And here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before, and I think this is the first time that you already know all the words in today's sayings!
And here are today's proverbs:
1. Bibe, si bibis.
Drink, if you're-drinking.
bibe, si bibis.
The word bibis is the 2nd-person form of the verb bibit. You also get the imperative form of that same verb: bibe!
These words can be found in the Roman playwright Plautus, and you have to imagine people drinking or pouring from a shared goblet of wine: the idea is that you need to take a drink if you are going to take a drink and then pass the cup... the next drinker is waiting!
2. Ride, si sapis.
Laugh, if you're-wise.
ride, si sapis.
The word sapis is the 2nd-person form of the verb sapit.
2. Ride, si sapis.
Laugh, if you're-wise.
ride, si sapis.
The word sapis is the 2nd-person form of the verb sapit.
The word ride is the imperative form of the verb ridet (that's a 2nd-conjugation verb, as you can see from the e in ridet).
The advice comes from the Roman poet Martial, who had a keen sense of the absurdity of life. If you are wise, as Martial is, you will laugh at all the absurdity you observe. (In the poem, Martial says he is quoting the poet "Paelignus," i.e. Ovid: Latin / English). This comes from the first line of the poem, and here is the final line: plora, si sapis, "weep, if you are wise."
Compare the English saying, "You've either got to laugh or cry."
3. Vive dum vivis.
Live while you're-alive.
vive dum vivis.
The word vivis is the 2nd-person form of the verb vivit. You also get the imperative form of that same verb: vive!
3. Vive dum vivis.
Live while you're-alive.
vive dum vivis.
The word vivis is the 2nd-person form of the verb vivit. You also get the imperative form of that same verb: vive!
This is one of the "carpe diem" type of sayings: today does not come again, so live it up while you can!
4. Dum vivis, sperare decet.
While you're-alive, it's-appropriate to-have-hope.
dum vivis, spe-RA-re decet.
The verb decet is an impersonal verb, and it takes an infinitive complement; the word sperare is the infinitive form of the verb sperat. So, "it is appropriate," decet, "to hope, to have hope," sperare.
4. Dum vivis, sperare decet.
While you're-alive, it's-appropriate to-have-hope.
dum vivis, spe-RA-re decet.
The verb decet is an impersonal verb, and it takes an infinitive complement; the word sperare is the infinitive form of the verb sperat. So, "it is appropriate," decet, "to hope, to have hope," sperare.
This is one of those "dum spiro spero" type of sayings: so long as there is life, you should not give up hope.
5. Dum quaeris, hora fugit.
While you're-seeking, time is-fleeing.
dum quaeris, hora fugit.
The word quaeris is the 2nd-person form of the verb quaerit.
5. Dum quaeris, hora fugit.
While you're-seeking, time is-fleeing.
dum quaeris, hora fugit.
The word quaeris is the 2nd-person form of the verb quaerit.
The word hora can mean "hour," but it can also mean "time" in general, something like the idiomatic use of the phrase of "the hour" in English, i.e. "The hour has come..." = "The time has come..."
This is one of those Latin sayings engraved on sundials, the idea being that just at the moment that are seeking to know what time it is, time itself is running away. It only takes a moment for the moment of now to escape into the past!
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- Bibe, si bibis.
- Ride, si sapis.
- Vive dum vivis.
- Dum vivis, sperare decet.
- Dum quaeris, hora fugit.
Plus the LOLCats!
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