50 Latin Quotes That Prove Latin is Still Useful (2021)

Latin is a classical language that belongs to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin originated in the area around Rome, known as Latium. It makes sense then that some of these Latin quotes come from Roman historians and political leaders. Seneca, a Roman philosopher, also had a lot to say about how we can live life better with these Latin quotes.

Latin roots have contributed many words to the English language, especially in descriptions of theology, sciences, medicine, and law. Some Latin quotes and phrases have worked their way into several popular English books and movies, including Harry Potter!

However, the closest I ever came to learning Latin was when my parents would use ‘Pig Latin’ to keep secrets from my sister and me! The actual language is far more complex, comprising three distinct genders, six or seven noun cases, five declensions, four verb conjugations, six tenses, three persons, three moods, two voices, two or three aspects, and two numbers.

That is a lot to figure out! Luckily, all these Latin quotes have a translation!

Don’t forget to also check out these Seneca quotes that will help you in all facets of your life.

Famous Latin quotes from Seneca, a Roman Stoic philosopher

1. “Non est ad astra mollis e terris via. (There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.)” ― Seneca

2. “Divitae bonum non sunt. (Material wealth is not the one good.)” ― Seneca

3. “Non fortuna homines aestimabo, sed moribus. (I do not estimate the men for their fortune, but for their habits.)” ― Seneca

4. “Pars magna bonitatis est velle fieri bonum. (Much of goodness consists in wanting to be good.)” ― Seneca

5. “Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu. (It is how well you live that matters, not how long.)” ― Seneca

6. “Copia ciborum, subtilitas impeditur. (The abundance of food hampers intelligence.)” ― Seneca

7. “Veritas numquam perit. (Truth never dies.)” ― Seneca

8. “Timendi causa est nescire. (Ignorance is the cause of fear.)” ― Seneca

9. “Crudelius est quam mori semper timere mortem. (It is more cruel to always fear death than to die.)” ― Seneca

Best Latin quotes about life from Horace and Virgil

10. “Pulvis et umbra sumus. (We are but dust and shadow.)” ― Horace

11. “Ut haec ipsa qui non sentiat deorum vim habere is nihil omnino sensurus esse videatur. (If any man cannot feel the power of God when he looks upon the stars, then I doubt whether he is capable of any feeling at all.)” ― Horace

12. “Pactum serva. (Keep the faith.)” ― Horace

13. “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. (It is sweet and fitting to die for your country.)” ― Horace

14. “Amor omnia vincit. (Love conquers all.)” ― Virgil

15. “Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo. (If I can not bend the will of Heaven, I shall move Hell.)” ― Virgil

16. “Audentes fortuna iuvat. (Fortune favors the bold.)” ― Virgil

17. “Labor omnia vincit. (Hard work conquers all.)” ― Virgil

18. “Nimium ne crede colori. (Trust not too much to looks.)” ― Virgil

19. “Tempus fugit. (Time flies.)” ― Virgil

20. “Aequam servare mentem. (Keep the mind calm.)” ― Horace

Inspirational Latin quotes from other well-known poets and philosophers

21. “Ignis aurum proat, miseria fortes viros. (Fire provides proof of gold; misery, proof of strong men.)” ― Ovid

22. “Fas est ab hoste doceri. (One should learn even from one’s enemies.)” ― Ovid

23. “Omnia mutantur, nihil interit. (Everything changes, nothing perishes).”― Ovid

24. “Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas. (Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses.)” ― Ovid

25. “Nemo malus felix. (No evil is happy.)” ― Juvenalis

26. “Cogito ergo sum. (I think, therefore I am.)” ― René Descartes

27. “Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. (One’s friends are known in the hour of need.)” ―Ennius

28. “Nihil sapientiae odiosius acumine nimio. (Nothing is more hateful to wisdom than excessive cleverness.)” ― Francesco Petrarca

Short Latin quotes including those from Roman historians and leaders

29. “Non nobis solum nati sumus. (Not for ourselves alone are we born.)” ― Cicero

