LATIN EXPRESSIONS & MAXIMS

Alea iacta est! (Caesar, on crossing Rubicon)      The lot is cast!
Alter ego.     Another I (= soul mate, close friend).
Argumentum a contrario   The argument from the opposite.
Carpe diem. (Horace)    Seize the day.
Carthago delenda est. (Cato Maior)  Carthage must be destroyed.
Cogito, ergo sum.   I think, therefore I am.
Conditio sine qua non.    Necessary condition.
Credo, quia absurdum. (Tertullian)  I do believe, because it is absurd.
Curriculum vitae.    The run of life.
Damnant, quod non intellegunt.  (People) condemn what they do not understand.
De duobus malibus, minus est eligendum. Of the two evils, one must  choose the lesser.
De mortuis aut bene, aut nihil.  About the dead, either praise or nothing.
Doctor honoris causa.  Doctorate conferred without completion of academic curriculum.
Dominus mundi est, qui se regnat.   He who controls himself is a ruler of the world.
Dum spiro, spero.    As long as I breathe, I hope.
Ecce Homo! (Pontius Pilate, on Christ) Here is the Man!
Egi quod potui, faciant meliora potentes. (Virgil) I have done my best, let others do better.
Est deus in nobis. (Ovid)   There is god in us.
Ex nihilo nihil.     Nothing (comes) from nothing.
Exempli gratia. (E.g.)    For example.
Facilis descensus Averno.   The way to the shadows is easy.
Fata viam invenient.    Fates will find the way.
Festina lente.     Hurry slowly.
Fiat lux.     Let there be light.
Finis coronat opus.    The end crowns the work.
Fortes Fortuna adjuvat.   Fortune helps the brave.
Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo. (Ovid) Dripping water drills stone not by         force, but by falling often.
Homo sum, et nihil humani generis a me alienum est. (Terence)   I am a man, and nothing human         is alien from me.
Ipsissima verba.    The very own words.
Labor omnia vincit. (Ovid)   Work wins everything.
Medio tutissimus ibis. (Ovid)   You will go safest in the middle.
Memento mori.    Remember about death.
Mutatis mutandis.    With necessary changes.
Ne quid nimis. (Delphic oracle of Apollo) Nothing too much.
Noli nocere. (Hippocrates)   Do not do harm.
Non multa, sed multum.   (Say) not many (words), but much.
Non sequitur (logical mistake)    It does not follow.
Nosce te ipsum. (Delphic oracle of Apollo) Know thyself.
O tempora! O mores! (Cicero)   O time! o morals!
Omne ignotum pro magnifico.   Everything unknown (is taken) for a great (miracle).
Omnia disputanda sunt.   Everything is subject to doubt
Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori. (Ovid) Love conquers all, and we must yield to love.
Ora et labora.     Pray and work.
Otium post negotium.    Rest after work.
Per aspera ad astra.    Through the thorns to the stars.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc (logical fallacy)     After it, therefore because of it.
Sapienti satis.     It's enough for those who think.
Qui non potest sperare, desperet nihil. (Seneca) He who cannot hope will not despair.
Quo vadis? (Jesus to St. Peter, who was walking away from Rome:)  Where are you going?
Quod erat demonstrandum (Q.E.D.)  Which was to be proven (math.)
Quot homines, tot sententia.   As many people, so many opinions.
Reductio ad absurdum.   Reducing to absurdity.
Requiescat in pace. (R.I.P.)   May he/she rest in peace.
Salus populi suprema lex.   Public safety is supreme law.
Semper avarus eget.    Stingy is always needy.
Sero venientibus ossa.    Tardy guests have bones.
Si vis amari, ama.    If you wish to be loved, love.
Si vis pacem, para bellum.   If you wish peace, prepare for war.
Sic transit gloria mundi.   Thus passes glory of the world.
Simplicis verbis.    In simple words.
Siste, viator.     Pause, traveler. (Opening of an epitaph)
Status quo.     The present state of affairs.
Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re.  Sweetly in manner, tough in action.
Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. (Ovid)  Times change, and we change with them.
Terminus ante quem.    The date before which (something took place).
Terminus post quem.    The date after which (something took place).
Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. (Vergil) I fear Greeks even if they bear gifts.
Ubi nihil vales, ibi nihil velles.     Where you are nothing, wish for nothing.
Vestis virum facit.    Clothing makes a man.
Vincit qui patitur.    The one who is patient wins.
Vincit qui se vincit.    Winner is the one who subdues himself.
Vita brevis, ars longa.    Life is short, art is long.