NationStates Jolt Archive

What's your favourite latin quote?

Mine is:
Iuris praecepta sunt haec: honeste vivere, alterum non laedere, suum cuique tribuere.

The teachings of justice are these: to live honestly; not to damage any other person; to give anyone what he deserves. (more or less)

other favourites might include:
Alea iacta est.
Quo usque tandem (, Catilina, ) abuteris patientia nostra?
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem delendam esse.

Post a lot, so we could have a contest.

Nil Desperandum Auspice Deo.

Do not worry, have faith in God.

Only one: E Pluribus Unum.

Veni Vidi Risi. :)

I should have specified before: quotations qualify ONLY if they come from the LATIN/ROMAN WORLD, that is, ranging from the foundation of Rome to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. (The Eastern Roman Empire used greek).

I should have specified before: quotations qualify ONLY if they come from the LATIN/ROMAN WORLD, that is, ranging from the foundation of Rome to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. (The Eastern Roman Empire used greek).

Aww, that takes all the fun out of it (besides which, I don't speak Latin)...

"Romani ite domum"

Per Adua Astra, er the Royal Air Force or Royal New Zealand Air Force motto?
*Waits for some douche to harp on about Marines and Semper Fidalis*

I should have specified before: quotations qualify ONLY if they come from the LATIN/ROMAN WORLD, that is, ranging from the foundation of Rome to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. (The Eastern Roman Empire used greek).

*just grins and nods* http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/yes.gif

Floreat pica (http://collingwoodfc.com.au/).

Per Adua Astra, er the Royal Air Force or Royal New Zealand Air Force motto?
*Waits for some douche to harp on about Marines and Semper Fidalis*

Why a Douche? I was in the Marines. Oh, and it's "Fidelis".

Oh, and I think you'll find it's 'Per Ardua Ad Astra'

I should have specified before: quotations qualify ONLY if they come from the LATIN/ROMAN WORLD, that is, ranging from the foundation of Rome to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. (The Eastern Roman Empire used greek).

Damn, that means my response fall outside your rules. But I'm not going to remove it!!!

Bwahahahahahaha......

Odi et amo.

I could go on and finish out Catullus 85 (I think that's the number, I never remember to check), but I just like those three little words.

Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.

I was only two characters away from remembering the spelling and everything...

Why a Douche? I was in the Marines. Oh, and it's "Fidelis".

Oh, and I think you'll find it's 'Per Ardua Ad Astra'
Not really a Douche, what is your favourite latin quote?
Yeah, i thought i was missing something, thanks.

Dum vivimus, vivamus!

While we live, let us live!

Why a Douche? I was in the Marines. Oh, and it's "Fidelis".

Oh, and I think you'll find it's 'Per Ardua Ad Astra'

For the forumer with the most latinish name (scientific latin, admittedly, but it does rather stand out) I'm surprised to see you grabbing the linguistic joystick and throwing the thread into a nosedive.

Mine, the only bit of latin I know the meaning of which isn't a slogan or motto: "Quo vadis?"

I learnt it from Asterix. It means "who goes there?"

Okeeh. Someone here might actually know latin, and compose truisms in ancient latin while holding down a day job.

I learnt mine from Asterix, the cartoon translated from French. Mea culpa.

Si hoc non legere potes tu asinus es.

Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum

and some folks really try hard to get to heaven... :rolleyes:

Si hoc non legere potes tu asinus es.Sounds vaguely like "Yes the hog, not the accountant, is the killer". But what do I know.

"fugit me ratio" ("reason ran from me") from Catullus 10 (yeah, the poem where he gets embarassed by the "scortillum", or "little harlot")

Sounds vaguely like "Yes the hog, not the accountant, is the killer". But what do I know.
Well, a friend of mine, who taught Latin, claimed it was something different...

"If you can't read this, you're an ass".

Dum vivimus, vivamus!

While we live, let us live!

Ooh! That's from one of Catullus's Lesbia poems, isn't it?

Let me check...yes. Poem 5. The one where he tells her to kiss him a thousand times and then a hundred times and then a thousand times and then a hundred times, and then a thousand times, and then a hundred times, and then scramble them all up so that no one would get jealous and cast the evil eye on them or something.

Sounds vaguely like "Yes the hog, not the accountant, is the killer". But what do I know.Well, ... no.
And btw, I can read that sentence ;)

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

From Plato's Republic...

Well, ... no.
And btw, I can read that sentence ;)
I'm sure you can. :p

Ceterum censeo Americam esse delendam... :)

Note national motto. Not that I necessarily agree with the sentiment, I just like the phrase.

Per Adua Astra, er the Royal Air Force or Royal New Zealand Air Force motto?
*Waits for some douche to harp on about Marines and Semper Fidalis*
Semper Non Sequitur
Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum

and some folks really try hard to get to heaven... :rolleyes:

Beati Hiberni, quibus vivere bibere est.

Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum

and some folks really try hard to get to heaven... :rolleyes:
Beati Hiberni, quibus vivere bibere est.Tu cogitas, Hiberni pauperes spiritu sunt?

