Best Latin Quotes, Sayings and Phrases | Live, Love and Beautiful

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, first the Latin quote, 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 which our love for the donor makes 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 or 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

History of the Latin Language

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 happy I, that 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

Quotations About Life

Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem.
Remember when life’s path is steep to 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 life, 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 motto’s.

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 mouth 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, 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 every one 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, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing 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 men who have been unfortunate are prone to suspicion.
Syrus

Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem.
The one wellbeing of the defeated is not to hope for wellbeing.
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 a lot of Latin quotes in certain professions. The law profession is just one.

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 of all, Latin is the foundation of all the Romance languages. While not as prevalent in the mainstream as it used to be centuries ago, its influence on literature is perpetual.

Many of the great men and women have completed some of the most famous works of literature in Latin. The influence of Latin goes deeper into not only those who have 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 Mike O’Halloran

Mike is the editor of Greeting Card Poet and has sat through a few Latin masses.