65 Proverbs and Expressions in Latin (meaning and interpretation)

Latin is a dead language that has left us an infinity of proverbs, phrases and expressions. This language was spoken in Ancient Rome, and later also during the Middle, Modern and Contemporary Ages.

The name "Latin" derives from an area in the Italian peninsula called "Lazio", where Rome developed. We are going to see in this article 65 Proverbs and Expressions in Latin; We will also explain their meaning in Spanish and a brief interpretation of each one.

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65 great Latin Proverbs and Expressions

A) Yes, In this article we propose 65 Proverbs and Expressions in Latin, and we will tell you its meaning and interpretation.

As you will see, these phrases allude to very diverse topics (religion, wars, human beings, perseverance, values, justice…), and we have even heard or used many of them in our daily lives.

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1. Audere est facere

This Latin expression means "To dare is to do", and it is that trying many times is a great step.

2. Pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; if you need to, dominate

It means “If you know how to use money, money will be your slave. If you don't know, money will be your master. " The power of money is undeniable.

3. Requiescat in pace

Well-known Latin expression, it means “May he rest in peace (R. I. P.) ”and is commonly seen in some burial graves.

4. Scientia ac labore

It means "Knowledge comes through hard work." Working is when you learn the most.

5. Semper fidelis

"Always faithful"; It is the motto of the US Navy.

6. Semper fortis

The following expression means: "Always strong", it could be a motto of war.

7. If you are worth it

It means "If you are strong, then I am strong." In a way it speaks of cooperation between partners.

8. Si vis pacem, para bellum

"If you want peace prepare for war"; there are things that are hard to win, such as peace.

9. Tempus edax rerum

It means "Time devours everything." Time does not tremble, and it is inexorable.

10. Tempus fugit

Expression that means "Time flies"; It encourages us to make the most of the moments.

11. Come vidi vici

Latin expression attributed to Julius Caesar; means "I came, I saw, I conquered."

12. Vincit qui patitur

It means "Conquer who endures." It alludes to the strength of perseverance and perseverance.

13.Vincit who joined

"Conquers who conquers himself"; refers to personal safety, and his power to persuade or conquer others.

14. Live memor leti

"Live remembering death." In other words, make the most of life because one day it will end.

15. Nescire autem quid antequam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum.

"To be ignorant of what happened before our birth is to remain a child forever." Phrase attributed to Marco Tulio Cicero. It alludes to the importance of being informed and knowing history to understand the present and the future.

16. I saw veri universum vivus vici

"By the power of truth, I who live, have conquered the universe." Attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

17. Ut haec ipsa qui non sentiat deorum vim habere is nihil omnino sensurus esse videatur

"If a man cannot feel the power of God when he looks up to the stars, then I doubt that he can feel at all." Phrase attributed to Horacio, alludes to faith in God.

18. Haec ego non multis (scribo), sed tibi: satis enim magnum alter alteri theatrum sumus

It means “I write this not for many but for you. Certainly, we are a sufficient audience for the other. ”, Attributed to Epicurus. Sometimes we just need a listener to speak.

19. Memento mori

"Remember that you are mortal." - Roman proverb. Again, alluding to the importance of taking advantage of life.

20. Mens Sana in corpore sana

"A healthy mind in a healthy body", by Juvenal. The importance of taking care of yourself physically and mentally, because health encompasses these two areas.

21. Militiae species love est

"Love is a kind of war.", Phrase of Ovidio. Love can make us go "crazy" and fight as if we were in a war.

22. Labor omnia vincit improbus

"Constant work overcomes all difficulties.", By Virgilio. Consistency is the best tool to overcome obstacles.

23. Manus manum lavat

“One hand washes the other.”, By Seneca. The importance of helping and cooperating, with ourselves and with others.

24. Medice, cure you ipsum!

"Physician: heal yourself!", Phrase of Jesus of Nazareth. Those who heal must also be cured.

25. Memento homo quia pulvis is et in pulverem reverteris

"Remember man, what dust you are and to dust you will return.", Genesis 3,19. We come from a cosmic explosion of particles, and when we die we will turn back to a pile of dust.

26. Non facit ebrietas vitia, sed protrahit

"Drunkenness does not create vices, it only exposes them.", By Seneca. He goes on to say that vices always exist.

27. Carmina coelo possunt deducere lunam

"Magic words can bring the moon from heaven to earth.", By Publio Virgilio Marón. It alludes to the power of words.

28. Optimum cibi condimentum fame

"The best seasoning of food is hunger", by Cicero. When we are hungry, everything seems richer.

29. Experientia docet

"Experience teaches.", By Tácito. Experience is one of the greatest sources of knowledge.

30. Abeunt studia in mores

"What is pursued with zeal becomes custom.", By Publio Ovidio Nasón. What we constantly seek ends up becoming a kind of habit.

31. Gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus

"Let's enjoy then, while we are still young." It is the first verse of the student hymn Gaudeamus igitur.

32. Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, sed saepe cadendo

"The drop digs into the stone, not because of its strength, but because of its constancy falling.", By Ovidio. Sometimes perseverance and determination is more important than strength to achieve what we set out to do.

33. Homines, dum docent discunt

“Men learn while they teach.”, By Seneca. It also refers to experience as a source of knowledge, to putting it into practice.

34. Homo homini lupus est

"Man is a wolf to man.", Attributed to the English thinker Thomas Hobbes. Men can have a lot of evil between them.

35. Minutes is fable

"The story is over"; it is the last words of César Augusto.

36. Honest vivere, naeminem laedere et jus sum cuique tribuere

"Live honestly, not harm the other and give each one what is due.", By Ulpiano. Talk about justice.

37. Ad astra per aspera

"To the stars the hard way." Is the motto of the Apollo spacecraft.

38. Pedes in terra ad sidera visus

"The feet on the ground, the gaze in the sky." We must be realistic without stopping dreaming, to be successful and happy. It is the motto of the National University of Tucumán, Argentina.

39. Carpe Diem

Well-known Latin phrase, which means: "Seize the moment." It is attributed to Horacio. He comes to tell us to enjoy life because it quickly comes to an end.

40. Nemo patriam quia magna est amat, sed quia sua

"Nobody loves his country because he is great, but because it is his.", De Seneca. Sometimes the size does not matter, but the sense of belonging of things.

41. Bis orat qui bene cantat

The following Latin expression means "He who sings well, prays twice.", And is attributed to Saint Augustine.

42. Cane muto et aqua silente cave tibi

"Beware of the dog that does not bark and the silent water." by Francisco Luis Moreira when we have the information. He comes to tell us that sometimes the quietest are the most dangerous.

43. Cedant weapon togae

"Let the arms yield to the toga.", By Cicero. The toga is a distinctive garment of Ancient Rome; here Cicero speaks of religion and war.

44. Bono malum superate

"Overcome evil with good"; To combat evil, it is enough to act in the best possible way.

45. Salus crossing

It means "Salvation by the cross"; in this case we are facing an ecclesiastical term.

46. Cogito ergo sum

"I think, therefore I am", a phrase attributed to the famous philosopher Descartes. Before acting it is necessary to think first.

47. Copia ciborum, subtilitas impeditur

It means "Large meals dull (or hinder) intelligence", by Seneca; it goes against eating excesses.

48. Facilius est fine facere quam IUD

“It is easier to do many things than to do one for a long time”, by Quintiliano. This phrase refers to how difficult it is to be constant at times.

49. Da mihi animas, caetera tolle

"Give me souls and take the rest" (Salesian Congregation), a religious phrase that speaks of what is inside people (souls), and their importance.

50. Clavum clove expellere

"A nail is removed with another nail.", By Cicero. Sometimes meeting a new person helps us forget another that we want to forget.

51. Audemus swears nostra defendere

It is the motto of the state of Alabama (United States), and it means "We dare to defend our rights."

52. Auribus teneo lupum

It is an ancient proverb, which means "I hold the wolf by the ears."

53. Aut cum scuto aut in scuto

This Latin phrase is a Spartan saying, and means "With shield or without shield (do or die, do not retreat)". Talk about the importance of fighting to the end.

54. Aut neca aut necare

It means "Kill or be killed", since in war many times only these two options exist.

55. Bis dat qui I quote dat

"Who gives without doubting gives twice", he speaks of trust, and the value that someone offers us something without doubting.

56. Citius altius fortius

This is the motto of the Olympic Games, and it means "Faster, higher, stronger." It talks about perseverance and always wanting more.

57. Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges

"When the republic is at its most corrupt, the laws are more numerous", by the historian Cornelio Tácito.

58. Creatio ex nihilo

This Latin phrase alludes to the concept of creation, in its theological context, and means "Creation from nothing."

59. Deus ex machina

"The god of the machine." This term refers to the fact that a conflict can be resolved in an implausible way.

60. Dictum factum

"What is said is done", or the importance of promises and words.

61. Disce quasi semper victurus lives quasi cras moriturus

Learn as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow ”, the importance of living in the moment and learning as if we had all the time in the world.

62. Igne natura renovatur integra

"Through fire, nature is reborn" is a metaphor; sometimes it is necessary for something to burn, or die, or break, so that it can be reborn.

63. Twelve disc, writing cogito

“When I teach others, I learn. When I write, I think ”. That is, teaching helps to learn, and writing to think.

64. Sweet bellum inexpertis

"War is sweet for the inexperienced", or the power of the first few times and innocence (although things look different with experience).

65. E pluribus unum

It means "Of many, one"; This phrase consists of one of the first slogans of the United States.