CAUSA

The notes here are taken from the actual Scala, so be warned that references to the "previous" proverb refer to its order in the Scala, not its order here. You can read more about the word at the Verbosum blog: CAUSA.

Omnia causa fiunt. ~ Note: This takes the negative statement of the preceding proverb and restates it positively. Note that omnia is neuter plural nominative, while causa is ablative singular feminine - don't let that "a" ending fool you!

Nihil fit sine causa. ~ Note: You can see this principle invoked by Cicero against the Epicurean philosophy, in his treatise De Finibus, 1 (ait enim declinare atomum sine causa; quo nihil turpius physico, quam fieri quicquam sine causa dicere).

Nihil in terra sine causa fit. ~ Note: You can find these words in the Biblical book of Job, 5.

Nisi causas scimus, nihil scimus. ~ Note: Compare the difference between knowing the causes of things and learning only from the outcome: Ex eventu sciemus.

Malus est vocandus, qui sua est causa bonus.

honoris causa

Tunc scimus, cum causas cognoscimus.

Timendi causa est nescire.

Bellum pacis est causa. ~ Note: Notice how the noun phrase, "pacis causa" is wrapped around the verb: pacis est causa.

Pauperis in causa non auris sit tibi clausa. ~ Note: The rhyme, causa-clausa, reveals the medieval provenance of this saying. Notice also the way that Lati often uses a dative, as here, to express what we would consider possession in English: auris tibi, "your ear."

Aurum et opes, praecipuae bellorum causae.

Helenae causa Troia arsit.

Causa proxima, non remota, spectatur.

Bona causa nullum iudicem verebitur.

Benignus etiam causam dandi cogitat.

Occasio causa scelerum. ~ Note: The noun scelus is third-declension, so don't let the -us ending fool you - the genitive singular is sceleris and the form you see here, scelerum, is genitive plural.

Negandi causa avaro numquam deficit.

Tum sapimus, cum causas cognoscimus. ~ Note: Here you can see how the words cum and tum work as a correlative pair, similar to qualis...talis, quam...tam, etc.

Motus sine causa nullus est.

Avarus ipse miseriae causa est suae.

Tandem bona causa triumphat.

Victrix causa diis placuit, sed victa Catoni.

Rixa rixae causa est.

Pro sua causa quisque disertus erit.

Amor otiosae causa sollicitudinis.

Tempora ne culpes, cum sis tibi causa doloris.

Honesta turpitudo est pro causa bona.

Malefacere qui vult, numquam non causam invenit.

Cessante causa, cessat effectus.

Forma caduca et mali persaepe causa.

Homines hominum causa sunt generati, ut ipsi inter se alii aliis prodesse possent.