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!

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V

O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! - Ah, human cares! Ah, how much futility in the world! (Lucilius)

O di immortales! - Immortal gods! Good heavens!

O diem praeclarum! - Oh, what a beautiful day!

O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum! - An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf! (Cicero)

O quam cito transit gloria mundi! - O how quickly passes the glory of the world!

O sancta simplicitas! - Oh, holy simplicity! (Jan Hus)

O tempora, O mores! - Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! (Cicero)

Obiit (ob.) - He/she died

Obiter (ob.) - In passing

Obiter dictum - Something said in passing

Obscurum per obscurius - The obscure by means of the more obscure

Obsta principiis - Resist the beginnings

Occasio aegre offertur, facile amittitur - Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease. (Publius Syrus)

Occasio facit furem - Opportunity makes a thief

Oderint dum metuant - Let them hate provided that they fear. (Seneca)

Odi et amo - I hate (her), and I love (her) (Catullus)

Odium theologicum - Theological hatred. (a special name for the hatred generated in theological disputes)

Oleum addere camino - To pour fuel on the stove adding gasoline to a fire

Oleum perdisti - You have lost oil you've wasted your time on this criticism for a misallocation of resources

Olim - Formerly

Omne ignotum pro magnifico est - We have great notions of everything unknown. (Tacitus)

Omne initium est difficile - Every beginning is difficult

Omne trium perfectum - Everything that comes in threes is perfect

Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci - [he] has gained every point who has combined [the] useful [with the] agreeable

Omnes aequo animo parent ubi digni imperant - All men cheerfully obey where worthy men rule. (Syrus)

Omnes deteriores sumus licentia - Too much freedom debases us

Omnes una manet nox - The same night awaits us all. (Horace)

Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat - All (hours) wound, the last kills. (inscription on solar clocks)

Omnia iam fient quae posse negabam - Everything which I used to say could not happen will happen now. (Ovid)

Omnia mea mecum porto - All that is mine, I carry with me. (My wisdom is my greatest wealth) (Cicero)

Omnia mors aequat - Death makes all things equal

Omnia munda mundis - Everything is pure to pure ones

Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis - All things change, and we change with them

Omnia mutantur, nihil interit - Everything changes, nothing perishes. (Ovid)

Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis - All things are changing, and we are changing with them

Omnia vincit amor; et nos cedamus amori - Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love. (Vergil)

Omnium rerum principia parva sunt - Everything has a small beginning. (Cicero)

Onus probandi - The burden of proof

Opere citato (op. cit.) - In the work just quoted

Optimis parentibus - To my excellent parents. A common dedication in a book

Optimus magister, bonus liber - The best teacher is a good book

Opus Dei - The work of God

Ora et labora - Pray and work. (St. Benedict)

Ora pro nobis - Pray for us

Orator fit, poeta nascitur - An orator is made [but] a poet is born

Orbiter dictum/dicta - Said by the way (miscellaneous remarks)