March 7th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Gutta cavat lapidem."
"Gutta cavat lapidem."
"The drop [of water] hollows out the stone," id est, not by force but by continually dripping.
~ Publius Ovidius Naso (43 B.C.E. - c. 18 C.E.), Epistulae Ex Ponto IV.10.5
Nonis Martiis anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI
March 6th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Res rustica sic est: si unam rem sero feceris, omnia opera sero facies."
"Res rustica sic est: si unam rem sero feceris, omnia opera sero facies."
"Thus it is with country life (or "with farming"): if you do one thing late, you do all your tasks late."
~ Marcus Porcius Cato Maior (Cato the Elder; 234 - 149 B.C.E.), De Agri Cultura V.7
Pridie Nonas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI
March 5th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "ad captandum vulgus"
"ad captandum vulgus," sometimes just "ad captandum"
"for the purpose of winning over the common people," "for the sake of capturing the goodwill of the masses" - sometimes shortened to just ad captandum "for the sake of capturing" (where "the attention and goodwill of the mob" is understood). The implication is usually that something done ad captandum (vulgus) is being done cynically - not for any real good reason, except how it looks, how it "plays" with the masses.
a.d. III Nonas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI
March 4th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Ad Kalendas Graecas."
"Ad Kalendas Graecas," sometimes with the spelling "ad Calendas Graecas"
"At the Greek Kalends," "to the Greek Kalends" = NEVER. The Kalends (sometimes spelled Calends) were a feature of the ancient Roman calendar, marking the beginning of a new month. The ancient Greek calendar did not have Kalends, however. So "at the Greek Kalends" was a way of saying "never," since it implied waiting for the Kalends in a calendar that had no Kalends.
a.d. IV Nonas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI
March 3rd, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Ad astra per aspera."
"Ad astra per aspera."
"Through hardships to the stars," or "to the stars through difficulties."
~ Motto of the state of Kansas; the path to the stars is apparently not an easy one . . .
a.d. V Nonas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI
March 2nd, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Occasio facit furem."
"Occasio facit furem."
"Opportunity makes a thief." (attributed as a medieval proverb)
a.d. VI Nonas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI
March 1st, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Qui vicit non est victor nisi victus fatetur."
"Qui vicit non est victor nisi victus fatetur."
"One who wins is not the winner unless the defeated admits it."
~ Quintus Ennius (c. 239 - c, 169 B.C.E.), Annales, location uncertain
Kalendis Martiis anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI
