MORS

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: MORS.

Mors nec bonum nec malum est. ~ Note: You can find this sentiment expressed by the Roman philosopher, Seneca, in his treatise De Consolatione.

Mors tua, vita mea. ~ Note: This is the ultimate zero-sum situation: it takes your death for me to live.

post mortem ~ Note: This Latin phrase is often abbreviated: P.M. For more information about the use of this phrase, and the Greek phrase autopsia, see this Wikipedia article.

Post mortem nihil est, ipsaque mors nihil. ~ Note: Note the parallel structure: Post mortem nihil est, ipsaque mors nihil (est). The words are from Seneca's Trojan Women.

Quis est vir qui vivat et non videat mortem? ~ Note: Note how the subjunctives vivat and videat give this a hypothetical quality: qui vivat et non videat... "who could possibly live and not see..."

Nihil nisi mors certum est. ~ Note: This is a variation on the previous saying - now make the even more bold assertion that nothing is sure but death. Compare the famous English saying, "Nothing is sure but death and taxes," which goes back to the English author Daniel Defoe, but which was made famous by Benjamin Franklin.

Nihil morte certius. ~ Note: Note that the indeclinable nihil is regarded as a neuter noun, hence the form certius, the neuter singular comparative form of certus: Nothing is more certain than death.

Mors sequitur; vita fugit. ~ Note: Robert Burton includes this grim proverb in his Anatomy of Melancholy.

Vita sine litteris mors est. ~ Note: Here is a paradoxical proverb about life and death: without education, vita mors est, "life is death."

Fac bene dum vivis, post mortem vivere si vis. ~ Note: The rhyme, vivis - si vis, reveals the medieval provenance of this saying. This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 792: O dives, dives, non omni tempore vives! / Fac bene dum vivis, post mortem vivere si vis.

Omnium finis mors est. ~ Note: You can find a meditation on this saying in Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, 1.

Mors omnibus parata est. ~ Note: While in the previous proverb, omnia referred to everything, not you have omnibus meaning "everybody."

Mors omnia solvit. ~ Note: This is a legal maxim, but of course it has profound implications for life at large!

Somnus est frater mortis. ~ Note: You can also find this idea expressed as follow: Somnus est imago mortis, "Sleep is the image of death."

Qualis vita, mors est ita. ~ Note: This is a variation on the preceding proverb; now instead of the euphemistic "finis" there is "mors."

Beata morte nihil beatius. ~ Note: The indeclinable nihil is regarded as neuter, hence the comparative neuter form: beatius. The ablative phrase "beata morte" expresses the comparison: Nothing is more happy than a happy death.

Nemo ante mortem beatus est. ~ Note: The idea is cautionary: you don't want to declare someone happy while there might still be some tragedy in life or reversal of fortune yet to come.

Mors et vita in manibus linguae. ~ Note: This saying is included by Polydorus in his Adagia, B310.

Mors sua quemque manet. ~ Note: Note that the verb manere takes a direct object: quemque, "Each person's own death awaits him."

Mors servat legem: tollit cum paupere regem. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 636.

Ubi omnis vita metus est, mors est optima. ~ Note: This is another one of the sayings collected by Publilius Syrus.

Omnium rerum mors est extremum. ~ Note: Again, extremum is being used substantively, as a predicate noun: the extreme end, the limit.

Vita hominis cursus est ad mortem. ~ Note: You have seen other proverbs about the entanglement of life and death, such as "Nascentes morimur" and "Vita morti propior cotidie." Here is another version of this same saying: Vita ipsa cursus ad mortem est.

Mors omnes homines manet, divites et pauperes. ~ Note: Note the way that manet can take a direct object, in the sense of the English word "await, wait for."

Mors nemini parcit. ~ Note: Note that the verb parcit takes a dative complement: nemini.

Mors nulli parcit honori. ~ Note: Here the dative complement, nulli honori, is wrapped very elegantly around the verb.

Tunc mors optetur, cum nullus amicus habetur. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 1381.

Mors omnibus communis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings Erasmus included in his Adagia, 3.9.12.

Aequa mors est. ~ Note: The justice of death is that it comes to all, equally - no one is exempt.

Spem retine; spes una hominem nec morte relinquit. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Rebus in adversis animum submittere noli: / spem retine; spes una hominem nec morte relinquit.

Vinum memoriae mors. ~ Note: As Vives says in his Introductio ad Sapientiam: Vinum, ut nervorum venenum, ita memoriae mors.

Non est tam fortis, qui rumpat vincula mortis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 735.

Mortem ubi contemnas, omnes viceris metus. ~ Note: This too comes from Publilius Syrus.

Post mortem nulla voluptas. ~ Note: A fuller form urges us to "eat, drink and be merry" now, before we die: Ede, bibe, lude; post mortem nulla voluptas.

Dies imago vitae, nox mortis est. ~ Note: This proverb is built on a nice parallelism: dies/nox and vitae/mortis. The genitives are both complements of the word image.

