Latin Via Proverbs: Home - Previous - Next

Group 166: Latin

2135. Pareo, non servio.

2136. Audio, sed taceo.

2137. Nil scio nisi nescio.

2138. Hoc solum scio: nihil scio.

2139. Tu dormis et tempus ambulat.

2140. Vides horam, nescis tuam.

2141. Nescitis diem neque horam.

2142. Feriunt omnes, ultima necat.

2143. Feriunt summos fulgura montes.

2144. Multi multa sapiunt et seipsos nesciunt.

2145. Gaudia post luctus veniunt, post gaudia luctus.

Study Guide

2135. I obey; I do not serve. (This is a popular family motto.)

2136. I listen, but am silent. (This too is a family motto.)

2137. I know nothing except that I know not. (You can find this phrase in Plautus.)

2138. This one thing I know: I know nothing. (This is sometimes known as the "Socratic Ignorance Paradox." You can find it in many forms in Latin: Unum scio me nihil scire, etc.)

2139. You are sleeping, and time is walking. (This saying is attributed to Saint Ambrose. You can also find it in this form: Tu enim dormis, et tempus tuum ambulat. The relevant Biblical passage is Ephesians: surge qui dormis.)

2140. You see the time; you do not know yours. (This is another Latin sundial inscription.)

2141. You do not know the day nor the hour. (This is from the Gospel of Matthew: Vigilate itaque quia nescitis diem neque horam.)

2142. They all wound; the last one kills. (This proverb is like a riddle: the missing word is hora. I saw this inscribed on the city clock in Conegliano, Itay.)

2143. The bolts of lightning strike the high mountains. (You can find this saying in Horace.)

2144. Many people understand many things and do not know themselves. (This saying of Saint Bernard makes an appearance in Piers Plowman.)

2145. Joys come after sorrows; after joys, sorrows. (This is an epigram of John Owen: Gaudia post luctus veniunt, post gaudia luctus. / Semper in ambiguo, speve metuve, sumus.)