Learn Latin Quotes, Sayings, Phrases & Mottos!

Latin language and the vicinities, painting of Rome

The majority of texts and materials on this site have something to do with the Latin language, including its perception and use in popular culture (quotes, tattoos, mottos, engravings, inscriptions etc). Among the highlights are (a Windows interface for W. Whitaker's "Latin Words"), Latin Word of the Day, , Latin quotes & phrases , Antique engraved rings, and Legal Latin phrases, quotes & writs. Enjoy!

NT Greek vocabulary for iPhone or iPod Touch

Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 02:49 - , Posted by Administrator

QuickMem is one of the oldest pieces of software for learning New Testament Greek. It has always been free, and now it is available on iPhone. Don't miss it! I have seen at least one other program that claims to do the same, but it's not free and it looks like it covers a smaller subset of Greek words. Of course, you can download a plain Windows, Mac or Linux version of QuickMem from the same page!

QuickMem

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Tempus fugit

Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 20:18 - ,
Posted by Administrator

Tempus fugit
Translation: Time flies

I already knew that Latin mottos were very common on sundials. As it turns out, clocks at one time also featured Latin phrases. Obviously, you can still custom engrave a quality mantle clock. But this particular masterpiece replicates Wedgwood's original designs from the 1880s and is already ornamented with a Tempus Fugit inscription. As for the price, it is unapproachable, alas!

By the way, the origin of the phrase probably can be found in a line from Viril's Georgics:

Set fugit interea, fugit inreparabile tempus,
singula dum capti circumvectamur amore.

(G. 3.284-5)

Fairclough translates beautifully: "But time meanwhile is flying, flying beyond recall, while we, charmed with love of our theme, linger around each detail!"

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Latin in Iron Man 2.

Friday, May 21, 2010, 14:29 -
Posted by Administrator

I very seriously doubt that this will increase enrollment in Latin classes, but curious nonetheless.

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Casanova's mottos

Thursday, May 20, 2010, 14:38 -
Posted by Administrator

Gallica has made Giacomo Casanova's manuscripts available online. Namely, "Histoire de ma vie" ("History of my life"). Nothing extraordinary, of course, unless you intend to gain more knowledge about the man's personality studying his handwriting. It was interesting, however, to look into his use of Latin mottos and even a brief discussion of them in the book. For instance, this motto is used as an epigraph to the memoirs:

Nequiquam sapit qui sibi non sapit.
He knows in vain who does not draw profit from what he knows

Casonova ascribes this quote to Cicero. He must be quoting from his memory, because the exact quote is a bit different:

Qui ipse sibi sapiens prodesse non quit, nequiquam sapit.

Also, Cicero himself is quoting from Ennius's Medea.

In the book, Casanova also mentioned these two mottos:

Excitat auditor studium, laudataque virtus
crescit, et immensum gloria calcar habet.

Having an audience makes one try harder, virtue grows by praise, and fame is a powerful spur

This one is from Ovid's "Epistulae ex Ponto." Another commonsense motto is also among Casanova's favorites, but he says that it would offend the vast number of thos who, whenever anything goes wrong for them, say: "It is not my fault":

Nemo leditur nisi a seipso
Nobody suffers except by his own doing

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