One thing to remember about infinitives for today's sayings: the infinitive is like a verb (for example, it can take an accusative object), but it is also a noun. Specifically, it is a neuter noun, so that means it takes a neuter adjective. Here are a few sayings you have already seen with neuter adjectives that agree with an infinitive (I've linked each one to the lesson it comes from if you want to review the notes):
And here is the little slideshow (with cats) of the words in today's sayings that you have seen before:
1. Occasionem rapere prudentis est.
(It) is of-the-prudent-person to-seize (the) opportunity.
occasi-O-nem RA-pere pru-DEN-tis est.
You know all the words in this saying!
The word rapere is the infinitive form of the verb rapit, and it has an accusative object, occasionem, from the noun occasio.
The word prudentis is the genitive of the adjective prudens, being used here as a noun: "prudent (person)."
The idea is that the prudent person (pro-videns) is able to recognize the moment that is full of potential, the opportunity that will pay off in the future.
2. Boni iudicis est ampliare iustitiam.
(It) is of-the-good judge to-expand justice.
boni IU-dicis est ampli-A-re ius-TI-tiam.
The word ampliare is the infinitive form of the verb ampliat, "expands," and as in English "ample" and "amplify." The infinitive has an accusative object, iustititam, from the noun iustitia.
The word iudicis is the genitive of the masculine noun index, and the genitive boni is from the masculine bonus.
There is always a need for more justice in the world!
3. Boni pastoris est tondere pecus, non deglubere.
(It) is of-the-good sheperd to-shave, not flay, (the) sheep.
boni pas-TO-ris est ton-DE-re pecus, non de-GLU-bere.
You have two infinitives in this saying: tondere, which is the infinitive of the verb tondet, "shaves," as in English "tonsure," and deglubere, which is the infinitive of the verb deglubit, "flays, skins."
Notice that tondet / tondere is a 2nd-conjugation verb, so the infinitive stress is on the ending: tond-Ere. The verb deglubere is a 3rd-conjugation verb, stress on the stem: deGLUB-ere.
The word pecus is the accusative form of pecus (yes, it's a neuter noun!), and it is the object of both infinitives.
The word pastoris is the genitive of the masculine noun pastor, which we have taken on in English as "pastor," now most commonly used with its Christian Latin meaning as the "shepherd" of a religious "flock."
The historian Suetonius reports this saying in his biography of the Emperor Tiberius, although "good shepherd" is not the first phrase that comes to mind when you think of Tiberius!
4. Hominis est errare, insipientis vero perseverare.
(It) is of-the-person to-err; (it is) of-the-fool, in fact, to-persist.
HO-minis est er-RA-re, insipi-EN-tis vero perseve-RA-re.
You have two familiar infinitives here: errare and perseverare.
The word hominis is the genitive of the noun homo, while the word insipientis is the genitive of the adjective insipiens, "foolish," being used here as a noun, "foolish (person)." You haven't seen this word before, but you have seen the root word, sapiens; the word insipiens is a compound, in-sapiens, "not-wise, foolish."
The word vero is a form of verum, "true (thing), truth," and means "in truth, in fact, actually." It is a postpositive participle, which means it comes in second position in its clause, never first: insipientis vero.
The word vero is a form of verum, "true (thing), truth," and means "in truth, in fact, actually." It is a postpositive participle, which means it comes in second position in its clause, never first: insipientis vero.
This is yet another variation on a type of saying that you have already seen before in various forms, such as Humanum est errare, divinum condonare and Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum.
5. Errare humanum est, sed in errore perseverare dementis.
To-err is human, but (it is) of-the-madman to-persist.
er-RA-re hu-MA-num est, sed in er-RO-re perseve-RA-re de-MEN-tis.
The adjective humanum is neuter, agreeing with the infinitive errare. You can see this same root in the word errore, which is the ablative of the noun error, as in English "error. The ablative is being used with the preposition in.
The word dementis is the genitive of the adjective demens, "mad," being used here as a noun, "mad(man)." This is a compound: de-mens, "out-of one's mind, demented." You haven't seen this adjective before but you have seen the related noun: dementia.
This is yet another variation on the errare / perseverare type of saying.
Here's a recap:
- Occasionem rapere prudentis est.
- Boni iudicis est ampliare iustitiam.
- Boni pastoris est tondere pecus, non deglubere.
- Hominis est errare, insipientis vero perseverare.
- Errare humanum est, sed in errore perseverare dementis.
Plus the LOLCats!
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