Wine and prayers, huh?

Tu cogitas, Hiberni pauperes spiritu sunt?

Hell if I know, I don't speak latin.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Heey! I know that one. Who keeps the keepers, right?

Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum

Beauty's calories for the soles, or something similar?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Heey! I know that one. Who keeps the keepers, right?Kind of. It's a question about exercising control over those who control, guard, watch, keep, whatever.

Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum

Beauty's calories for the soles, or something similar?Not really. :p

timeo danaos et dona ferentis

Kind of. It's a question about exercising control over those who control, guard, watch, keep, whatever.Though I've clue what Ipsos means, the rest was poorly spelt words in languages I speak. And the quote is pretty famous, though the exact translation eludes me too.

Not really.So... Is it a secret? I'm curious danmnit! :p

Ooooh, also, Non Illegitamati Carborundum."You can't type when you've drunk Carborundum"? - I'm guessing it's probably true, though I seem to remember a guy surviving ingesting a VW.

Ooooh, also, Non Illegitamati Carborundum.

So... Is it a secret? I'm curious danmnit! :pWell, its about lacking mental abilities rendering access to heaven. You know, the churches have always wanted their followers as dumb as possible... and some even pursue that state out of their own motivation.... ;)

"You can't type when you've drunk Carborundum"?
Where do you come up with these? :p

That one is 'Don't let the bastards wear you down'.

timeo danaos et dona ferentisWhich is a bit strange if it's said in Latin ;)

"You can't type when you've drunk Carborundum"? - I'm guessing it's probably true, though I seem to remember a guy surviving ingesting a VW.

Close. Kind of.

Ooh! That's from one of Catullus's Lesbia poems, isn't it?

Actually...

"I drew my sword and glanced along it, feeling its exquisite balance while noting again the faint ripples left by the feather-soft hammerblows of some master swordsmith. I tossed it and caught it by the forte. "Read the motto, Star."
She traced it out. "Dum vivimus, vivamus! -- 'While we live, let us live!' "
-- Glory Road, Robert Heinlein

...but I'm sure he just stole it from Catullus, so it's all good. ;)

Well, its about lacking mental abilities rendering access to heaven. You know, the churches have always wanted their followers as dumb as possible... and some even pursue that state out of their own motivation.... ;)Hehe, cool. Intellectual wank's always best when no one understands it.

Close. Kind of.You're just trying not to make me feel like a retard, aren't you? That one is 'Don't let the bastards wear you down'.Anyway, untranslating Latin's not very difficult at all. It's constructed from transmogrified bits & peices of half the languages on my continent, so even if I can't actually understand a single word, nearly every word of it looks quite familiar.
It's not unlike speaking Russian in the Czech Republic, if you've tried that.

You're just trying not to make me feel like a retard, aren't you?

Yes. Yes I am.

Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum

Beauty's calories for the soles, or something similar?

Actually, it means "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." From the Beatitudes (hence the Beati).

I like my national motto, a Punic Wars battle-cry meaning "Unleash hell!" And it's always fun to say things like "Oderint, dum metuant" and "Vi veri veniversum vivus vici", even if you don't necessarily agree.

Odi et amo.


Odi et amo. Qua re faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio, et excrucior.

Yeah. Wonderful.

in vino veritas

I should have specified before: quotations qualify ONLY if they come from the LATIN/ROMAN WORLD, that is, ranging from the foundation of Rome to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. (The Eastern Roman Empire used greek).

No fun!


Cave canem (beware of the dog)
Noli perturbare (do not disturb)
Noli intrare (do not enter)
Oportet ministros manus lavare antequam latrinam relinquit (employees must wash hands before leaving restroom)
Barbari! In hoc curru nulla arca sonorum adsit! (no radio!)
Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas (thank you for not smoking)
Si hoc signum legere potest, operis boni in rebus Latinis alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes! (if you can read this sign, you can get a good job in the fast-paced, high-paying world of Latin!)

Odi et amo. Qua re faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio, et excrucior.

Yeah. Wonderful.

*slaps Catullus a la Cher & Nick Cage in Moonstruck* Get over it!

If Bush should ever wonder how future generations will remember him, send him to Iraq and say to him: Si monmentum requiris, circumspice!

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Festina lente.

And:

Oderint dum metuant.

ave atque vale

No fun!


Cave canem (beware of the dog)
Noli perturbare (do not disturb)
Noli intrare (do not enter)
Oportet ministros manus lavare antequam latrinam relinquit (employees must wash hands before leaving restroom)
Barbari! In hoc curru nulla arca sonorum adsit! (no radio!)
Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas (thank you for not smoking)
Si hoc signum legere potest, operis boni in rebus Latinis alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes! (if you can read this sign, you can get a good job in the fast-paced, high-paying world of Latin!)


Opus in Vaticano tantum, id est, quia in Vaticano officialiter latine loquitur.

Semper Non Sequitur
O'irish have an Air Force and the motto isn't in Gaelic?:eek: