Latin Quotes |
Many Latin quotes are used in the Asterix books, most of which you don't have a clue what they mean. That's a pity, because it's much more fun when you know the meaning. Here is an overview... ![]() Sic ad nauseam: And so on to the point of causing nausea. A Acta est fabula: It's all over (lit. the drama has been acted out) Alea jacta est: The die is cast Audaces fortuna juvat: Fortune favors the bold Auri sacra fames: The cursed hunger for gold Aut Caesar, aut nihil: Either Caesar or nothing Ave atque vale: Hail and farewell Ave Caesar morituri te salutant!: Hail, Caesar! Those who are about to die salute you! B Beati pauperes spiritu: Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) Bis repetita placent: The things that please are repeated again and again C Caveat emptor: Let the buyer beware Cogito ergo sum: I think therefore I am Contraria contraiis curantur: Opposites are cured by opposites D De facto: In reality De mortuis nil nisi bonum: Speak nothing but good of the dead Delenda Carthago: Carthage must be destroyed! Desinit in piscem mulier formosa superne: A woman who is beautiful above ends in a fishtail Diem perdidi: I have lost the day Dignus est intrare: He is worthy to enter Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos: As long as you are fortunate, you will have many friends Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori: It is sweet and fitting to die for the Fatherland E Errare humanum est: To err is human Et nunc, reges, intelligite, er udimini, qui judicati terram: And now, kings, understand; you who decide the fate of the Earth, educate yourselves Et tu, Brute: You too, Brutus Exegi monumentum aere perennius: I have raised a monument more durable than bronze F Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas: Fortunate is he who has been able to learn the causes of things Fluctuat nec mergitur: It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink G Gloria victis: Glory to the defeated Gnothe seauton (Greek): Know thyself I Ipso facto: By that very fact Ira furor brevis est: Anger is a brief madness Ita est: Thus it is (yes) Ita diis placuit: Thus it pleased the gods M Maior e longinquo reverentia: Greater reverence from afar Mens sana in corpore sano: A sound mind in a sound body Morituri te salutant: Those who are about to die salute you N Non omnia possumus omnes: We cannot all do everything Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum: Not everyone is permitted to go to Corinth Nunc est bibendum: Now it is time to drink O O tempora, o mores: Oh! the the times! Oh! the habits! O fortunates nimium, sua si bona norint agricolas: Oh! blessed beyond all bliss are the farmers, if they but knew their happiness P Panem et circenses: Bread and circuses Pax Romana: Roman Peace Plaudite cives!: Applaud, citizens! Q Qui habet aures audiendi audiat: He who has ears, let him understand how to listen Quid novi?: What's new? Quis, quod, ui, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando?: Who, what, where, in what ways, why how and when? Quo vadis: Whither goest thou? Quod erat demomstrandum: We have proved the proposition we set out to prove (lit. Which was to be demonstrated) Quomodo vales: How are you? Quot capita, to sensus: There are as many opinions as there are heads Quousque tandem?: How long? R Redde Caesari quae sunt Caesaris: Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's Ruber et Niger: Red and Black S Si vis pacem: If you want peace... (ends: 'para bellum' = prepare for war) Sic ad nauseam: And so on to the point of causing nausea Sic transit gloria (mundi): Thus passes away the glory of the world Singularis Porcus: Wild boar Sol lucet omnibus: The sun shines for everyone Sursum corda: Lift up your hearts T Timeo Danaos et Dona ferentes: I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts U Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant: Where they create desolation, they call it peace Uti, non abuti: To use, not abuse V Vade retro: Get thee behind me Vae victo, vae vicits: Woe to the vanquished men, woe to the vanquished people Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas: Vanity of vanities, all is vanity Veni vidi vici: I came, I saw, I conquered Veritas odium parit: Truth breeds hatred Victrix causa diis placuit, sed victa Catoni: The victorious cause pleased the gods, the defeated one pleased Cato Victurus te saluto: He who is about to win salutes you Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor: I see the better way and approve it, but I follow the worse way Vinum et musica laetificant cor: Wine and music gladden the heart Vis comica: Sense of humour |