30. “Hic manebimus optime! (Here we will stay, most excellently!)” ― Livius

31. “Animus risu novatur. (The spirit is refreshed with laughter.)” ― Cicero

32. “Caeca invidia est. (Envy is blind.)” ― Livius

33. “Mea mihi conscientia pluris est quam omnium sermo. (My conscience is more to me than what the world says.)” ― Cicero

34. “Veni, vidi, vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered.)” ― Caesar

35. “Vivamus, moriendum est. (Let us live, since we must die.)” ― Unknown

36. “Alea Iacta est. (The die is cast.)” ― Unknown

37. “Condemnant quo non intellegunt. (They condemn that which they do not understand.)” ― Unknown

38. “Oderint dum metuant. (Let them hate so long as they fear.)” ― Caligula

39. “Homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto. (I am a human being, so nothing human is strange to me.)” ― Terentius

40. “Tot homines, quot sententiae. (So many men, so many opinions.)” ― Terence

More Latin quotes from movies and novels

41. “Braccas meas vescimini!” I wasn’t sure where the Latin came from. I think it meant ‘Eat my pants!’ ― Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

42. “Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus. (Never tickle a sleeping dragon)” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, and the Sorcerer’s Stone

43. “Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the Power of Truth, I, while living, have Conquered the Universe.)” ― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta, Vol. II of X

44. “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam tibi. (I will either find a way or make one.)” ― Kendall Ryan, Unravel Me

45. “Omnia mutantur, nihil interit. (Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost.)” ― Neil Gaiman, The Wake

46. “Veni, vidi, flevi. (I came. I saw. I cried.)” ― Dorian Cirrone, Prom Kings and Drama Queens

47. “Ardet nec consumitur. (Burned but not destroyed.)” ― Ransom Riggs, Hollow City

48. “Nunquam reliquiae redire: carpe omniem impremis. (Never go back for seconds: take it all the first time.)” ― Karen Chance, Claimed by Shadow

49. “Tu dormis, tu perdis. (You snooze, you lose.)” ― Paul Beatty, The Sellout

50. “Factio vestri aevum, non vestri calceus amplitudo. (Act your age, not your shoe size.)” ― Paul Beatty, The Sellout

Best latin quotes you can use until today

51. “Fallaces sunt rerum species (The appearances of things are deceptive).” – Seneca

52. “Aegroto dum anima est, spes esse dicitur (As long as there is life there is hope for the ill one, it is said).” – Cicero

53. “Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit (Often it is not even advantageous to know what will be).” – Cicero

54. “Ubi concordia, ibi victoria (Where there is unity, there is the victory).” – Syrus

55. “In esse (In existence).” – Unknown

56. “Aut bibat, aut abeat (Either drink or go).” – Unknown

57. “Homo vitae commodatus non donatus est (Man’s life is lent, not given).” – Syrus

58. “Ferae pericula quae vident fugiunt (The beasts flee the dangers they see).” – Seneca

59. “Quam se ipse amans, sine rivale (By loving yourself, with no rival).” Cicero

60. “Nescit vox miss reverti (The words can not return).” – Horace

Latin quotes for today’s generation

61. Bellator (Warrior)

62. Ab imo pectore (From the bottom of the chest – from the bottom of the heart)

63. Vita (Life)

64. sic et non (Yes and no)

65. Tabula rasa (Blank slate)

66. Non plus ultra! (Nothing above that!)

67. Novus homo (A new man)

68. Felix culpa (happy mistake)

69. Pro bono (For the public good)

70. Sine die (Unknown period of time)

What did you learn from these Latin quotes?

These Latin quotes encourage us to contemplate life, while others made us giggle. Latin doesn’t just show up in the English language, but it is also essential in the Romance languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. Latin is all around us, whether it be in popular culture, or the languages we learn in high school.

Even though it is considered a dead language, we still use it or encounter it every day. Some professionals use Latin more than others, so if you are going to be a lawyer or a doctor, you will become more familiar with it. It is also prevalent in the arts and literature.

Look around you today and see if you can spot Latin in your everyday life, and while you are out there, remember to Carpe Diem!

Horace believed we should enjoy life by seizing the day, and I couldn’t agree more! Leave your favorite Latin quotes and sayings in the comment section below.