LATIN QUOTES AND EXPRESSIONS

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Many Latin expressions are used in books and in everyday English speech, and you will certainly find most those phrases listed and translated on my site. However, the existing body of Latin literature, both Classical and Medieval is extremely vast. There are many undiscovered gems of wit and wisdom, so I encourage you to study Latin :) The source for a quote is sometimes indcated, but one must remember that Latin quotations are often used as if they were anonymous maxims of universal wisdom. Unlike the collections of quotes that you will find on some other websites, these lines have been actually looked at more than once by someone who knows Latin. I am sure, however, that some typos have not been fixed, so do not assume that anything you find here is safe and good enough to be tattooed on your person! Always ask a Latinist before using a Latin quote for any permanent purpose.

This site also hosts a plethora of imporant resources about Latin, as well as some other languages. Most notably, there a list of legal Latin maxims. Elsewhere on this site there are Latin phrases used in medicine, heraldry, jewelry engravings, sundials and Latin love poems. There is even a motto generator that lets you create Latin phrases without knowing Latin!

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Beata Virgo (Maria) - The Blessed Virgin (Mary)

Beatae memoriae - Of blessed memory

Beati pacifici - Blessed are the peacemakers

Beati pauperes spiritu - Blessed are the poor in spirit

Beati possidentes - The happy who possess. (Euripides)

Beatus - The blessed one

Bella detesta matribus - Wars, the horror of mothers. (Horace)

Bella gerant alii - Let others wage war

Bellum omium contra omnes - Everyman's war against everyman. (Thomas Hobbes)

Belua multorum es capitum - You are a beast with many heads

Bene legere saecla vincere - To read well is to master the ages. (Professor Isaac Flagg)

Bene qui latuit, bene vixit - One who lives well, lives unnoticed. (Ovid)

Bene - Good

Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere - To accept a favour is to sell freedom. (Publilius Syrus)

Bibere venenum in auro - Drink poison from a cup of gold

Bis dat qui cito dat - He gives twice who quickly gives. (Publius Syrus)

Bis in die (bid) - Twice a day

Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit - He is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own arms. (Syrus)

Bis repetita placent - The things that please are those that are asked for again and again. (Horace)

Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria - He conquers twice who in the hour of conquest conquers himself. (Syrus)

Bis vivit qui bene vivit - He lives twice who lives well

Bona fide - In good faith. i. e. well

Bona fides (noun) - Honest intention

Bona fortuna - Good luck!

Bona officia - Good services

Bonum commune communitatis - General welfare. Literally, common good of the community

Bonum commune hominis - Common good of man

Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis - Good wine gladdens a person's heart

Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior - Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes. (Publilius Syrus)