Verba volant, scripta manent.
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:06 amVerba volant, scripta manent. - Words fly away, writings remain.
Words are so volatile – we use them in our conversation but their meaning flies away as the wind and the water. Still there are words, very wise words, that reached our days from the ancient times, words and proverbs, that are still worth remembering and thinking over..
Let me quote just a few notorious proverbs from the Latin epoch…
Animus facit nobilem. - The spirit makes (human) noble.
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam. - I will either find a way or I will make one.
Cogito, ergo sum. (Descartes) - I think, therefore I am.
Dimidium facti qui coepit habet. (Horace) - He who has begun has the job half done.
Docendo discimus. - Teach in order to learn.
Errare humanum est, in errore perservare stultum. (Seneca) - It is human to make a mistake, it is stupid to persist in it.
Est modus in rebus. - There is a middle course in all things.
Faber quisque fortunae suae. - Each man is the maker of his own fortune.
Facta, non verba! - Deeds, not words!
Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. - False in one thing, false in all.
Festina lente! - Rush slowly!
Fiat justitia, ruat caelum. - Let justice be done, even though the heavens collapse.
Homines, dum docent, discunt. (Seneca) - While men teach they learn.
Imperare sibi maximum imperium est. (Seneca) - To rule yourself is the ultimate power.
In vino veritas. - The truth is in wine.
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur. - The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived!
Nemo propheta in patria sua. - No one is considered a prophet in his hometown/homeland.
Nil novi sub sole. (Bible) - Nothing new under the sun.
Occasio aegre offertur, facile amittitur. (Publius Syrus) - Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease.
Occasio facit furem. - Opportunity makes a thief.
Omnia munda mundis. - Everything is pure to pure ones.
Pacta sunt servanda. - Agreements should be obeyed.
Pecunia non olet. (Vespasianus) - Money has no smell.
Post tenebras lux. - After darkness, light.
Quae nocent, saepe docent. - What hurts, often instructs.
Scio me nihil scire. (Socrates) - I know that I know nothing.
Semper inops quicumque cupit. (Claudian) - Whoever desires is always poor.
Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. (Ovid) - Times are changing, and we are changing within them.
Tempus fugit. - Time flies.
Ubi bene, ibi patria. - Where one feels good, there is one's homeland.
Ubi concordia, ibi victoria. - Where is unity, there is the victory.
Veni, vidi, vici! (Julius Caesar) - I came, I saw, I conquered.
Vivere disce, cogita mori. (sundial inscription) - Learn to live; Remember death.
Words are so volatile – we use them in our conversation but their meaning flies away as the wind and the water. Still there are words, very wise words, that reached our days from the ancient times, words and proverbs, that are still worth remembering and thinking over..
Let me quote just a few notorious proverbs from the Latin epoch…
Animus facit nobilem. - The spirit makes (human) noble.
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam. - I will either find a way or I will make one.
Cogito, ergo sum. (Descartes) - I think, therefore I am.
Dimidium facti qui coepit habet. (Horace) - He who has begun has the job half done.
Docendo discimus. - Teach in order to learn.
Errare humanum est, in errore perservare stultum. (Seneca) - It is human to make a mistake, it is stupid to persist in it.
Est modus in rebus. - There is a middle course in all things.
Faber quisque fortunae suae. - Each man is the maker of his own fortune.
Facta, non verba! - Deeds, not words!
Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. - False in one thing, false in all.
Festina lente! - Rush slowly!
Fiat justitia, ruat caelum. - Let justice be done, even though the heavens collapse.
Homines, dum docent, discunt. (Seneca) - While men teach they learn.
Imperare sibi maximum imperium est. (Seneca) - To rule yourself is the ultimate power.
In vino veritas. - The truth is in wine.
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur. - The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived!
Nemo propheta in patria sua. - No one is considered a prophet in his hometown/homeland.
Nil novi sub sole. (Bible) - Nothing new under the sun.
Occasio aegre offertur, facile amittitur. (Publius Syrus) - Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease.
Occasio facit furem. - Opportunity makes a thief.
Omnia munda mundis. - Everything is pure to pure ones.
Pacta sunt servanda. - Agreements should be obeyed.
Pecunia non olet. (Vespasianus) - Money has no smell.
Post tenebras lux. - After darkness, light.
Quae nocent, saepe docent. - What hurts, often instructs.
Scio me nihil scire. (Socrates) - I know that I know nothing.
Semper inops quicumque cupit. (Claudian) - Whoever desires is always poor.
Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. (Ovid) - Times are changing, and we are changing within them.
Tempus fugit. - Time flies.
Ubi bene, ibi patria. - Where one feels good, there is one's homeland.
Ubi concordia, ibi victoria. - Where is unity, there is the victory.
Veni, vidi, vici! (Julius Caesar) - I came, I saw, I conquered.
Vivere disce, cogita mori. (sundial inscription) - Learn to live; Remember death.
