D

Damnant quod non intellegunt.
Translation: "They condemn! what they do not understand."
De gustibus non est disputandum.
Translation: "In matters of taste there is no dispute."
De minimis non curat praetor. (or rex or lex)
Translation: "The authority" (or "king", or "law") "does not care about trivial things."
De mortuis nihil nisi bene.
Translation: "Of the dead, nothing but good." I.e., "Say only good things about the dead."
Deo Vindice.
Translation: "[With] God as [our] protector" — motto of the Confederate States of America.
Deorum iniuriae Diis curae.
Translation: "Offences to the gods are the concern of the gods."
Deserta faciunt et pacem appellant.
Translation: "They create a desolation and they call it peace." - Tacitus
Desinit in piscem mulier formosa superne.
Translation: "The beautiful woman ends in a fish tail." - Horace, Ars poetica
Deus vult!
Translation: "God wills it!," slogan of the Crusades.
Dic, hospes, Spartae nos te hic vidisse iacentes, dum sanctis patriae legibus obsequimur.
Translation: "Traveller, tell in Sparta that you saw us here where we rest, abiding by the sacred laws of the homeland." (Simonides of Ceos, translated by Cicero)
Dictum sapienti sat est.
"The said is enough for the wise" — understandable for a wise one without the need for explanations (Plautus), also as: sat sapienti and sapienti sat.[/size]
Diem perdidi.
Translation: "I lost the day" (Emperor Titus, passed down in Suetonius's biography ()
Divide et impera.
Translation: "Divide and govern." Attributed to Julius Caesar.
Docendo discimus.
Translation: "We learn by teaching" (Seneca)
Dominus Illuminatio Mea.
Translation: "The Lord is my light," motto of Oxford University.
Donec eris felix multos numerabis amicos.
Translation: "As long as you're happy, you'll have many friends." (Ovid, Tristia I,9,5)
Donec eris sospes, multos numerabis amicos. Tempora si fuerint nubila, solus eris.
Translation: "As long as you are wealthy, you will have many friends. When the tough times come, you will be left alone."
Dosis facit venemon.
Translation: "it is the dose that makes the poison."
Draco dormiens numquam titillandus.
Translation: "Never tickle a sleeping dragon," motto of w:Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling.
Dulce enim etiam nomen est pacis.
Translation: "The name 'peace' is sweet itself."
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
Translation: "It is sweet and honorable to die for the fatherland." By Horace, Odes III, 2, 13, frequently quoted, notably in the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen.
Dum spiro, spero.
[size=1]Translation: "As long as I breathe, I hope."
Dum vixi tacui, mortua dulce cano.
Translation: "Living, I was mute, dead, I sweetly sing." (Found written on some musical instruments - especially keyboard ones. Refers to the tree the wood of which was used to make the instrument.)
Duo cum faciunt idem, non est idem.
Translation: "When two do the same, it isn't the same." (Terence)
Duobus litigantibus, tertius gaudet.
Translation: "While two men argue, the third one rejoices."
Dura lex, sed lex.
Translation: "The law is harsh, but it is the law."
Dura necessitas.
Translation: "Necessity is harsh."

E

E fructu arbor cognoscitur.
Translation: "The tree can be recognized by its fruits."
E pluribus unum
Translation: "Out of many, one" (the motto of the United States of America)
Errare humanum est. Perseverare diabolicum.
Translation: "To err is human. To repeat error is of the Devil." (Seneca)
Et ipsa scientia potestas est.
Translation: "And knowledge itself, is power" (Francis Bacon, Meditationes sacræ)
Et nunc reges, intelligite erudimini qui iudicatis terram...
Translation: "And now kings, be warned, you who judge on earth..." (Vulgate, Psalms 2:10)
Ex astris, Scientia
Translation: "From the stars, Knowledge" (the motto of Starfleet Academy in Star Trek)
Ex nihilo nihil fit
Translation: "Nothing comes from nothing" (you need to work for something; also the Conservation Law in philosophy and modern science). (Lucretius)
Ex oriente lux
Translation: "From the East [comes] the light [i.e. culture]"
Excusatio non petita, acusatio manifesta
Translation: "Unwanted excuse implies/means manifest accusation"
Exegi monumentum aere perennius
Translation: "I have built a monument more durable than bronze." (Horace, Odes III, 30, 1, of his poetry).
Exitus acta probat
Translation: "The results justify the deed", or "The ends justify the means".
Experto credite
Translation: "Believe me, for I have experienced" (Virgil)
Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
Translation: "Outside the Church [there is] No Salvation" (a disputed thesis of Roman Catholic theology).