Otia mors hominum est. ~ Note: This is one of the moral sayings of Michael Verinus.

Qui mortem metuit amittit gaudia vitae. ~ Note: Compare this to one of the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato" as follows: Linque metum leti; nam stultum est tempore in omni, / dum mortem metuas, amittere gaudia vitae.

Communis sors est, quod cunctis debita mors est. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 149.

Contra vim mortis nulla herba in hortis. ~ Note: You can also see it expressed with a diminutive of herba, herbula: Contra vim mortis non herbula crescit in hortis.

Ne Dii quidem a morte liberant. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings Erasmus included in his Adagia, 3.9.49.

A morte aeterna libera nos, Domine! ~ Note: These words can be found in the Catholic liturgy.

Esto memor mortis fueris dum corpore fortis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 361: Esto memor mortis fueris dum corpore fortis; / mors stans ante fores dicit tibi: corrige mores!

Mortis linque metus, si tu vis vivere laetus. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 638.

Mors est res certa, nihil est incertius hora. ~ Note: The word hora is in the ablative, as part of the comparison: incertius hora, "more uncertain than the hour (of death)."

Incertum est quo loco te mors exspectet; itaque tu illam omni loco exspecta. ~ Note: The subjunctive exspecto is because of the indirect question introduced by "quo loco." The words are from Seneca in one of his letters, 3.26.

Vita incerta, mors certissima. ~ Note: The independent use of the superlative here can mean "absolutely certain," "totally certain," etc.

Mors certa, hora incerta. ~ Note: The hora referred to here is the hora mortis.

Nihil morte certius sed nihil incertius hora mortis. ~ Note: Note the parallelism with a nice criss-cross chiasmus: morte certius || incertius hora mortis.

Mortis dies omnibus incertus. ~ Note: Here the adjective omnibus is being used substantively to mean everyone, everybody, all people: The day of death is something unknown to all.

Mors certa, tempus incertum. ~ Note: Compare the earlier proverb; the tempus referred to here is the tempus mortis.

Hora ruit; venit mors. ~ Note: Just to make the quick passage of time more alarming, this proverb reminds you about what is coming: mors.

Bis moritur qui mortem timet. ~ Note: As often, the antecedent of the relative pronoun is implied by not expressed: Bis moritur (is), qui mortem timet.

Morte magis metuenda senectus. ~ Note: Note the use of the gerundive to express the idea of necessity, agreeing in gender and number with the subject of the sentence: senectus.

Magni fures minores morte damnant. ~ Note: Note the nicely satirical parallel: Magni fures minores (fures) morte damnant.

Saepe ferox iuvenem mors rapit ante senem. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 1164.

Sine doctrina vita est quasi imago mortis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Instrue praeceptis animum, ne discere cessa; / nam sine doctrina vita est quasi mortis imago.

Ira parit litem, lis proelia, proelia mortem. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 565. Here you get a ladder effect, reaching all the way from anger unto death: Ira parit litem, lis (parit) proelia, proelia (parit) mortem. The idea of giving birth to death, parit mortem, is a very striking paradox!

Post mortem, medicus. ~ Note: This is an ironic saying: if the doctor arrives after the patient is already dead, he will not be of much help. Compare the saying you saw earlier: Medicina mortuorum sera est.

Morborum medicus omnium mors ultimus. ~ Note: Notice the interweaving the noun phrases "morborum omnium" (wrapped around medicus) and "ultimus medicus," the predicate, wrapped around the subject: mors. You can also find the saying in this form: Ultimus morborum medicus mors.

Melior est mors quam vita amara. ~ Note: Here amara is feminine singular, agreeing with vita. The words come from the Bibical book of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), 30: melior est mors quam vita amara et requies aeterna quam languor perseverans.

Ubique mors est. ~ Note: The words are from Seneca's play, The Phoenician Women.

Avaro non est vita, sed mors, longior. ~ Note: This is another one of the sayings collected by Publilius Syrus.

Mors omnia aequat. ~ Note: Compare the previous saying: now death appears explicitly, mors, rather than by metonymy, with cinis symbolizing death indirectly.

Post mortem fumus, pulvis et umbra sumus. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 923. The rhyme, fumus-sumus, reveals the medieval provenance of this saying.

Mors lupi agnis vita. ~ Note: This is a motto of the Ouseley family, and a family legend connects it to how a member of that family supposedly rescued a woman named Agnes (!) from an attack by a wolf.

Moriendum est omnibus, estque finis miseriae in morte. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Vita morti propior cotidie. ~ Note: The adjective prope takes a dative complement as you can see here: morti propior, "closer to death."

Mors optima rapit, deteriora relinquit. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings Erasmus included in his Adagia, 3.9.43.

Mors aequabit quos pecunia separavit. ~ Note: Note the future tense, aequabit - death will make equal all those who previously, in life, money had separated, separavit.

Post mortem, medicina. ~ Note: This is a more succinct version of the previous proverb.

Omnia mors tollit, quam nulla potentia mollit. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 807.

Timor mortis morte peior. ~ Note: Here you have the masculine comparative form, peior, agreeing with the noun timor. You can see a chiastic pattern here, too, which juxtaposes the genitive mortis (timor mortis) with the ablative morte (peiore morte).

Debilis ac fortis veniunt ad limina mortis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 217.

Dissimiles, sed morte pares. ~ Note: The words are from the poet Claudian's panegyric on the fourth consulship of the Emperor Honorius.

Mors, quasi saxum Tantalo semper impendet. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Multitudo canum, mors leporis. ~ Note: Note the nice alliteration: multiudo...mors. You can also find the saying in this form, with pups instead of dogs: Excidium leporis, catulorum copia semper.

Stultitia est morte alterius sperare salutem. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Cum sis ipse nocens, moritur cur victima pro te? / Stultitia est morte alterius sperare salutem.

Crambe repetita mors est. ~ Note: This saying is included by Polydorus in his Adagia, A24 (Repetita crambe).

Veniet tempus mortis et quidem celeriter. ~ Note: Veniet tempus mortis et quidem celeriter, sive retractabis sive properabis.

Vita quid est hominis, nisi mors vallata ruinis. ~ Note: Vita quid est hominis, nisi mors vallata ruinis, / est caro nostra cinis, modo principium, modo finis.

In mortem alterius spem tu tibi ponere noli. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Cum dubia et fragilis nobis sit vita tributa, / in morte alterius spem tu tibi ponere noli.

Mors sequitur omnes, vita sicuti fugit. ~ Note: This is a saying by Joachim Camerarius; his sayings were sometimes published together with the ancient sayings of Publilius Syrus.

Dispar vivendi ratio est, mors omnibus una. ~ Note: This is a saying by Joachim Camerarius; his sayings were sometimes published together with the ancient sayings of Publilius Syrus.

Non ipsa mors, sed aditus ad mortem est gravis. ~ Note: This is a saying by Janus Anysius (Giovanni Aniso); his sayings were sometimes published together with the ancient sayings of Publilius Syrus.

Mors tua, sors tua, res tua, spes tua pendent in taxillis. ~ Note: Ludens taxillis, bene respice, quid sit in illis: / mors tua, sors tua, res tua, spes tua pendent in illis.

Ah, homo si sciret, quando mors atra veniret: / non sic formiret, sed caeli regna sitiret. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 31.

Contra malum mortis non est medicamen in hortis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 163.

Bono viro non minori curae est qualis res publica post mortem suam futura sit, quam qualis hodie sit. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Qui mortem non timet, magnum is sibi praesidium ad beatam vitam comparavit. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Scis, O mortalis, quod mors levibus volat alis. ~ Note: Scis, O mortalis, quod mors levibus volat alis, / quae subito absque mora, te tristi supprimet hora.

Post mortem incipiunt aliquando valere poetae, sed tunc incipiunt lucra valere nihil. ~ Note: Post mortem incipiunt aliquando valere poetae, / sed tunc incipiunt lucra valere nihil. (Sutor)

Ad mortem sic vita fluit, velut ad mare flumen. ~ Note: An epigram by Owen: Ad mortem sic vita fluit, velut ad mare flumen: / vivere nam res est dulcis, amara mori.

Quocumque incedis, sequitur mors corporis umbra. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Tempora longa tibi noli promittere vitae: / quocumque incedis, sequitur mors corporis umbra.

Qui mortem metuit, quod vivit, perdit id ipsum. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Ne timeas illam, quae vitae est ultima finis: / qui mortem metuit, quod vivit, perdit id ipsum.

Non metuit mortem qui scit contemnere vitam. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Multum venturi ne cures tempora fati: / non metuit mortem qui scit contemnere vitam.

Mors bona si non est, finis tamen illa malorum est. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Fac tibi proponas, mortem non esse timendam: / quae bona si non est, finis tamen illa malorum est.

Non tibi sit curae mortis formido futurae. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 761: Non tibi sit curae mortis formido futurae: / mortem qui metuet, non valet et languet.

Nemo vitabit mortem facile aut superabit. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 670: Nemo vitabit mortem facile aut superabit; nam clausis portis intrat loca singula fortis.

Multa senex plangit, quando mors instat et angit. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 644.

Mors mortis morti mortem nisi morte dedisset, caelorum nobis ianua clausa foret. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 635.

Ludens taxillis, bene respice, quid sit in illis: mors tua, sors tua, res tua, spes tua pendet in illis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 608.

Mors stans ante fores dicit tibi: corrige mores! ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 361: Esto memor mortis fueris dum corpore fortis; / mors stans ante fores dicit tibi: corrige mores!

Ebrie, quid faris? vivis vel morte gravaris? ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 308: Ebrie, quid faris? vivis vel morte gravaris? / Quid facias nescis, truncus sine mente quiescis, / nec different multum, te inter fatoque sepultum.

Bona mors est homini, vitae quae extinguit mala. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Publilius Syrus.