Just
in case you have a sudden desire to learn Latin, here are some useful sentences
and phrases:
Ab initio (or ab ovo): From the beginning
Absens haeres non erit: Out of sight, out of
mind.
Ad libitum (or Ad arbitrium): At pleasure; at
will
Ad nauseum: So as to disgust or nauseate
Adsum: I am here; I am present
Ante lucem: Before daybreak
Ante meridiem: Before noon
Ars est celare artem: True art is to conceal
art.
Aurea mediocritas: The golden mean
Aut vincere aut mori: Death or victory.
Bene orasse est bene studuisse: To have studied
well is to have prayed well.
Cadit quaestio: No discussion (literally: The
question falls to the ground)
Caeca est invidia: Envy is blind.
Carpe diem: Seize the day; enjoy yourself.
Cave canem. Beware of the dog.
Cogito, ergo sum. I think; therefore, I am.
Crambe repetita: Old news (literally: Cabbage
warmed up the second time)
Cui bono? For whose advantage?
Delenda est Carthago: Carthage must be
destroyed.
De minimis non curat lex: The law does not
concern itself with trifles.
Deo volente: God willing
Docendo discimus: We learn by teaching.
Do ut des: I give that you may give (principle
of reciprocity)
Dulce est desipere in loco: It is pleasant to
play the fool at times.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori: It is
sweet and glorious to die for one's country.
Dum spiro, spero. While I breathe, I hope.
Eheu! Fugaces labuntur anni! Alas! Our fleeing
years pass away!
En iono aletheia: In wine there is truth.
Ex aequo et bono: According to what is right and
good
Ex cathedra: With authority (literally: From the
pulpit)
Exceptio probat regulam: The exception proves
the rule.
Exeunt omnes: All go out.
Ex ungue leonem: You may tell the lion by his
claws.
Faber quisque fortunae suae: Everyone is the
architect of one's own fortune.
Facilis est descensus averni: The descent to
hell is easy.
Faeces populi: Scum of the people.
Fama nihil est celerius: Nothing travels faster
than scandal.
Festina lente: Make haste slowly; don't be
impetuous.
Fiat justitia ruat caelum: Let justice be done
though the heavens may fall.
Fiat lux: Let there be light.
Flagrante delecto: Caught in the very act
Fortuna favet fatuis: Fortune favors fools.
Fuimus Troes: We have seen better days
(literally: We once were Trojans)
Hic jacet: Here lies (is buried)
Honores mutant mores. Honors change manners.
Humanum est errare. To err is human.
Imo pectore: From the bottom of one's heart
Impos animi: Of weak mind
In caelo quies: There is rest in heaven.
In flagrante delicto: In the commission of the
act
In hoc signo vinces: In this sign thou shalt
conquer (Constantine's motto)
In re: In the matter of
Inter alia: Among other things
Inter canem et lupum: Twilight (literally:
between the dog and the wolf)
Invita Minerva: Being without genius
(literally: Minerva being unwilling
Ipso facto: By the fact itself
Ipso jure: By the law itself
Ira furor brevis est: Anger is a brief madness.
Jacta alea est: The die is cast
Jure divino: By divine law
Jus canonicum: Canon law
Jus civile: The civil law
Jus divinum: The divine law
Jus gladii: The right of the sword
Lapsus linguae: A slip of the tongue
Latine dictum: Spoken in Latin
Laus Deo: Praise to God.
Lex non scripta: The unwritten law; the common
law
Lex scripta: The written law
Licentia vatum: Poetic license
Loco citato: In the place quoted or cited
Magna est veritas et praevalebit: Truth is
mighty and will prevail.
Magnum bonum: A great good
Mala fide: In bad faith
Me judice: In my opinion (literally: me being
the judge)
Mens sana in corpore sano: A sound mind in a
healthy body
Mors omnibus communis: Death is common to all.
Ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito: Do not
yield to misfortunes; on the contrary, go more boldly to meet them.
Nec temere, nec timide, Neither rashly nor
timidly
Nemo me impune lacessit. No one provokes me with
impunity.
Nil desperandum: Never despair.
Noli me tangere: Touch me not.
Non deficiente crumena: While the money lasts
Non sibi, sed patriae. Not oneself, but for
one's native land.
Nosce te ipsum: Know thyself.
Nota bene: Mark well
Omnia ad Dei gloriam: All things for the glory
of God.
Omnia mors aequat: Death levels all
distinctions.
Pax vobicsum: Peace be with you.
Prima facie: At first glance
Quae fuerent vitia mores sunt. What were once
vices are now in fashion.
Quanti est sapere: How valuable is wisdom.
Quid nunc? What now? What news?
Qui tacet consentire videtur. One who keeps
silent gives one's consent.
Religio loci: The spirit of the place
Requiescat in pace: May he or she rest in peace.
Resurgam: I shall rise again.
Ruat caelum: Let the heavens fall.
Sapere aude: Dare to be wise.
Semper fidelis: Always faithful
Semper paratus: Always prepared
Serus in caelum redeas: Long life to you
(literally: May it be long before you return to heaven)
Sic semper tyrannis. Thus always to tyrants.
Suum cuique: Let each have one's own.
Terra firma: The continent (literally: firm
land)
Ubi mei, ibi apes. Where the honey is, there are
the bees.
Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered.
Veritas odium parit: Truth begets hatred.
Vincet amor patriae: The love of country will
prevail.
Vox populi, vox Dei: The voice of the people is
the voice of god.