Famous Latin Proverbs

ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora

Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow

(i.e., a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)

audaces fortuna iuvat

Fortune favors the brave

animis opibusque parati

Prepared in minds and resources (ready for anything)

adversus solem ne loquitor

Don't speak against the sun (Don't argue what is obvious)

abyssus abyssum invocat

Hell calls hell (one wrongdoing causes another)

acta est fabula

The drama has been acted out (an event or a life comes to a sad end)

a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

A precipice in front, wolves behind (between a rock and a hard place)

beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere

To accept a favour is to sell one's freedom

beati possidentes

Blessed are those who possess (possession is nine points of the law)

de duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

Of two evils, the lesser is always to be chosen (choose the lesser of two evils)

errare humanum est

To err is human

quem di diligunt, adolescens moritur

Whom the gods love die young (only the good die young)

respondeat superior

Let the superior answer

(a supervisor must take responsibility for the quality of a subordinate's work)

ut sementem feceris ita metes

As you sow so will you reap.

alis volat propiis

S/he flies with her own wings.

Oregon State Motto (adopted in 1854, replaced by "The Union" in 1957, and then re-adopted again in 1987.