Phrases

• non scholae sed vitia discimus 


  "we learn not for school but for life"

  (Seneca the younger, Epistulae Morales ad Lucium)
• mendacem memorem esse opertet


  a liar ought to have a good memory

  (Quintillian, Institution Oratorid, iv.ii, 91)
• musica est mentis medicina maesta


  music is medicine for the mind
• tuebor


  I will defend

  (state seal of Michigan)
• virtute non verbis


  by virtue not words
• aurea mediocritas


  the golden moon

  (Horace, Odes 2.X)
• aut viam inveniam aut facium

  either I will find a way or I will make one

  (possibly Hannibal)
• si quaeris paeninsulam amonem circumspice


  if you seek a friendly peninsula look around
• mitto tibi navem prora puppique carentem


  i am sending you a ship missing the prow and the stern

  (Cicero)
• carthago delenda est


  carthage must be destroyed

  (Cato the Elder)
• carpe diem; quam minimum credula postera


  seize the day, trust in tomorrow as little as possible

  (Horace, Odes 1.II)
• sine qua non


  without which not
• carpent tua pomd nepotes


  your descendants will pick your fruit

  (Vergil, Edogues, IX.50)
• de guistibus non est diputandum


  about likes we should not argue
• gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres


  all of Gaul is divided into three parts

  (Julius Ceasar, De Bello Gallico, 1.1)
• momento mori


  remember you will die/be mindful of death
• ipsa scientia potesta est

  knowledge itself is power

  (Sir Francis Bacon)
• gutta cavat iapidem non vi sed saepe cadendo


  a drop carves stone (not by force but by failing often)

  (Ovid, Epistulae Ex Pronto 4.10.5)
• imperium in imperio


  an empire in an empire

  (state motto of Ohio)
• docendo discimus


  we learn by teaching

  (Seneca the younger)
• alea iacta est


  the die has been cast

  (Julius Ceasar, as he crossed the Rubicon- separated Gaul and Italy)
• vera amicitia est inter bonos


  the friendship is only among good people

  (Cicero, De Amicitia)
• nil sine numine


  nothing without the deity divine favor

  (Vergils Aeneid & Colardo state motto)
• cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude


  with praise, with great praise, with highest praise
• veni, vidi, vici


  I came I saw I conquered

  (Julius Ceasar, Battle of Zela, 47 B.C.)
• si vis amari, ama


  if you want to be loved, love

  (Seneca the younger, Epistulae Morales 1.9)
• festina lente


  hurry slowly

  (Augustus)
• fluctuat nec mergitur


  she is tossed by the waves but does not sink

  (motto of Paris)
• semper fedelis


  always faithful

  (U.S. Marine Corps)
• semper supra


  always above

  (U.S. Space Force)
• non sibi sed patriae semper fortis


  not for self but for country

  always strong/brave

  (unofficial motto of U.S. Navy)
• ense petit placidam sub libertarte quietem


  by the sword we seek peace but peace only under liberty

  (Massachusetts state motto)
• salus populi suprema lex esto


  the safety of the people should be the supreme law

  (Missouri state motto & Cicero & de Legibus III.III 8)
• draco dormiens numquam titillandus


  never tickle a sleeping dragon

  (motto of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardly)
• ignorantia legis nemimem excusat


  ignorance of the law excuses no one
• ad astra per aspera


  to the stars through difficulty

  (Kansas state motto)
• dimidum facti qui coepit habet


  he who has begun has half the work done

  (Horace)
• abeunt studia in mores


  habits turn into morals

  (Ovid, Heriodes)