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, 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
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
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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.
Extra Extra
Lastly, if you have any suggestions for Latin quotes or sayings, please let us know via the Contact page. Thanks!
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