12 12 INSPIRATIONAL INSPIRATIONAL LATIN MOTTOSLATIN MOTTOS

Tutor: Sandra RonaiJanuary 4th, 2009

Inspirational motto no

1

Carpe diem!Carpe diem!

Carpe diem!Carpe diem!• Translation:Translation: “Seize the day!” “Seize the day!”

• Complete version:Complete version: Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero – Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero – “ “Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in tomorrow”Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in tomorrow”

• Author:Author: Horace Horace ((Quintus Horatius FlaccusQuintus Horatius Flaccus, great lyric poet), great lyric poet)

• Meaning:Meaning: The future is uncertain, so enjoy the present moment and The future is uncertain, so enjoy the present moment and

make the best out of every day that is given to you.make the best out of every day that is given to you.

• Compare to:Compare to: Mememto mori!Mememto mori! – “Remember that you will die” – “Remember that you will die”

Inspirational motto no

2

Dum spiro, Dum spiro, spero.spero.

Dum spiro, spero.Dum spiro, spero.• Translation:Translation: “While I breath, I hope.” “While I breath, I hope.” or “I hope as long as I breath.”or “I hope as long as I breath.”

• Variant:Variant:

Dum vita est, spes est.Dum vita est, spes est. – “While there is life, there is hope.– “While there is life, there is hope.””

• Attributed to:Attributed to: Cicero Cicero ((Marcus Tullius CiceroMarcus Tullius Cicero, important writer, philosopher, , important writer, philosopher,

orator and politician)orator and politician)

• State motto of South Carolina, US.State motto of South Carolina, US.

Inspirational motto no

3

Mens sana Mens sana in corpore in corpore sano.sano.

Mens sana in corpore Mens sana in corpore sano.sano.• Translation:Translation: “A sound mind in a healthy body.” “A sound mind in a healthy body.”

• Author:Author: Juvenal Juvenal

((Decimus Iunius IuvenalisDecimus Iunius Iuvenalis, satirical poet), satirical poet)

• Context:Context: An answer to the question of what people should An answer to the question of what people should

desire to have in life. Possible ironical connotations desire to have in life. Possible ironical connotations (not only physical health, but also mental sanity), (not only physical health, but also mental sanity), but generally used to express the ideal of a but generally used to express the ideal of a balanced, harmonious life. balanced, harmonious life.

Inspirational motto no

4

Gutta cavat Gutta cavat lapidem, lapidem,

non vi non vi sed sed

saepe saepe cadendo.cadendo.

Gutta cavat lapidem, Gutta cavat lapidem,

non vi sed saepe non vi sed saepe cadendo.cadendo.• Translation:Translation: “The drop hollows the stone, “The drop hollows the stone,

not by force, but by falling often.”not by force, but by falling often.”• Source:Source: Medieval proverb based on an ancient idea Medieval proverb based on an ancient idea

expressed by Lucrece, Tibullus and most notably Ovid.expressed by Lucrece, Tibullus and most notably Ovid. • Variant:Variant: Gutta cavat lapidem, non bis sed saepe cadendo,Gutta cavat lapidem, non bis sed saepe cadendo,

Sic homo fit sapiens bis non, sed saepe legendo. –Sic homo fit sapiens bis non, sed saepe legendo. –““The drop hollows the stone by falling not twice, but often,The drop hollows the stone by falling not twice, but often, Likewise, man is made wise by reading not twice, but often”Likewise, man is made wise by reading not twice, but often”

(Giordano Bruno, Medieval Italian monk, philosopher and writer)(Giordano Bruno, Medieval Italian monk, philosopher and writer)

Inspirational motto no

5

Fugit Fugit irreparabile irreparabile

tempus.tempus.

Fugit irreparabile Fugit irreparabile tempus.tempus.

• Translation:Translation: “Irretrievable time flies.” “Irretrievable time flies.”

• Author:Author: Virgil ( Virgil (Publius Vergilius MaroPublius Vergilius Maro, great epic poet), great epic poet)

• Related to:Related to: Eheu, fugaces labuntur anni!Eheu, fugaces labuntur anni! – “Alas, our – “Alas, our fleeting years pass away!” (Horace)fleeting years pass away!” (Horace)

• Meaning:Meaning: Our life is short, time flies by without notice Our life is short, time flies by without notice and we can’t recover anything that has already passed.and we can’t recover anything that has already passed.

• Compare to:Compare to: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” (John Lennon) making other plans.” (John Lennon)

Inspirational motto no

6

Veni. Vidi. Veni. Vidi. Vici.Vici.

Veni. Vidi. Vici.Veni. Vidi. Vici.• Translation:Translation: “I came. I saw. I conquered.” “I came. I saw. I conquered.”

• Author:Author: Julius Caesar Julius Caesar ((Gaius Iulius CaesarGaius Iulius Caesar, famous Roman general, , famous Roman general,

politician and writer)politician and writer)

• Context:Context: In 47 BC, after winning a quick and decisive In 47 BC, after winning a quick and decisive

battle, Caesar wrote this as his only official battle, Caesar wrote this as his only official message to the Roman Senate. As he was at the message to the Roman Senate. As he was at the time engaged in a civil war, his words, expressing time engaged in a civil war, his words, expressing his military power and his determination, are also his military power and his determination, are also a warning to his enemies. a warning to his enemies.

