These are the Latin quotes from Horace that readers look up most, every one of them from the Odes: carpe diem, nil desperandum, dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, exegi monumentum aere perennius and the rest.
Each line below has its plain English meaning beside it. Open a quote to see the whole Latin sentence it comes from, with a definition, lemma and form for every word.
Horace quotes in Latin and English
- Nil desperandumHorace, Odes 1.7Nothing is to be despaired of.
- Pulvis et umbra sumusHorace, Odes 4.7We are dust and shadow.
- Dulce et decorum est pro patria moriHorace, Odes 3.2It is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country.
- Exegi monumentum / Non omnis moriarHorace, Odes 3.30I have raised a monument more lasting than bronze. / I shall not wholly die.
- Carpe diemHorace, Odes 1.11Seize the day. / Do not ask.
- Nunc est bibendumHorace, Odes 1.37Now is the time to drink.
- Aurea mediocritasHorace, Odes 2.10The golden mean.
- Solvitur acris hiems / Pallida morsHorace, Odes 1.4Biting winter is loosened. / Pale Death knocks with an impartial foot. / The brief span of life forbids long hope.
- Iustum et tenacem propositi virumHorace, Odes 3.3The man just and steadfast in his purpose. / If the shattered world should fall on him, the ruins will strike him unafraid.
- Quis multa gracilis / Simplex munditiisHorace, Odes 1.5Who is the slender young man pressing you among roses? / Artless in your elegance.
- Integer vitae scelerisque purusHorace, Odes 1.22Upright in life and free of crime.
- Odi profanum vulgus et arceoHorace, Odes 3.1I hate the uninitiated crowd and keep it away.
- Vides ut alta stet nive candidum SoracteHorace, Odes 1.9Do you see how Soracte stands white with deep snow?
- Eheu fugacesHorace, Odes 2.14Alas, Postumus, Postumus, the fleeting years glide away.
- Persicos odiHorace, Odes 1.38I hate Persian luxuries.
- O fons BandusiaeHorace, Odes 3.13O spring of Bandusia.
- O navis, referent in mare te novi fluctusHorace, Odes 1.14O ship, new waves will carry you back to sea.
