Memento
mori. —
useful expression
Remember you will die.
More literally: Remember dying.
(The expression came to also refer to an object that reminds its holder that death is inevitable.) Mementō is the singular future imperative form of meminī, meminisse, — (3, perfect forms have present meaning; see Chapter 14): to remember. Morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die.
Love reason!
Amā is the singular imperative form of amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (1): to love, like. Ratiōnem is the accusative singular form of ratiō, ratiōnis (3f): reason; calculation; account.
Take a long time to think.
More literally: Deliberate long.
Diū (adv. ; the u is sometimes short in early poetry): long, for a long time. Dēlīberā is the singular imperative form of dēlīberō, dēlīberāre, dēlīberāvī, dēlīberātum (1): to ponder, deliberate.
Make haste slowly.
(Reported by Suetonius to have been a motto of Augustus.) Festīnā is the singular imperative form of festīnō, festīnāre, festīnāvī, festīnātum (1): to hurry, make haste. Lentē (adv.): slowly.
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Save me, O king.
Servā is the singular imperative form of servō, servāre, servāvī, servātum (1): to save; protect; keep. Mē: me—the accusative form of ego: I. Rēx is the vocative singular form of rēx, rēgis (3m): king.
Be well.
Valē is the singular imperative form of valeō, valēre, valuī, valitum (2): to be strong, be well.
Pyramus, answer me!
Pȳrame is the vocative singular form of the proper noun Pȳramus, Pȳramī (2m). Respondē is the singular imperative form of respondeō, respondēre, respondī, respōnsum (2): to respond, answer.
Beware of the dog.
Cavē is the singular imperative form of caveō, cavēre, cāvī, cautum (2): to beware (of); take care; guard against. Canem is the accusative singular form of canis, canis (3m/f): dog.
Dare to be wise.
Alt. : Dare to know.
(Adapted as dare to know by Kant as a motto for the Enlightenment.) Sapiō, sapere, sapīvī/sapuī, — (3, –iō): to have good sense; be wise; know. Audē is the singular imperative form of audeō, audēre, ausus sum (2, semi-deponent): to dare (the meaning of “semi-deponent” will be explained later).
Look at his name, look at his age.
(Talking about Octavian.) Vidē is the singular imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Nōmen is the accusative singular form of nōmen, nōminis (3n): name. Aetātem is the accusative singular form of aetās, aetātis (3f): age.
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Crucify him.
Crucifīge is the singular imperative form of crucifīgō, crucifīgere, crucifīxī, crucifīxum (3): to crucify. Eum: him—the masculine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that.
Go with me.
(Refers to a manual or reference book that’s useful to carry with you.) Vāde is the singular imperative form of vādō, vādere, vāsī, — (3): to go (in classical Latin it implied a quick, violent or purposeful motion; but that nuance faded over time). Mēcum: with me (mē = me; cum = with).
Believe what you prefer.
Crēde is the singular imperative form of crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to believe; trust. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Māvīs is the second person singular form of mālō, mālle, māluī, — (irreg.): to prefer.
Make your own prosperity.
More literally: Make you(rself) happy yourself.
Fac is the singular imperative form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you (used reflexively: yourself). Ipse /ipsa/ipsum (pron. or adj.): himself/herself/itself/ myself/etc. ; in person; the very. Fēlīcem is the m/f accusative singular form of fēlīx, fēlīcis (3): happy, lucky, fortunate, prosperous.
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Come, and pass over.
Venī is the singular imperative form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come—not to be confused with the first person singular perfect form (vēnī). Et (conj.): and. Trānsī is the singular imperative form of trānseō, trānsīre, trānsiī/trānsīvī, trānsitum (irreg.): to go over, go across, pass. Trānseō is actually an irregular verb, as noted, but it operates like a fourth-conjugation verb in this setting. The same can be said for other verbs based on eō, īre, iī/īvī, itum (irreg.): to go.
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Sleep till the morning.
Dormī is the singular imperative form of dormiō, dormīre, dormīvī/dormiī, dormītum (4): to sleep. Ūsque (more often adv. , but here prep.): all the way (to); right up (to); until. Māne (n. , indeclinable): morning.
Now hear what remains.
More literally: Now hear the remaining things.
Nunc (adv.): now; as it is. Audī is the singular imperative form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear. Reliqua: the remaining (things)—the neuter accusative plural form of reliquus/reliqua/reliquum (1/2): left, remaining.
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Peace, be still.
More literally: Be silent, become mute!
Tacē is the singular imperative form of taceō, tacēre, tacuī, tacitum (2): to be silent. Obmūtēsce is the singular imperative form of obmūtēscō, obmūtēscere, obmūtuī, — (3): to become mute or silent.
Divide and conquer.