Inspirational motto no

7

Cedant arma Cedant arma togae!togae!

Cedant arma togae!Cedant arma togae!• Complete version:Complete version: Cedant arma togae, concedant laurea laudi! Cedant arma togae, concedant laurea laudi!

• Translation:Translation: “ “Let arms yield to the toga, let laurel wreaths yield to Let arms yield to the toga, let laurel wreaths yield to

praise!”praise!”

• Author:Author: Cicero Cicero

• Meaning:Meaning: Let violence give way to law; may military Let violence give way to law; may military power be replaced by civilian power; solve conflicts not power be replaced by civilian power; solve conflicts not by using weapons, but the force of political argument.by using weapons, but the force of political argument.

• State mottoState motto on the territorial seal of Wyoming, US. on the territorial seal of Wyoming, US.

Inspirational motto no

8

Fortes Fortes Fortuna Fortuna iuvat.iuvat.

Fortes Fortuna iuvat.Fortes Fortuna iuvat.• Translation:Translation: “Fortune favours the bold.” “Fortune favours the bold.”

• Author:Author: Terence Terence ((Publius Terentius AferPublius Terentius Afer, playwright, 2, playwright, 2ndnd century BC) century BC)

• Variants:Variants: Audaces Fortuna iuvat.Audaces Fortuna iuvat. – “Fortune favours the courageous” – “Fortune favours the courageous”

Audentes Fortuna iuvatAudentes Fortuna iuvat – “Fortune favours the daring” – “Fortune favours the daring” (Virgil)(Virgil)

• Compare to:Compare to: Alea iacta est Alea iacta est – “The die is cast.” (Julius Caesar)– “The die is cast.” (Julius Caesar)

Inspirational motto no

9

Faber est suae Faber est suae quisque quisque fortunae.fortunae.

Faber est suae quisque Faber est suae quisque fortunae.fortunae.

• Translation:Translation: “ “Each man is the maker of his own fortune.”Each man is the maker of his own fortune.”

• Attributed to:Attributed to: Appius Claudius Caecus Appius Claudius Caecus (Roman (Roman politician, 4politician, 4thth century BC) – renowned for his century BC) – renowned for his building of the road that connected Rome to building of the road that connected Rome to Capua (Capua (Via AppiaVia Appia) and the first aqueduct in Rome ) and the first aqueduct in Rome ((Aqua AppiaAqua Appia))

• MeaningMeaning: Our lives are not governed by : Our lives are not governed by fortune/luck, but by our own actions. We have to fortune/luck, but by our own actions. We have to work hard to create the lives we want to have.work hard to create the lives we want to have.

Inspirational motto no

10

Homo sum, Homo sum, humani nil a humani nil a me me alienumalienum

puto.puto.

Homo sum, humani Homo sum, humani nil a me alienum nil a me alienum

puto.puto.• Translation:Translation: “ “I am a man, I consider nothing that is human foreign I am a man, I consider nothing that is human foreign

to me.” or “all things human are of interest to me”.to me.” or “all things human are of interest to me”.

• Author:Author: Terence (probably translated from Greek) Terence (probably translated from Greek)

• Original context:Original context: An answer to someone’s remark An answer to someone’s remark about “pocking your nose into somebody else’s about “pocking your nose into somebody else’s business”.business”.

• Influential idea – it was quoted by Cicero, adopted by the Influential idea – it was quoted by Cicero, adopted by the Renaissance humanists and the thinkers of the Enlightenment.Renaissance humanists and the thinkers of the Enlightenment.

Inspirational motto no

11

Errare Errare humanum humanum est.est.

Errare humanum Errare humanum est.est.

• Translation:Translation: “To make mistakes is a human thing”. “To make mistakes is a human thing”.

• Derived from:Derived from: Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverarenisi insipientis in errore perseverare – “Any man can – “Any man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one.” (Cicero)one.” (Cicero)

• Variants:Variants: Errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum.Errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum. ““To make mistakes is human, to persist is devilish.”To make mistakes is human, to persist is devilish.” Errare humanum est, ignoscere divinum.Errare humanum est, ignoscere divinum. ““To make mistakes is human, to forgive is divine.”To make mistakes is human, to forgive is divine.”

Inspirational motto no

12

Per aspera ad Per aspera ad astra!astra!

Per aspera ad astra!Per aspera ad astra!• Translation:Translation: “Through hardships to the stars!”. “Through hardships to the stars!”.

• Derived from:Derived from: Non est ad astra mollis e terris via.Non est ad astra mollis e terris via. “ “There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.” (Seneca)There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.” (Seneca)

• Variant:Variant: Per ardua ad astra! –Per ardua ad astra! – “Through toil to the stars!”“Through toil to the stars!”

• Related to:Related to: Ad augusta per angusta!Ad augusta per angusta! – “To high – “To high places by narrow roads!” or “To triumph through places by narrow roads!” or “To triumph through difficulty!”difficulty!”

• State motto of KansasState motto of Kansas, US; used as an emblem for many , US; used as an emblem for many Air Forces, including the Australian, Canadian Air Forces, including the Australian, Canadian

and British Royal Air Forceand British Royal Air Force

My wish for the wonderful

eduFire community:

Vivat, crescat, Vivat, crescat, floreat!floreat!May it live, May it live,

may it grow, may it grow, may it may it

flourish!flourish!