While Latin isn’t spoken as much as it was before, it is still used in scholarly write-ups and texts, sometimes by lawyers in the courtroom or even those in the medical field naming when naming plants and animal. So yes, the presence of Roman quotes is still felt till this very moment. So if you’re interested in trying to sound cool and educated in order to impress your friends or just show how widely read you are or you want to stir valour in your friends before an epic showdown, here are the TOP 10 COOLEST LATIN QUOTES.
| QUOTE | MEANING | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | VENI VIDI VICI | I CAME I SAW I CONQUERED |
| 9 | ACTA NON VERBA | DEEDS NOT WORDS |
| 8 | VINCIT QUI SE VINCIT | HE CONQUERS WHO CONQUERS HIMSELF |
| 7 | AUDENTES FORTUNAT IUVAT | FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD |
| 6 | SEMPER AD MELORIA | TOWARDS BETTER THINGS |
| 5 | ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS | ART IS LONG LIFE IS SHORT |
| 4 | RESPICE FINEM | REMEMBER THE END |
| 3 | FABER EST SUAE QUISQUE FORTUNAE. | EVERY MAN IS THE ARCHITECT OF HIS OWN FATE |
| 2 | AUT VIAM INVENIAM AUT FACIAM | I WILL EITHER FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE |
| 1 | VIVAMUS, MORIENDUM EST | LET US LIVE, SINCE WE MUST ALL DIE... |
#10. VENI… VIDI… VICI..
This quote is often attributed to ….. yup you guessed it ….. the one and only Julius Ceaser or Júlio Césare for my Spanish readers.
Julius Ceaser gave it in his letter to the Roman Senate around 48-47 BC, after his swift victory against the Pharnaces II at the Battle of Zela.
It’s mostly used after one has achieved a quick victory against his or her foe(s) in battle, and is a common term in military circles and chess. It’s a cool phrase you should add to your arsenal. It’s pronounced as Vehnee… Veedee… Veechee…
Variations of it also exist such as ”VENIMUS, VIDIMUS, DEUS VICIT’ which means “WE CAME, WE SAW, GOD CONQUERED”. This one often alludes to King Jan III of Poland after his victory at Vienna in the 17th Century.
#9. ACTA… NON VERBA…
This quote highlights how much actions are better or trump over words. In life it is so easy to say oh I’m going to register at the gym, oh I’m going to learn a new language or oh I’m going to lose weight. All these are good and clear goals but if you don’t act upon them but keep on procrastinating, it’s simply wishful thinking… which doesn’t lead you any closer to your goals but only to frustration that you haven’t achieved them, actions bring life to our goals and make our dreams a reality.
Also, it can also be used in the context that you won’t pay attention to lip service and if someone’s actions don’t match their words, they are at least simply lazy or, at worst, lying.
#8. VINCIT QUI SE VINCIT…
This phrase can be said to mean that he who is able to conquer himself i.e. his fears, desires, weaknesses and failings has won one of life’s most important battles and can conquer anything that comes his/her way.
It is also can be rendered as Vincit Qui Se Vincit (“he/she who prevails over oneself is twice victorious”)
*Fun fact, it can be seen on a glass stained wall of the palace of the beast in the Disney animated movie Beauty and the Beast and is most likely a family motto.
#7. AUDENTES FORTUNA IUVAT…
This phrase can also be loosely translated as fortune favours the brave. It’s a phrase mostly used in military circles.
Basically encourages it people to do what scares them, as courageous action is often the most rewarded.
If you’ve been working for years and would like to ask your boss for a raise, but you are too scared? Repeat this phrase to yourself:
Interested in that pretty girl in your class, but you are too scared to ask her out or ask for her number? Repeat this phrase to yourself and put it in action!!
#6. SEMPER AD MELIORA…
This phrase can be translated to mean “Towards better things…”. Things might not be going too well for you at the moment in life. In every turn you make you encounter a roadblock, one can use this phrase to encourage his/herself to continue striving as better things are ahead.
On the flip-side, things might go amazingly well for you in with success after success. One can mutter this phrase to remind his/herself not to get lazy or complacent but to continuously strive for better things…
#5. ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS…
This phrase can be translated to mean “Art is long… but life is short…”. This quote can allude to the Greek physician Hippocrates. Here, the word ‘art’ can also be said to mean skill or craft. In this context, the quote can also be said to mean “To learn and perfect one’s craft/skill might take a long time, but we only have a short time here on Earth to do so. ”
You can use this line as a comeback whenever anyone complains to you how long it takes you to carry out a particular project you’re so much vested in.
It can also be said to mean that “While artists die and are forgotten, but art lives on forever..”.
#4. RESPICE FINEM…
This phrase basically means ‘Remember the End’, and to be honest to me it sounds more like a serious warning than some sage advice.
Anyway, what the quote is basically trying to tell you is that in all endeavours and encounters, keep the end of such event in mind so as to avoid making decisions that will hurt you in the end. It can also be said to mean live your life in such a way that you will be accepted into the afterlife because of your good deeds.
This quote is mostly used in scholarly circles as a school motto, just to keep university or college slackers in check, I guess. Maybe you too can use it as a personal motto to keep you in check.
#3. FABER EST SUAE QUISQUE FORTUNAE…
This phrase can also be said to mean that each man is the maker of his own fortune, with Faber here meaning maker or craftsman. Our lives are not governed by fortune/luck, but by our own actions, your life, for better or worse, is in your own hands.
It is a very optimistic outlook of the human being; it was a quite popular outlook and well-favoured outlook on life during the renaissance and classical period where man was seen as more energetic, unlike during the middle ages where fate or destiny was seen as the main protagonist in man’s actions ie a man could only be what he was destined to no more, no less, no matter how he tries to fight it.
It’s a pretty nice phrase to use on yourself, friends, colleagues, or subordinates when they blame external forces for the consequences of their actions, since it makes one sit up and be more proactive.
#2. AUT VIAM INVENIAM AUT FACIAM…
As you journey through life, sometimes you will encounter a dead-end or a roadblock that might dissuade you from reaching your goals, or you might have naysayers that mutter to you telling you that your dreams are unachievable will you bow your head and call it quits?. NEVER!!!!. Instead, you proudly lift up your head and declare, “I will either find a way or make one!!!. And thus prove your doubters wrong while at the same time making your dreams a reality. It’s a win-win situation.
This phrase is attributed to Hannibal when his Generals told him it was impossible to pass through the alps with his elephants as his supposed response. What a badass reply from Hannibal himself. This phrase alone clearly shows us why he is a great man and why he’ll never be forgotten. This phrase is mostly used in military and scholarly circles as a characteristic of a never say never attitude.
#10. VIVAMUS, MORIENDUM EST…
And last but not least, we have “Vivamus moriendum est”. This is a phrase that basically tells you to live your life to the fullest, since you have only one chance at it might as well make the most of it. Plan on learning a new language, getting that license, asking your crush out or skydiving ?. Go right ahead and don’t hesitate cause you don’t know when you’ll have the chance again. It’s a phrase that basically begs us to let go of our doubts, fears and insecurities and just enjoy life as it is and to the fullest.
It’s mostly used by the Yoga and wellness crowd circles, so if you plan to go into the wellness business, you can have this post pasted onto a door or wall to inspire your customers.
And that’s it folks, the Top 10 coolest Latin quotes hope you enjoyed them, do you have any favourites from the above list?. Please let me know in the comment section below and also how you plan on using it in your life. So till next time, byeeeeeeeee 🙂
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