More literally: Divide and rule.
Dīvide is the singular imperative form of dīvidō, dīvidere, dīvīsī, dīvīsum (3): to divide, separate. Et (conj.): and. Imperā is the singular imperative form of imperō, imperāre, imperāvī, imperātum (1): to command; rule, govern.
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Come and see.
Venī is the singular imperative form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come—not to be confused with the first person singular perfect form (vēnī). Et (conj.): and. Vidē is the singular imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see.
Hear what remains, and restrain your laughter if you can.
Audī is the singular imperative form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear. Reliqua is the neuter accusative plural form of reliquus/reliqua/reliquum (1/2): left, remaining. Et (conj.): and. Rīsum is the accusative singular form of rīsus, rīsūs (4m): laughter. Continē is the singular imperative form of contineō, continēre, continuī, contentum (2): to contain, restrain, subdue. Sī (conj.): if. Potes is the second person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can.
Now think:
Cōgitāte is the plural imperative form of cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1): to think, reflect; plan, intend. Nunc (adv.): now; as it is.
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Throw her down.
Praecipitāte is the plural imperative form of praecipitō, praecipitāre, praecipitāvī, praecipitātum (1): to cast down, throw headlong. Eam is the feminine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Deorsum (adv.): down, downward.
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Always rejoice.
Semper (adv.): always Gaudēte is the plural imperative form of gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus sum (2, semi-deponent): to be glad, rejoice, be joyful, take pleasure in.
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Remain in him.
Manēte is the plural imperative form of maneō, manēre, mānsī, mānsum (2): to remain, stay. In (prep.): in, on (takes the ablative or the accusative; but the ablative when it has this meaning). Eō is the m/n ablative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that.
Tell me.
Dīcite is the plural imperative form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say, tell.
Adopt this spirit.
Hunc is the masculine accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Sūmite is the plural imperative form of sūmō, sūmere, sūmpsī, sūmptum (3): to take up; assume, adopt. Animum is the accusative singular form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul, spirit.
Believe me.
Crēdite is the plural imperative form of crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to believe; trust. Mihi (the final i is sometimes long) is the dative form of ego: I. (With crēdō, the thing believed to be true goes in the accusative case; the person who’s trusted or believed goes in the dative case, as shown here.)
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Listen to me.
Alt. : Hear me.
Audīte is the plural imperative form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; listen to. Mē is the accusative form of ego: I.
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Come and see.
Venīte is the plural imperative form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Et (conj.): and. Vidēte is the plural imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see.
Have your things to yourself.
Less literally: Keep what’s yours for yourself.
Even less literally: Take your things and go.
(Roman expression for announcing a wish to divorce.) Tuās is the feminine accusative plural form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. Rēs is the accusative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you (to/for you; used reflexively: to/for yourself). Habētō is the singular future imperative form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have, possess; keep; take.
So that you may be loved, be lovable.
Ut (conj.): that, so that. Amēris is the second person singular passive subjunctive form of amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (1): to love. Amābilis /amābilis/amābile (3): lovable. Estō is the singular future imperative form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
He shall surrender all his elephants and not acquire others.
(From a treaty between Rome and Antiochus III.) Elephantōs is the accusative plural form of elephantus, elephantī (2m): elephant. Trāditō is the singular future imperative form of trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum (3): to hand over; surrender; deliver; hand down; relate. Omnīs is the m/f accusative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Neque /nec: (as conj.) and not, nor; (as adv.) neither, not either, not even. Aliōs is the masculine accusative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another; different. Parātō is the singular future imperative form of parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum (1): to provide; buy, acquire; prepare.
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Remember this.
Mementōte is the second person plural future imperative form of meminī, meminisse, — (3; perfect forms have present meaning): to remember. Istud is the neuter accusative singular form of iste/ista/istud (pron.): that, this; he, she, it.
Don’t worry.
More literally: Be unconcerned.
Sēcūrī is the masculine nominative plural form of sēcūrus/sēcūra/sēcūrum (1/2): unconcerned, serene; secure. Estōte is the second person plural future imperative form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
Continue to believe, therefore, that it exists as before.
(A dying man speaking to his sons about his soul.) Eundem is the masculine accusative singular form of īdem/eadem/idem (pron. or adj.): the same. Igitur (conj.): therefore, so. Esse: to be. Crēditōte is the second person plural future imperative form of crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to believe; trust.
Commands shall be just.
(He’s quoting an imaginary law. The future imperative is often used in formal settings like that.) Iūsta is the neuter nominative plural form of iūstus/iūsta/iūstum (1/2): just. Imperia is the nominative plural form of imperium, imperiī (2n): power, authority, dominion; command, order; empire. Suntō is the third person plural future imperative form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.