.
Blessed is the one-eyed person in the land of the blind.
Unknown - Ad suum quemque aequum est quaestum esse callidum.
It is only right that everyone should be alive to his own advantage.
Plautus - A cane muto et aqua silente cave tibi.
Beware of the dog that does not bark and of silent waters.
Unknown - Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, more obscure than public opinion, and more deceptive than the whole political system.
Cicero
Lovin’ Latin
- Vincit Omnia Veritas.
Truth conquers all things.
Latin Proverb - Edamus, Bibamus, Gaudeamus: post mortem nulla voluptas.
Let us eat, drink, enjoy life, after death, there is no pleasure.
Marcus Tullius Cicero - Ad tristem partem strenua suspicio.
The minds of unfortunate men are prone to suspicion.
Syrus - Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem.
The one well-being of the defeated is not to hope for well-being.
Unknown - Audentis Fortuna iuvat.
Fortune favors the brave.
Virgil - Malum consilium quod mutari non potest.
It’s a bad plan that can’t be changed.
Publilius Syrus - Quem una uxor non castigat degnius est pluribus.
The one who does not consider his wife a punishment deserves more than one.
Francesco Petrarca - Si vis pacem, para bellum.
If you want peace, prepare for war.
Plato - Amat victoria curam.
Success loves (favors) those who take pains.
Unknown
Latin Quotes
Note: You’ll see many Latin quotes in certain professions, including the law.
- Homo praesumitur bonus donec probetur malus.
One is innocent until proven guilty.
Unknown - Nil ego contulerim iucundo sanus amico.
While I am sane I shall compare nothing to the joy of a friend.
Horace - Quod me nutrit me destruit.
What nourishes me destroys me.
Unknown - Caelum, non animum, mutant, qui trans mare currunt.
Those who run off across the sea change their climate but not their mind.
Horace - Ablata causa tollitur effectus.
If the cause is taken away, its effect will disappear.
Medical Maxim - Multa ferunt anni venientes commoda secum, Multa recedentes adimiunt
The years as they come bring many agreeable things with them; as they go, they take many away.
Horace - Primum viveri deinde philosophari.
Live before you philosophize.
Unknown - Alenda lux ubi orta libertas.
Let learning be cherished where liberty has arisen.
Unknown - Forsan miseros meliora sequentur.
For those in misery, perhaps better things will follow.
Virgil
The Importance of Latin
First, Latin is the foundation of all Romance languages. While not as prevalent in the mainstream as it was centuries ago, its influence on literature is perpetual.
Many of the great men and women have completed some of Latin’s most famous works of literature. Latin’s influence goes deeper into not only those who pursue literary pursuits but also into the annals of civilization.
Some of the most famous phrases and commonly used terms in English and other languages are taken from Latin. The language of the kings, Latin, continues to rule the minds in literary circles and ordinary life.
By Michael O’Halloran
Michael O’Halloran founded Greeting Card Poet in 2014 and has worked as its publisher and editor ever since. He has co-authored four books on kids’ trivia and four on coaching. Previously, Michael was the president of Magnetic Poetry. He has invented and brought over 75 new gift and toy products to market, most of which deal with wordplay. Mike is married and a father of four daughters.
Extra Extra
Lastly, please let us know via the Contact page if you have any suggestions for Latin quotes or sayings. Thanks!
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