Saturday, July 31, 2010

POPULUS

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: POPULUS.

Vox populi, vox Dei. ~ Note: This Latin saying survives in the terminology of modern broadcast journalism, where "vox pop" refers to the voice of the man on the street, when reporters randomly ask people for their comments. The saying is first cited by the medieval English scholar Alcuin; compare also the similar saying, "Haud semper errat fama," "Rumor is not always wrong." The saying is included by Polydorus in his Adagia, B225.

Ibi valet populus, ubi valent leges. ~ Note: Notice the correlative use of "ibi... ubi..." - where (when) the laws are strong, there (then) the people are strong.

Maximus magister populus.

Quales principes, tales populi.

Regnat populus. ~ Note: This is the motto of the state of Arkansas. Note that it plays on a wonderful paradox, given that the Latin word "regnare" is from the word "rex." To express that paradox in English you could say, "The people are king."

Populus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur. ~ Note: You can find this saying invoked by John Adams in one of his letters.

Ita populus, sic sacerdos.

Senatus Populusque Romanus ~ Note: This Latin phrase is often abbreviated: S.P.Q.R. For more information, see this Wikipedia article.

Maximus erroris populus magister.

Salus populi suprema lex esto. ~ Note: Here you have a future imperative, esto, with a third-person subject: salus. This is the motto of the state of Missouri. You can also find the idea expressed in terms of the state, patria: Salus patriae summa lex.

Saepe luit populus poenas unius iniqui.

Populus est novarum cupiens pavidusque.

Iustitia elevat populos.

Vox populi, vox insaniae.

Unius peccata viri populus luit omnis.

Leo rugiens et ursus esuriens, princeps impius super populum pauperem.

Ibi pote valere populus, ubi leges valent.

Tamdiu a periculo aberit populus, quamdiu sciet ferre frenos. ~ Note: In the plural, you often find the forms freni and frenos instead of the expected frena.

Advocatus et non latro: res miranda populo. ~ Note: This item is listed in Tosi, 1103.

Amor populi praesidium regis.

Docendus est populus, non sequendus.

Expedit vobis ut unus moriatur homo pro populo.

Iudicium populi numquam contempseris unus. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings included in the distichs attributed to the so-called "Cato." Here is the complete distich: Iudicium populi numquam contempseris unus: / ne nulli placeas, dum vis contemnere multos.

Nec regi nec populo, sed utrique.

Negotium populo Romano melius quam otium.

Populus maior principe. ~ Note: You can also find the saying in this form: Populus maior imperatore

Populus sine duce facile dispergitur.

Rege dormiente, populi ferociunt.

Sacra populi lingua est.

Vis magna populi est. ~ Note:


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