150 Best Greatest Latin Quotes
In a world where information flows like a raging river, there are timeless gems that have weathered the storms of centuries, offering us profound insights, wisdom, and inspiration. Latin, the language of the ancient Romans, holds within its poetic syllables a treasure trove of powerful phrases that continue to resonate with us today. These Latin quotes are not just words; they are keys to unlocking the doors of understanding, passion, and courage. Join us on a journey through the annals of history as we delve into the Greatest Latin Quotes – each a timeless reminder of the human spirit’s resilience, the pursuit of knowledge, and the eternal quest for meaning. Don’t miss your chance to tap into the wisdom of the ages; it’s time to embrace the past to shape your future!
Greatest Latin Quotes
- “Veni, vidi, vici.” – “I came, I saw, I conquered.” – Julius Caesar
- “Carpe diem.” – “Seize the day.” – Horace
- “E Pluribus Unum.” – “Out of many, one.” – Motto of the United States
- “Alea iacta est.” – “The die is cast.” – Julius Caesar
- “In vino veritas.” – “In wine, there is truth.”
- “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” – “It is sweet and proper to die for one’s country.” – Horace
- “Memento mori.” – “Remember that you will die.”
- “Cogito, ergo sum.” – “I think, therefore I am.” – René Descartes
- “Audentes fortuna iuvat.” – “Fortune favors the bold.” – Virgil
- “Per aspera ad astra.” – “Through hardships to the stars.”
- “Si vis pacem, para bellum.” – “If you want peace, prepare for war.”
- “Sic transit gloria mundi.” – “Thus passes the glory of the world.”
- “Festina lente.” – “Make haste slowly.”
- “Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant.” – “Hail Caesar, those who are about to die salute you.”
- “Panem et circenses.” – “Bread and circuses.” – Juvenal
- “Ars longa, vita brevis.” – “Art is long, life is short.” – Hippocrates
- “Virtus in medio stat.” – “Virtue stands in the middle.”
- “De gustibus non est disputandum.” – “There is no accounting for taste.”
- “Fides quaerens intellectum.” – “Faith seeking understanding.”
- “Cui bono?” – “Who benefits?”
- “Vox populi, vox Dei.” – “The voice of the people is the voice of God.”
- “Sapere aude.” – “Dare to be wise.” – Horace
- “Dum spiro, spero.” – “While I breathe, I hope.”
- “Amor vincit omnia.” – “Love conquers all.” – Virgil
- “Aquila non captat muscas.” – “An eagle does not catch flies.”
- “Labor omnia vincit.” – “Work conquers all.”
- “Fortis fortuna adiuvat.” – “Fortune favors the strong.”
- “Veritas vos liberabit.” – “The truth will set you free.”
- “Ama et quod vis fac.” – “Love, and do what you will.” – Saint Augustine
- “Non scholae sed vitae discimus.” – “We learn not for school, but for life.”
- “Civis romanus sum.” – “I am a Roman citizen.”
- “Pax vobiscum.” – “Peace be with you.”
- “Ad astra per aspera.” – “Through hardships to the stars.” – Kansas State Motto
- “Vivere est cogitare.” – “To live is to think.”
- “Tempus fugit.” – “Time flies.”
- “Venimus, vidimus, Deus vicit.” – “We came, we saw, God conquered.”
- “Ubi concordia, ibi victoria.” – “Where there is harmony, there is victory.”
- “Qui tacet consentire videtur.” – “Silence gives consent.”
- “Praemonitus, praemunitus.” – “Forewarned is forearmed.”
- “Sapientia est potentia.” – “Knowledge is power.”
- “Mens sana in corpore sano.” – “A sound mind in a sound body.” – Juvenal
- “Nil desperandum.” – “Never despair.”
- “Deo volente.” – “God willing.”
- “Si vis amari, ama.” – “If you wish to be loved, love.”
- “Fama volat.” – “Rumor flies.”
- “Duc, sequere, aut de via decede.” – “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
- “Sic semper tyrannis.” – “Thus always to tyrants.” – Motto of Virginia
- “Audaces fortuna iuvat.” – “Fortune favors the bold.”
- “Astra inclinant, sed non obligant.” – “The stars incline us, they do not bind us.”
- “Finis coronat opus.” – “The end crowns the work.”

- “Amicitia semper prodest, amor aliquando nocet.” – “Friendship always benefits, love sometimes harms.”
