Color Text

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: October 15

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): Idus Octobres, the Ides of October.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Hylas and the Nymphs, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Arte non vi (English: By skill, not force).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Ovem in fronte, vulpem in corde gerit (English: He has the face of a sheep but the heart of a wolf).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Divitiae si affluant, nolite cor apponere (English: If riches abound, do not set your heart on them).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἐχῖνος τὸν τόκον ἀναβάλλει (English: The hedgehog puts off giving birth... but the longer the hedgehog mom waits, the pricklier the little one becomes, and the harder the birth will be!).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Currus Mentis. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Ut ameris, amabilis esto.

To be loved, be lovable.

Nulli iniuria facienda.

Do wrong to no one.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is De lusu et severitate, a story about taking time to relax: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De vulpe, lupo et simio, a story about two criminals who go to court: Latin text and English versions.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: October 8

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem octavum Idus Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Odysseus and Circe, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Coniunctio firmat (English: Unity strengthens).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Rana gyrina sapientior (English: The frog is wiser than the tadpole)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Stulti est compedes, licet aureas, amare (English: It is for a fool to love fetters, even though they be golden). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Mustelae crocoton (English: Like a wedding dress for a weasel; from Adagia 1.2.72... the weasel was a proverbial old maid, so she has no need for a wedding dress!).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Orbis Minor. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Longae regum manus.

Long are the hands of kings.

Amor metu vacat.

Love is free from fear.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Apes et fuci, a story about a discerning judge: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De formica et musca, in which the ant rebukes the boastful fly: Latin text and English versions.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: September 27

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem quintum Kalendas Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Odysseus and the Shades, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Nil recrastines (English: Put nothing off until tomorrow).

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Tam deest avaro, quod habet, quam quod non habet (English: The miser lacks both what he has as well as what he doesn't).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Liberorum amantior quam Gello (English: More fond of children than Gello; from Adagia 2.8.28... Gello was something like La Llorona, a woman who had no children of her own who then as a ghost would attack or steal children; see the highly detailed article at Wikipedia for more information).

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Principium dimidium totius: The beginninge is halfe the hole. There be manie greate delayers. Longe they be ere they can be perswaded to set upon an honest act, so manie perils they cast. To morrow, to morrow they say wee will begin, but this to morrow is ever comming but never present, wherfore who so with good courage ventureth uppon his matters, hat alredy half done.

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Vera Fortitudo. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Aliud agendi tempus, aliud quiescendi.

There's a time for working and a time for resting.

Cum inimico nemo in gratiam tuto redit.

No one safely returns into good favor with an enemy.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Pullus ad margaritam, a story about discernment: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De musca et mulo, a story about boasting: Latin text and English versions.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: September 19

There's been another unexpected hiatus (life! it's ... chaotic!), but here's a new round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. 

Also, I learned about something handy from Bill Thayer at Twitter recently: for those of you who do a lot of typing in Greek on a Mac, check out Ἑλληνική — Polytonic Greek Converter for Typinator. I do most of my work on a Chromebook, so TypeGreek.com continues to be my Greek typewriter of choice.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Deucalion and Pyrrha, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Sidus adsit amicum (English: May my lucky star attend me).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Caritas omnia potest (English: Love can do all things).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Discat, qui nescit, nam sic sapientia crescit (English: Let him learn what he does not know, for thus does wisdom grow).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Diligite iustitiam, qui iudicatis terram (Wisdom 1:1). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Animi Fluctus. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Lege: sapere aude!

Read: dare to know!

Quaerendo invenietis.

By seeking you will find.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Socrates ad amicos., a story about the famous philosopher: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De graculo et pavonibus, in which "Fine feathers do not always make fine birds." Here's the Latin text and English versions.

And here's a LatinLOLBaby follow-up to that Labor Day post, with thoughts about Latin labor (the post is in English!): In sudore vultus tui vesceris pane.

LABOR OMNIA VINCIT

Today is the Labor Day holiday in the United States, and the state motto of Oklahoma (I teach for the University of Oklahoma online) is LABOR OMNIA VINCIT. So I made these LOLCats to share with my students on Monday in honor of Labor Day, and here is more information about Oklahoma's state motto: Labor omnia vincit.

Cheezburger cat links: one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven.