Latin Via Proverbs 122

I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes third conjugation verbs but with first declension nouns and adjectives only.

Please note: to read the proverbs in Latin, you need to acquire a copy of the book from lulu.com! What I am providing here in the blog are notes to help people who are making their way through the book either in a Latin class or on their own. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.

Group 122

1582. I guide. (This is the motto of the state of Maine.)

1583. I live for the moment. (Compare also the variant saying, in diem vivo, "I live for the day.")

1584. By patience, I conquer. (Compare also this saying in Publilius Syrus: dolor enim patientia vincitur, "for grief is conquered by patience.") Patientia vinco.

1585. I have no desire and I have no fear. (You can also find this motto in the second person form: Nec cupias, nec metuas, "you should not desire, you should not fear.")

1586. I live according to nature. (You can find this sentiment expressed in Seneca.)

1587. I do not trust quiet waters. (There are many variants on this same idea, e.g. Quamvis sint lenta, sint credulla nulla fluenta, "Although they might be slow, no currents are to be trusted," etc. The English equivalent is "still waters run deep.")

1588. You are writing in water. (You can find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.4.56.)

1589. You are writing in sand. (This is a variant on the similar sayings, in vento scribis, "you are writing on the wind," in cineres scribis, "you are writing in ashes," etc.)

1590. You are busy with trifles. (You can find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.4.91.)

1591. You're making tragedies out of trifles. (This is adapted from a sentiment you can find expressed in Cicero.)

1592. You're fleeing from the frying pan into the coals. (This is the equivalent of our English saying, "out of the frying pan, into the fire.")

1593. Step by step we conquer. (This is a popular family motto.)

1594. We study not for school but for life. (This famous saying is found in Seneca.)

1595. (You can see this in an illustrated emblem book, Nieuwen ieucht spieghel, published in 1617.)

1596. Be wise outside, be silly at home. (Note that the verb desipere is formed from the root verb, sapere. To DE-sipere is to go out of one's mind, get out of control.)

1597. To live is sufficient victory. (This is another popular family motto, which you will also see rendered in English as "to conquer is to live enough" or "to live enough is to conquer." Compare this saying about vincere in Publilius Syrus: sat vincere est inimicum, nimium est perdere, "it is enough to conquer your enemy; to destroy him is excessive.")

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This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.

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