- “Perseverantia vincit omnia.” – “Perseverance conquers all.”
- “Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt.” – “Those who cross the sea change their skies, not their souls.”
- “Nemo me impune lacessit.” – “No one provokes me with impunity.” – Motto of Scotland
- “Nihil sine labore.” – “Nothing without effort.”
- “Cura te ipsum.” – “Take care of yourself.”
- “Fides et ratio.” – “Faith and reason.”
- “Fiat lux.” – “Let there be light.”
- “Mala tempora currunt.” – “Bad times are upon us.”
- “Ex nihilo nihil fit.” – “Nothing comes from nothing.”
- “Verbum sat sapienti.” – “A word is enough for a wise person.”
- “Mors certa, hora incerta.” – “Death is certain, its hour is uncertain.”
- “Requiescat in pace.” – “Rest in peace.” (Common on tombstones)
- “Aquila non capit muscas.” – “The eagle does not catch flies.”
- “Lupus in fabula.” – “The wolf in the story.” (Similar to “speak of the devil”)
- “Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat.” – “They all wound, the last one kills.”
- “Noli me tangere.” – “Do not touch me.” – Jesus to Mary Magdalene
- “Nihil novi sub sole.” – “There is nothing new under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 1:9
- “Sic itur ad astra.” – “Such is the way to the stars.”
- “Amor gignit amorem.” – “Love begets love.”
- “Lux in tenebris.” – “Light in darkness.”
- “Amor est vitae essentia.” – “Love is the essence of life.”
- “Res non verba.” – “Deeds, not words.”
- “Veritas odit moras.” – “Truth hates delay.” – Seneca
- “Nunc aut numquam.” – “Now or never.”
- “Pulvis et umbra sumus.” – “We are dust and shadows.” – Horace
- “Amor fati.” – “Love of fate.”
- “Oderint dum metuant.” – “Let them hate as long as they fear.” – Attributed to Caligula
- “In hoc signo vinces.” – “In this sign, you will conquer.” – Constantine’s vision
- “Dum vita est, spes est.” – “While there is life, there is hope.”
- “Dum spiro, spero.” – “While I breathe, I hope.” (Another variation)
- “Salus populi suprema lex esto.” – “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.” – Cicero
- “Exempla docent.” – “Examples teach.”
- “Labor omnia vincit improbus.” – “Hard work conquers all.”
- “Nemo liber est qui corpori servit.” – “No one is free who is a slave to their body.”
- “Per ardua ad astra.” – “Through difficulties to the stars.” – Royal Air Force Motto
- “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem.” – “Remember to keep a calm mind in difficult circumstances.” – Horace
- “Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus.” – “Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love.” – Catullus
- “Mens regnum bona possidet.” – “A well-regulated mind possesses a kingdom.”
- “Mors ultima linea rerum est.” – “Death is the final boundary of things.” – Horace
- “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” – “Who will guard the guards themselves?”
- “Fugit hora.” – “The hour flies.”
- “In vino veritas, in aqua sanitas.” – “In wine there is truth, in water there is health.”
- “Faber est suae quisque fortunae.” – “Each person is the artisan of their own fortune.”
- “Lux et veritas.” – “Light and truth.”
- “Res ipsa loquitur.” – “The thing itself speaks.” – Legal term
- “Semper paratus.” – “Always prepared.” – Motto of the U.S. Coast Guard
- “Sic transit gloria amoris.” – “Thus passes the glory of love.”
- “Ubi dubium ibi libertas.” – “Where there is doubt, there is freedom.”
- “Vita brevis, ars longa, occasio praeceps, experimentum periculosum, iudicium difficile.” – “Life is short, art is long, opportunity fleeting, experiment treacherous, judgment difficult.” – Hippocrates

- “Aquila non capit muscas.” – “The eagle does not catch flies.” (Similar to “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”)
- “Ubi mel, ibi apes.” – “Where there is honey, there are bees.” (Where there’s something desirable, people will flock to it.)
- “Non ducor, duco.” – “I am not led, I lead.” – Motto of São Paulo, Brazil
- “Aurora musis amica.” – “Dawn is a friend to the muses.” (Creativity often flourishes in the early morning.)
- “Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur.” – “A true friend is recognized in an uncertain situation.”