F

Faber est suae quisque fortunae
Translation: "Each is the maker (smith) of his own fortune." (Appius Claudius Caecus)
Fabricando fit faber.
Translation: "Practice makes perfect."
Facilis descensus Averno
Translation: "The descent to hell is easy."
Fama crescit eundo
Translation: "Rumors grow through circulation."
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere
Translation: "Lucky [is the person] who could realize things" (variant of Virgil, Georgica 2, 490).
Festina lente !
Translation: "Make haste slowly" (i.e. proceed quickly but with caution, a motto of Augustus Caesar).
Fiat iustitia et pereat mundus
Translation: "Let justice be done, though the world perish" (Ferdinand I)
Fiat iustitia ruat caelum
Translation: "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."
Fiat lux
Translation: "Let there be light."
Fide, sed qui, vide.
Translation: "Trust but take care whom."
Finis coronat opus.
Translation: "Thread ornaments the work."
Fluctuat nec mergitur
Translation: "Shaken by the waves, but it will not sink" (inscription on Paris' coat of arms).
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit
Translation: "Perhaps even this will one day be pleasant to look back on"
Fortasse erit, fortasse non erit
Translation: "Maybe it will be, maybe it will not"
Fortes fortuna iuvat
Translation: "Fortune favors the strong." (cf. Audaces fortuna iuvat.) (Terence)
Fortuna est caeca
Translation: "Fortune is blind." (Cicero)

G

Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres
Translation: "The whole of Gaul is divided into three parts." (C. Julius Caesar in "Commentarii de Bello Gallico")
Gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus
Translation: "Thus let us enjoy ourselves as long as we are young." (From an old German student's song. It is now regularely used in many different Universities, for example St-Andrews in Scotland)
Gloria victis.
Translation: "Glory to the defeated."
Graeca sunt, non leguntur
Translation: "They are Greek, and aren't read". Something incomprehensible that is skipped.
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit, et artes intulit agresti Latio
Translation: "Captive Greece captured her ferocious victor, and brought the arts into the rustic Latium" (Horace's "Epistulae")
Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo; sic homo fit sapiens non vi, sed saepe legendo.
Translation: "A drop drills a rock by falling not twice, but many times; so too is a human made smart by reading not two, but many books" (Giordano Bruno).

H

Habent sua fata libelli.
Translation: "Books have their fate." (Terentianus Maurus)
Habitus non facit monachum
Translation: "A habit does not make a monk"
Hannibal ad portas!
Translations: "Hannibal before the gates!" Refers to the threat to Rome imposed by Hannibal's Italy campaign. Conveys a sense of greater distress than Hannibal ante portas, for ad suggests, unlike ante, a movement towards the gates. Cicero, Philippica I; Livius, Ab urbe condita XXIII
Hannibal ante portas.
Translation: "Hannibal before the gates." See above.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta.
Translation: "Here is Rhodos, jump here." Aesop (referring to someone who bragged about jumping a long distance "on Rhodos")
Hinc illa lacrimae.
Translation: "Therefore these tears."
Hodie mihi, cras tibi.
Translation: "What's to me today, tomorrow to you."
Homines quod volunt credunt.
Translation: "Men believe what they want to." (Julius Caesar)
Homo homini lupus est.
Translation: "Man is a wolf to man." Thomas Hobbes
Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit
Translation: "Man proposes, God disposes." (Thomas à Kempis)
Homo sui iuris.
Translation: "Independent man."
Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto.
Translation: "I am human, so nothing that is human is foreign to me." (Terence)
Honores mutant mores.
Translation: "Honors change behavior"
Hora incerta, mors certa
Translation: "Hour uncertain, death certain"
Hypotheses non fingo.
Translation: "I feign no hypotheses" (I do not assert that any hypotheses are true). Newton, Principia

