For seven painful years, I was taught Latin at school. As it was a pre-requisite for entry to Oxford and Cambridge University I had to drop one of my favourite subjects, Geography to accommodate this dead language. I needn’t have bothered as I soon learned that academically, I was a million miles from ever setting foot in either of those leaned establishments.
Forty years on from completing my final Latin exam, I have realised that my rudimentary knowledge of the language has not been such a waste of time after all. The language is the origin of all the romance languages (French, Spanish and Italian) and thirty percent of the English language can trace its roots to Latin. As a writer, the structure and discipline of the Latin language helps my sentence construction and adds to my vocabulary. We still use so many of their words and phrases without thinking like – agenda, versus, via, memo, alias and alibi.
And best of all, my Latin lessons came pre-loaded with exciting Roman history and wonderful myths and legends. The ancient Romans were one of the most successful societies in human history. Even today their buildings evoke a sense of awe while their laws, institutions and history inspire a sense of mythical wonder. When their empire finally crumbled it took over a thousand years for their achievements be surpassed.
Such is the aura that surrounds the Roman Empire that the mere usage of a Latin expression gives a person a wholly undeserved sense of kudos and knowledge. This is hardly surprising as the Romans assembled a wealth of wisdom and ruled their world with an iron fist for over five hundred years. One could even say ‘quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur’ – ‘whatever has been said in Latin seems profound’.
I have picked seven Latin phrases from history that exemplify the noble spirit of the Roman Empire and which, if acted on will allow you to live your life in their proud footsteps.
‘Nulla tenaci invia est via’ – ‘for the tenacious, no road is impassable.’ Unlike our pampered generations, the Romans knew that nothing was ever handed to them on a plate. No other quality (including intelligence, brute force or charm) gets you further in life than tenacity.
‘Referre non quam diu’ – ‘It’s how you live your life, not how long.’ We are on this planet once and therefore we owe it to society to live to the very best of our abilities. If you can’t be a Julius Caesar or a famous gladiator then be kind, courteous and useful to those around you.
‘Praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes’ – ‘lead to serve, not to rule’. This is a phrase long forgotten by today’s politicians and corporate executives. Those who seek power for power’s sake have missed the point. Leadership is about contributing to the common good. Trump, Putin and politicians of all persuasions, take note!
‘Scientia ipsa potentia est’ – ‘Knowledge itself is power’. If this phrase was good enough for Seneca, Cicero and Pliny the Elder, it is good enough for us 21st century mortals. Acquiring and sharing knowledge will improve one’s reputation and influence and hence our success in life. Those who stop attaining knowledge are by definition, old.
‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’ – ‘If you wish for peace, prepare for war.’ A personal favourite. The Roman Empire knew a thing or two about law and order. It did not last for over five hundred years by dropping its guard against the Carthaginians, Gauls and Visigoths. Likewise, if you don’t want to be targeted by modern day vandals, learn a bit of judo.
‘Status quo’ – ‘The existing state of affairs’ or literally ‘in the state in which’. If your rock band, movie, book or blog is complete rubbish, you can add instant credibility and boost your sales by giving yourself a Latin moniker. It could be decades before the public catches on.
‘Ad valorem’ – ‘according to value.’ I had a procurement colleague who used the term ‘ad valorem’ ad nauseam and as it happened, in errata. I can’t remember the events verbatim, but his modus operandi was most vexing, and he rapidly became persona non grata around the campus.
As a postscript to this fable, he offered a fitting mea culpa and resigned by fac simile to begin work on his curriculum vitae. A fitting quid pro quo wouldn’t you say?
(With thanks to the article ‘Latin Words and Phrases Every Man Should Know’ by Brett & Kate McKay. https://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/07/25/latin-words-and-phrases-every-man-should-know/)
