The use of aphorisms in colloquial speech is so familiar that the interlocutors often do not even think whose particular statement they used to embellish their speech. It turns out that most of them belong to people who lived in Ancient Greece or Rome, as well as philosophers of the Middle Ages.
Latin aphorisms are most often used when they want to add weight to their words. People of that era were able to observe the world and what fills it, and leave their opinions on this subject in brief statements.
The wisdom of the ancients
The civilizations of the ancient Greeks and Romans are characterized by the development of sciences, culture and art. A large amount of evidence that people of that time were highly educated has come down to our days. As is characteristic of all civilizations, they have a beginning, prosperity and decline.
What the ancient Sumerians knew about space, the exact sciences and the universe, the Greeks rediscovered, followed by the Romans. When their civilization fell into decay, the dark Middle Ages came when sciences were banned. Scientists had to restore a lot, including lost knowledge. It is not without reason that it says that everything new is well forgotten old.
The same thing happened with the statements of ancient philosophers and historical figures. Latin worldly aphorisms forever captured their worldly wisdom and observation. With the translation into Russian, they became ordinary expressions, helping either to convey to the audience the importance or accuracy of the information, or to show the speaker's erudition and his sense of humor.
For example, when someone makes a mistake, it is often said that it is human nature to make mistakes, not knowing that these words belong to the Roman orator Mark Annei Seneca the Elder, who lived in 55-37 BC. e. Many famous personalities of antiquity left behind aphorisms that have become everyday expressions in our time.
Statements by Caesar
One of the most prominent personalities of his time, which has become famous for all time, is Gaius Julius Caesar. This talented politician and great commander was a decisive and courageous man who left behind statements that reveal his personality.
For example, his phrase Alea jacta est (die cast) during the passage of the Rubicon during a military campaign led him to complete power over the Roman Empire. For future generations, it began to mean that there is no turning back, and it is pronounced when they decide on something.
Caesar’s Latin aphorisms are brief, but very informative. When he defeated the king of the Bosporus kingdom Farnak in the next campaign, he described her with just three words: “Veni, vidi, vici” (he came, saw, won).
The well-known phrase "Every blacksmith of his own destiny" is the life credo of this great man.
Aphorisms of Cicero
Mark Tullius Cicero lived from 106 to 43 years. BC e. and in 63 years he managed to be a statesman, and a politician, and an orator, and a philosopher. An unusually gifted person, he left behind such wise works as “On Laws”, “On the State” and others.
The Latin aphorisms of Cicero are translated into other languages and are famous throughout the world. His expression "About time, about manners" has become winged, especially among people who are always dissatisfied with everything. No less famous is his statement "Habit is second nature." It has become so commonplace that many of those who mention it would be surprised to learn that they are quoting an ancient Roman philosopher.
The infamous phrase “A thin world is better than war”, uttered during times of war and armistice, also belongs to Cicero.
Statements by Marcus Aurelius
Latin aphorisms about life open before modern people the worldview of long-dead philosophers and statesmen. For example, philosophical notes of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, who lived from 121-180 CE. e., characterize him as a smart and insightful person.
Marcus Aurelius belonged to the Stoics and was not only an emperor, but also a philosopher. He wrote down his thoughts about the time in which he lived, with a kind of diary, which he called "Alone with himself." He was not going to make his thoughts public, but history judged otherwise. Now they can be met by anyone who wants to know whose phrases he uses in his speech.
“Our life is what we think of it, ” say many personal growth trainers and psychologists, quoting the wise emperor. It is amazing that this was known to a person who lived 2000 years ago, and that today people are taught for the money to understand this phrase so that they can change their lives.
Ut si diem mortis meae and Dum nemo non sentit felix felicis - “Live as if you must die now”, “Not a single person is happy until he considers himself happy” - these are Latin aphorisms, with the translation of which not only modern philosophers agree, but also just people thinking about their lives. So expressed the emperor of ancient Rome, Marcus Aurelius.
Aphorisms of Seneca Lucius Annea
The great educator of Nero, a philosopher, poet and politician, Seneca left to his descendants numerous philosophical and literary works imbued with his wisdom and understanding of the processes occurring in life.
The most famous Latin aphorisms belonging to his pen are still relevant today. “Poor is not the one who has little, but the one who wants more” is one of his sayings, which are uttered when they speak of a greedy person, a corrupt official or politician.
Since the time of Seneca, little has changed in human nature. “If you cannot change the world, change your attitude to this world” - such Latin aphorisms with translation into numerous languages are pronounced today by politicians, psychologists, homegrown philosophers and those who are engaged in personal growth. In most cases, no one remembers the name of the author of these lines.
This is the sad fate of all the great people who left behind them eternal sayings.
Aphorisms in everyday speech
How often can one hear a wise saying from the lips of relatives and friends, politicians and television announcers, psychologists and old women on the bench at the entrance? Everyday. Repeating Latin aphorisms about love, life or political events in the country, people each time say something that the philosophers of antiquity thought about more than 2000 years ago.
“Better late than never, ” say latecomers today, pronouncing the phrase spoken by Titus Livius, the author of The History of Rome.
When troubles happen and a friend comes to the rescue, in different countries people say that a friend is known in need, each time confirming with his life experience the words of Petronius Arbiter, the author of the novel "Satyricon".
But not only in ancient Rome were philosophers and sages who left their statements to descendants that are relevant even after so many centuries. In the Middle Ages, there were also thinkers who deserved to be repeated.
Wisdom of the Middle Ages
Although in many history textbooks the Middle Ages is called gloomy, bright minds lived at that time, which left behind a significant legacy.
Many philosophers and politicians learned wisdom from their ancient predecessors, but the experience of past centuries did not prevent them from making new discoveries. For example, the great mathematician, philosopher, physicist and metaphysician from France, Rene Descartes, was the founder of a philosophy based on the duality of body and soul.
Among his famous sayings are such as “I think, then I exist” (Cogito, ergo sum) and “Doubt everything” (Quae quaestio). He was the first to determine that there is a connection between a lifeless body and soul.
The great philosopher from Holland Baruch Spinoza left behind the vital statements that are relevant to this day. For example, “As soon as you imagine that you are not able to complete a certain task, from that moment its implementation becomes impossible for you” (Quondam posse putes fungi circa negotia eius tibi nunc turpis impossibilis evadat). This is exactly what modern coaches teach on personal growth when working on consciousness.
Great minds devoted their thoughts not only to philosophy and politics, but also to love and friendship.
Friendship Aphorisms
Friendship has been appreciated at all times. Poems and poems were dedicated to her; the best minds of mankind spoke of her. Friendship Latin aphorisms that have survived to this day:
- "Without true friendship, life is nothing, " said Cicero;
- “A friend is one soul living in two bodies” - the words of Aristotle;
- “Friendship ends where distrust begins, ” said Seneca;
- “The friendship that stopped never actually started, ” Publius thought so.
People of that time were not much different emotionally from representatives of the XXI century. They were friends, hated, betrayed and in love just as people did at all times.