I

Note: I and J are the same letter in Latin.
Iacta alea est.
Translation: "the die is cast" or "the die has been cast" (Julius Caesar; see note under w:Rubicon)
Ignis natura renovatur integra (INRI)
Translation: "Through fire nature is reborn whole"; (an alchemical aphorism.)
Ignorantia iuris nocet
Translation: "Being ignorant of law harms."
Ignorantia legis non excusat
Translation: "Ignorance of the law is no excuse."
Ignoti nulla cupido
Translation: "The unknown does not tempt."
In cauda venenum
Translation: "The poison is in the tail" (as in a scorpion).
In dubio pro reo
Translation: "When in doubt, in favour of the accused". (Corpus Juris Civilis)
In hoc signo vinces
Translation: "By this sign you will conquer" (Constantine's vision before the Battle of Milvian Bridge).
In magnis voluisse sat est
Translation: "In big things it's enough to just have the will."
In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas
Translation: "In necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity" (often misattributed to St Augustine).
In vino veritas.
Translation: "There is truth in wine." That is, "Wine will bring out truth."
In vitium ducit culpae fuga, si caret arte.
Translation: "Fleeing from error leads into fault if skill is lacking." Horace, De Arte Poetica
Infinitus est numerus stultorum
Translation: "Infinite is the number of fools" (Vulgate, Ecclesiastes 1:15).
Inter arma enim silent leges (Musae).
Translation: "During wars laws" (or "arts") "are silent." Cicero, Oratio Pro Annio Milone (IV)
Interdum dormitat bonus Homerus
Translation: "Sometimes even the good Homer slumbers" (i.e. even the best of us makes mistakes); originally quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus, Horace, Ars Poetica
Ira furor brevis est.
Translation: "Anger is brief insanity" (Horace, epistles I, 2, 62).
Is fecit, cui prodest.
Translation: "Done by the one who profits from it."
Iura novat curia.
Translation: "The law is known to the court." Legal principle (e.g. in Germany) that says lawyers are not to argue the law because that is the office of the court.
Iurare in verba magistri.
Translation: "Swear by teacher's words."
Iustitia omni auro carior.
Translation: "Justice is more precious than all gold."
Iustitia omnibus.
Translation: "Justice for all.", motto of the District of Columbia.
In lumine tvo, videbimvs lumen.
Translation: "In your light, we shall see light.", motto of Columbia University.

L
Labor omnia vincit.
Translation: "Work conquers all things." Motto of the State of Oklahoma
Laborare est orare.
Translation: "To work is to pray." A common school motto.
Libertati viam facere.
Translation: "Making a road to freedom."
Lucus a non lucendo
Translation: "The word for grove is lucus because it is not light [non lucet] in a grove." Used as an example of absurd etymology.
Luctor et emergo
Translation: "I wrestle and arise." Motto of the Dutch province Zeeland.
Lupus in fabula.
Translation: "A wolf in the story." Said about someone who has just appeared and it was talked about him.

M

Major e longinquo reverentia
Translation: "Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful." Cornelius Tacitus, annals 1,47
Mala herba cito crescit
Translation: "Weeds grow fast."
Manus manum lavat
Translation: "One hand washes the other."
Mater artium necessitas.
Translation: "Necessity is the mother of invention" (Apuleius)
Maxima debetur puero reverentia
Translation: "One owes the greatest possible care for the child" (Juvenal)
Me transmitte sursum, Caledoni!
Translation: "Beam me up, Scotty!" (Captain Kirk)
Medicus curat, natura sanat
Translation: "The doctor cares [for his patient], nature heals [him]." or "Doctor cures, nature saves"
Medio tutissimus ibis
Translation: "In the middle shall you walk the safest" i.e. the middle path is the safest one (Ovid)
Memento mori.
Translation: "Remember your mortality." Also, ironically, "Remember to die." it is the motto of the Friars of Trappa.
Mens agitat molem
Translation: "The mind moves the mountain" (The motto of the University of Oregon and the Eindhoven University of Technology).
Mens sana in corpore sano
Translation: "Healthy mind in healthy body." (Usually understood as "a healthy mind requires a healthy body", but actually Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano, "One prays that there is a healthy mind in (that) healthy body." Juvenal, Satires 10, 356). See also ASICS.
Montani Semper Liberi
Translation: "Mountaineers are Always Free" — Motto of the U.S. State of West Virginia
Morituri te salutant
Translation: "Those who are about to die greet you." (traditional greeting of the gladiators prior to battle; passed on by Suetonius, Claudius 21). (Morituri te salutamus would express "We who are about to die greet you.")
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.
Translation: "The world desires to be deceived; therefore it is" (Attributed to Petronius)
Munit haec et altera vincit.
Translation: "One defends and the other conquers" (motto of Nova Scotia.)

N

Natura non facit saltum (saltus)
Translation: "Nature makes no leaps" i.e. the development of nature is gradual (Maximus Tyrius)
Naturalia non sunt turpia
Translation: "Natural things are not shameful"
Natura abhorret a vacuo.
Translation: "Nature abhors a vacuum."
Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse.
Translation: "To sail is necessary, to live is not necessary," Attributed by Plutarch to Gnaeus Pompeius who, during a severe storm, commanded sailors to bring food from Africa to Rome
Ne nuntium necare
Translation: "Don't kill the messenger"
Ne quid nimis
Translation: "Not too much", moderation in all thing (Terence)
Ne sutor supra crepidam
Translation: "Shoemaker, not above the sandal", do not criticise things you know nothing of (Pliny the Elder)
Nec Hercules contra duos.
Translation: "Even Hercules [can't] against two"
Nemo iudex in causa sua.
Translation: "No-one is a judge in his own case".
Nemo me impune lacessit.
Translation: "No-one attacks me with impunity," the Scots national motto.
Nemo saltat sobrius
Translation: "Nobody dances sober" (Cicero)
Neque ignorare [medicum] oportet quae sit aegri natura.
Translation: "Nor does it behoove [the doctor] to ignore the sick man's temperament." A. Cornelius Celsus, 'De Medicina', Prooemium.
Nihil lacrima citius arescit.
Translation: "Nothing dries more quickly than a tear."
Nil admirari
Translation: "To not admire anything" you shouldn't let yourself be taken away by anything (Horace)
Nil satis nisi optimum
Translation: "Nothing but the best is good enough."
Nil sine magno labore vita dedit mortalibus
Translation: "life does not give mortals anything but hard labor" (Horace)
Nil sine numine.
Translation: "Nothing without Providence," the motto of Colorado.
Noli turbare circulos meos
Translation: "Don't move my circles" commonly attributed last words of Archimedes
Nomen est omen.
Translation: "A name is an omen."
Nomina sunt odiosa
Translation: "Names are odious" (Cicero)
Non bis in idem.
Translation: "Not twice in the same (matter)." Legal principle forbidding Double jeopardy.
Non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum.
Translation: "It is not every man's lot to go to Corinth" Corinth was at this time known for its many and lavish brothels
Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo.
Translation: "I was not, I was, I am not, I don't care." (found on tombstones abbreviated NFFNSNC)
Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum
Translation: "Not everybody is granted [the privilege of] going to Corinth" (Horace, epistles I, 17, 36)
Non nobis solum nati sumus
Translation: "We are not born for ourselves alone"
Non olet
Translation: "It [money] doesn't smell" (according to Suetonius, Emperor Vespasian was challenged by his son Titus for taxing the public lavatories, the emperor held up a coin before his son and asked whether it smelled)
Non omnia possumus omnes.
Translation: "All of us cannot do everything." (Virgil)
Non scholae, sed vitae discimus.
Translation: "We learn not for school but for life." (Original quotation Seneca's is "Non vitae, sed scholae discimus")
Non ut edam vivo, sed ut vivam edo.
Translation: "I don't live to eat, but I eat to live."
Non vestimentum virum ornat, sed vir vestimentum.
Translation: "Not the raiment graces the man, but the man the raiment."
Non vini vi no, sed vi no aquae.
Translation: "I swim not thanks to the wine, but thanks to the water."
Nondum amabam, et amare amabam.
Translation: "I did not love, even if I yearned to love."
Nosce te ipsum!
Translation: "Know thyself!" (Cicero, from the Greek gnothi seauton, on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi). See also: Temet nosce
Nulla dies sine linea.
Translation: "No day without a line."
Nulla est medicina sine lingua Latina.
Translation: "Medicine is nothing without Latin."
Nulla poena sine lege
Translation: "No punishment without a law."
Nulla regula sine exceptione.
Translation: "No rule without exception."
Nulla res tam necessaria est quam medicina.
Translation: "Nothing is so necessary as medicine."
Nunc aut numquam
Translation: "Now or never"
Nunc est bibendum
Translation: "Now it's time to drink" (Horace, Odes I, 37, 1)

O

O fortunatos nimium sua si bona norint, agricolas
Translation: "Oh fortunate farmers [i.e., non-mariners], if only they would see their luck" (Virgil, Georgica 2, 458ff.)
O sancta simplicitas!
Translation: "O sacred vanity" (attributed to Jan Hus as he was burned at the stake)
Obscuris vera involvens
Translation: "Obscurity envelops truth" (Virgil).
Oculi plus vident quam oculus.
Translation: "Several eyes see more than only one."
Oderint dum metuant
"Let them hate, so long as they fear" — attributed by Seneca to the playwright Lucius Accius, and said to be a favourite saying of Caligula.[/size]
Omne ignotum pro magnifico.
Translation: "Everything unknown passes for miraculous."
Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci
Translation: "He has gained every point who has mixed the useful and the agreeable." (Horace)
Omne vivum ex ovo
Translation: "Everything living comes from the egg"
Omnes homines sibi sanitatem cupiunt, saepe autem omnia, quae valetudini contraria sunt, faciunt.
Translation: "All men wish to be healthy, but often they do everything that's disadvantageous to their health."
Omnia mea mecum porto.
Translation: "All that's mine I carry with me."
Omnia vincit amor
Translation: "Love conquers all" More fully, Omnia vincit amor, nos et cedamus amori: "Love conquers all, let us too yield to love" (Virgil, Eclogues 10:69).
Omnium artium medicina nobilissima est.
Translation: "Medicine is the noblest of all arts."
Optimum medicamentum quies est.
Translation: "Peace is the best medicine."
Ora et labora.
Translation: "Pray and work." (Benedictine motto)