NISI

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: NISI.

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

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.

Nemo nisi suo die moritur. ~ Note: This is an expression you can find in Seneca's Epistulae Morales, 7.

Bonus vir nemo est, nisi qui bonus est omnibus. ~ Note: The "nisi qui" is another example of how the antecedent of the relative pronoun can just be implied in the Latin: nisi (is) qui bonus est omnibus, "unless he is good to all." This one of the sayings you can find collected by Publilius Syrus.

Nemo autem regere potest, nisi qui et regi. ~ Note: Notice the lovely play on words with regere (active infinitive) and regi (passive infinitive). Compare this earlier motto: Serviendo guberno.

Nil magnum nisi bonum. ~ Note: In other words, if something is less than good, it is less than great! This is the motto of St. Catherine's School in Australia.

De vivis nil nisi verum. ~ Note: Compare the saying you saw earlier: De mortuis nil nisi bonum.

Nil scio nisi nescio. ~ Note: Compare the previous saying: Hoc unum scio: me nihil scire.

De absentibus nihil nisi bonum. ~ Note: This expresses the same idea again: (Say) nothing about those who are absent (nihil de absentibus), unless what you say is something good (nisi bonum).

De absentibus nisi bene. ~ Note: Here the verb is implied but not expressed: Do not speak about those who are absent (de absentibus), unless you speak well of them (nisi bene).

Perdes maiora, minora nisi servaveris. ~ Note: This is another one of the sayings collected by Publilius Syrus.

De mortuis nil nisi bonum. ~ Note: The verb is implied here, but not stated: De mortuis nil nisi bonum (dicamus... dicere oportet... etc.).

Cum tuus es, noli servire, nisi tibi soli. ~ Note: The verb servire takes a dative complement, hence "tibi soli," you alone (remember that solus is one of those special adjectives that has -ius in the genitive and -i in the dative for all genders).

Nil, nisi quod prodest, carum est. ~ Note: You can find this saying expressed in Ovid's Epistulae Ex Ponto, 3.

Nemo sapiens nisi patiens. ~ Note: Although sapiens is regularly listed as a separate word in the dictionary, this saying shows that it is indeed a present active participle, from the verb sapio.

Nemo ab alio contemnitur, nisi a se ante contemptus. ~ Note: The words are from Seneca's treatise, De Consolatione.

Nihil pulchrum, nisi utile. ~ Note: This is a more extreme utilitarian aesthetic, rejected the idea of beauty for its own sake. It is the motto inscribed on the Manchester Art Gallery in Manchester, England.

Nihil eripit Fortuna, nisi quod et dedit. ~ Note: This is a more elaborate version of the previous saying: Nihil eripit Fortuna, "Fortune can take away nothing, " nisi quod et dedit, "except that which she likewise gave" (the word et is being used adverbially there).

Cave amicum credas, nisi si quem probaveris. ~ Note: You can also use a subjunctive with cavere, as here: cave amicum credas, "be wary of trusting a friend."

Amicitia, nisi inter bonos, esse non potest. ~ Note: You can also find the saying in this form - Amicitia esse non potest nisi inter bonos viros - but the word "bonos," by itself, is able to convey the idea of "bonos (viros)."

Nihil, nisi quod praeteriit certum est. ~ Note: You have already seen that the future is uncertain: Omne futurum incertum.

Non est enim potestas nisi a Deo. ~ Note: The words are from Paul's letter to the Romans, 13. This saying is included by Polydorus in his Adagia, B203.

Nisi Dominus, frustra. ~ Note: The verb is implied but not expressed here: Unless the Lord (guides, approves, supports what you are doing), it is in vain. This motto forms part of the crest of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Nihil est utile, nisi quod honestum est. ~ Note: Like the previous saying, this provides an equation of what is utile and what is honestum: nothing can be utile if it is not honestum.

Nemo laeditur nisi a se ipso. ~ Note: The saying is attributed to John Chrysostum.

Horas non numero, nisi serenas. ~ Note: This is a sundial inscription.

Nisi certanti nulla corona datur. ~ Note: From Mantuanus: Certandum est: nulli veniunt sine Marte triumphi, / et nisi certanti nulla corona datur.

Nemo decipitur, nisi qui confidit. ~ Note: Here is a fuller statement of the saying in the form of a verse couplet: Nemo decipitur nisi qui confidit, et ergo / paucis confidens hic sapienter agit.

Doctrinae cultus spernit nemo, nisi stultus. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 265.

Nisi per te sapias, frustra sapientem audias. ~ Note: This is another one of the sayings collected by Publilius Syrus. It shows the etymological connection between the verb sapio, and the word "sapiens," which is that verb's participle. Note also the hypothetical subjunctives: sapias...audias.

Nil cito delebis, nisi iam meliora videbis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 681.

Nihil venit sine industria, nisi paupertas. ~ Note: This provides the negative flipside of the previous saying: with great efforts come great rewards, but without work (sine industria), nothing comes but poverty.

Luxuriat vitis, nisi falce putare velitis. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 614.

Non missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris hirudo. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings Erasmus included in his Adagia, 2.4.84.

Nulla valet vita, nisi sit virtute polita. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 777.

Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

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.

Accusare nemo se debet nisi coram Deo. ~ Note: You can find this phrase in Black's Law Dictionary.

Serpens nisi serpentem edat, draco non fiet. ~ Note: You can also find the saying in these variations: "Serpens nisi serpentem deglutiat non fit draco" and "Serpens nisi serpentem comederit non fit draco."

Parvi enim sunt foris arma, nisi est consilium domi. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Nil temere admittas, nisi fidum noris amicum. ~ Note: This is from one of the moral sayings of Michael Verinus: Nil temere admittas, nisi fidum noris amicum: / sed semel admissus semper habendus erit.