- “Noli turbare circulos meos.” – “Do not disturb my circles.” – Archimedes
- “Pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.” – “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (From the Bible, Genesis 3:19)
- “Vivere militare est.” – “To live is to fight.” – Seneca
- “Si vis vitam, para mortem.” – “If you want life, prepare for death.”
- “Ad meliora.” – “Toward better things.” – Motto of the City of Detroit
- “In arduis fidelis.” – “Faithful in adversity.” – Motto of the Royal Engineers
- “Liberi fatali.” – “Fated children.” – Motto of the Clan Maclean
- “Exspectata non eludet.” – “The expected will not deceive.” – Motto of the Clan Macfie
- “Vive ut vivas.” – “Live in order to live.” – St. Augustine
- “Alea jacta est.” – “The die is cast.” (A variant of Julius Caesar’s famous quote.)
- “Quid pro quo.” – “Something for something.” (An exchange of goods or favors.)
- “Festina lente.” – “Make haste slowly.” (Encouraging careful and deliberate progress.)
- “Dare to be wise, begin!” – Horace
- “Ignotum per ignotius.” – “Explaining the unknown by the even more unknown.”
- “Errare humanum est.” – “To err is human.” – Seneca
- “Sic transit gloria amoris.” – “Thus passes the glory of love.”
- “A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi.” – “A precipice in front, wolves behind.” (Being caught between a rock and a hard place.)
- “Nemo dat quod non habet.” – “No one gives what they do not have.”
- “Praemonitus, praemunitus.” – “Forewarned is forearmed.”
- “A posse ad esse.” – “From possibility to reality.”
- “Fama volat.” – “Rumor flies.” (News spreads quickly.)
- “Fortuna audaces iuvat.” – “Fortune favors the bold.”
- “In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas.” – “In necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity.”
- “Si vis pacem, para bellum.” – “If you want peace, prepare for war.” (Promoting preparedness as a means of deterrence.)
- “In dubio pro reo.” – “In doubt, for the accused.” (A legal principle of presumption of innocence.)
- “Mors ultima ratio.” – “Death is the final reckoning.”
- “Quod me nutrit me destruit.” – “What nourishes me also destroys me.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
- “Vivendo discimus.” – “By living, we learn.”
- “Sapientia est potentia.” – “Knowledge is power.” (Attributed to Sir Francis Bacon)
- “Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.” – “Peace to people of good will.” – Luke 2:14
- “Verba volant, scripta manent.” – “Spoken words fly away, written words remain.”
- “Ubi concordia, ibi victoria.” – “Where there is harmony, there is victory.”
- “Repetitio est mater studiorum.” – “Repetition is the mother of learning.”
- “Fides quaerens intellectum.” – “Faith seeking understanding.” (St. Anselm)
- “Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas.” – “Plato is my friend, but truth is a better friend.”
- “Audentes fortuna iuvat.” – “Fortune favors the bold.” (A variation)
- “In medio stat virtus.” – “Virtue stands in the middle.”
- “Fortes fortuna adiuvat.” – “Fortune favors the strong.” (A variation)
- “Amor omnia vincit.” – “Love conquers all.” (A variation)
- “Veritas vos liberabit.” – “The truth will set you free.” (A variation)
- “Vox populi, vox Dei.” – “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” (A variation)
- “Tempus fugit, amor manet.” – “Time flies, love remains.”
- “Ego sum qui sum.” – “I am who I am.” – Exodus 3:14
- “In hoc signo vinces.” – “In this sign, you will conquer.” (A variation)
- “Ex nihilo nihil fit.” – “Nothing comes from nothing.” (A variation)

Latin boasts a rich history of powerful and memorable quotes. Here are a few badass Latin quotes:
“Veni, vidi, vici.” – “I came, I saw, I conquered.” – Julius Caesar
“Carpe diem.” – “Seize the day.” – Horace
“Sic parvis magna.” – “Greatness from small beginnings.” – Sir Francis Drake
“Dum spiro, spero.” – “While I breathe, I hope.”
“Per aspera ad astra.” – “Through hardships to the stars.”
What is the most famous phrase in Latin?
One of the most famous Latin phrases is “Veni, vidi, vici,” attributed to Julius Caesar. It means “I came, I saw, I conquered,” and it represents a concise declaration of victory.
What are 2 famous Latin phrases?
“Carpe diem.” – “Seize the day.” – Horace
“E Pluribus Unum.” – “Out of many, one.” – Motto of the United States