RATIO

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: RATIO.

Ratione, non vi. ~ Note: This is a more hopeful take on the opposition between ratio and vi: Let us act reasonably, not violently - Ratione, non vi.

Dux vitae ratio. ~ Note: This is the Bennett family motto.

Ratione vivendum est. ~ Note: Here is another one of those impersonal constructions, using the neuter gerundive: vivendum est, literally, "it is to be lived." In English, we have other ways of making generalized statements of necessity, such as using the second person "you" - "You have to live by means of reason."

Nec satis rationis in armis. ~ Note: The word satis can take a genitive complement, as here: satis rationis, "enough (of) reason." You can find these words in Vergil's Aeneid, 2: arma amens capio; nec sat rationis in armis.

Nihil sine ratione faciendum est. ~ Note: Here is another gerundive expressing necessity: Nothing is to be done without a plan.

Ratio fatum vincere nulla valet. ~ Note: Notice how the noun phrase "ratio nulla" elegantly wraps around the infinitive phrase "fatum vincere" - that kind of intertwined word order is so easy in Latin but basically impossible in English.

Ratione duce per totam vitam eundum est.

Habenda est ratio hominum, rei et temporis. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Ratione, non ira. ~ Note: Although ira is ambiguous, the word "ratione" is clearly in the ablative - which lets you know that ira is in the ablative also: irā.

Quid est in homine ratione divinius? ~ Note: Note that quid is neuter, hence the neuter form of the comparative adjective: divinius, with ratione as the ablative expressing the comparison - "more godlike than the power of reason."

Mors ultima ratio.

Exemplo plus quam ratione vivimus. ~ Note: It is exactly because of the power of concrete example over abstract reasoning that Aesop's fables and similar wisdom tales are found in cultures all over the world!

Nil melius vere quam cum ratione tacere. ~ Note: Note the use here of the adverbial form, vere, "truly." It has been inserted into the proverb to create an internal rhyme: Nil melius VERE quam cum ratione TACERE. (Internal rhymes are often found in medieval proverbs.)

Ratio contra vim parum valet. ~ Note: Note the contrast between this and the preceding statement: reason may be the queen and mistress of all things, but she cannot stand up to brute force.

Non prodest ratio, ubi vis imperat. ~ Note: Here the opposition is not between truth and force as in the previous saying, but between reason and force, ratio and vis.

Domina omnium et regina ratio. ~ Note: Here you have not just the domina (fem. of dominus) but also regina (fem. of rex). The words are from Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, 2.

Nunc est dicendum, nunc cum ratione silendum. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 818. It is another "nunc...nunc" (at some times... at other times...) construction, this time with gerundives that express the idea of necessity: nunc est dicendum, "sometimes you should speak."

Ratio est radius divini luminis. ~ Note: I really like the sound play between "ratio" and "radius" in this definition.

Deus est ratio quae cuncta gubernat. ~ Note: You can find these words in Manilius's Astronomicon, 2. Compare also the use of "logos" in the Gospel of John (Greek "logos" being equivalent both to Latin verbum and also to ratio).

Ratione praestamus beluis. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Est homini cum Deo rationis societas. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Ratione, non vi vincenda adulescentia est.

Dispar vivendi ratio est, mors omnibus una.

Ratio patientiam suadet, ira vindictam.

Nulla ditari ratione potestis avari. ~ Note: This is one of the sayings collected by Wegeler, 775: Nulla ditari ratione potestis avari; / vos faciunt inopes, quas cumulatis opes.

Appetitus rationi oboediant. ~ Note: You can also find the saying in this form: Appetitus rationi pareat.

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.

Ita amicum ama, ut ratio locum servet suum. ~ Note: This is a saying by Janus Anysius (Giovanni Aniso); his sayings were sometimes published together with the ancient sayings of Publilius Syrus.

Bona est voluptas, si rationi pareat. ~ Note: This is a saying by Janus Anysius (Giovanni Aniso); his sayings were sometimes published together with the ancient sayings of Publilius Syrus.

Duplex est vis animorum: una pars in appetitu posita, altera in ratione. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.

Nihil est tam contrarium rationi et constantiae, quam fortuna. ~ Note: This is included by André Rouillé in his anthology of Cicero's notable sententiae.