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More Latin Phrases Trivia Quiz

When education was still a more elitist matter, it was seen as 'good style' to spice up one's letters, speeches and writings with a few Latin phrases. In this quiz you find a few relics of such more Latin-minded ages.

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
flem-ish

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
66,392

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2337

Last 3 plays: Guest 166 (5/10), Guest 78 (4/10), Guest 60 (6/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. What is meant by: Qui cito dat, bis dat? Hint

Who gives quickly, gives twice.

Giving with enthusiasm counts twice.

Who gives with a pure heart, gives twice.

Who gives with a loving heart, gives a double present.

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2. 'Latet anguis in herba'. This means? Hint

Look, there is an eel slipping away through the grass.

The grass is wet with dew.

There is a snake in the grass.

Let's sit down in the grass.

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3. 'Ubi bene, ibi patria.' Adapted from Cicero, Tusc. 5, 57. Means? Hint

Where I feel o.k., there is my home.

East, West, home is best.

When I am at home, I feel o.k.

Right or wrong, my country.

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4. Fas est ab hoste doceri. Hint

You should not try to be more moral than the enemy himself is.

There is no law against learning a few tricks from your enemy.

Trust your own strength and don't try to copy enemy tactics.

It is good manners for a guest to take some language lessons from his host.

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5. Amantium irae amoris integratio est. Hint

Quarrels kill love.

A lot of quarrels ironically enough end in love-making.

A lot of love affairs begin with a little quarrel.

Quarrels between lovers often make their love more solid.

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6. Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo. What makes holes in stone according to this quote ? Hint

Repeated drops of water

Repeated beating of the stone

Repeated dropping of the stone

Rhythmic beating of the stone

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7. 'Mens agitat molem' is a quote from Virgil's De Aeneis. 6, 727. What does it mean? Hint

The human mind is usually as slow as a mole.

Matter is moved by mind.

The human mind moves like a mill.

It's the human mind that invented mills.

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8. What is meant by the label given to a book 'in usum delphini'? Hint

For students who prefer to read the summary rather than the full text

With footnotes for the poor student

With 'adult' passages removed

In large print for those with weakening eye-sight

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9. What did Seneca the Younger mean in his seventh letter by the maxim: Docendo discimus? Hint

The best method of teaching is by making long speeches

We learn by teaching.

You assimilate a text best by repeatedly reading it out loudly

There is no better method of studying than learning to recite by heart

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10. 'Non scholae sed vitae discimus' is also a quotation from Seneca the Younger.(106th letter). What view on education does it express? Hint

All education is bunk

We do not learn for school, but for life

The only purpose of going to school is getting a degree

Life is the best teacher

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is meant by: Qui cito dat, bis dat?

Answer: Who gives quickly, gives twice.

Cito can be found back in the famous Olympic motto : 'Citius, altius, fortius'. 'Ever faster, stronger, higher' is the goal that athletes set themselves.

2. 'Latet anguis in herba'. This means?

Answer: There is a snake in the grass.

Anguis can be found in French anguille for eel. A 'snakelike fish'.

3. 'Ubi bene, ibi patria.' Adapted from Cicero, Tusc. 5, 57. Means?

Answer: Where I feel o.k., there is my home.

The original is: 'Patria est ubique est bene'.

4. Fas est ab hoste doceri.

Answer: There is no law against learning a few tricks from your enemy.

Doceri is the passive of docere to teach. Literally the saying translates as: 'It is permitted to be taught by the enemy.' 'Nefas' means what is not permitted and damaging. Related to French 'nefaste' and English 'nefarious'.

5. Amantium irae amoris integratio est.

Answer: Quarrels between lovers often make their love more solid.

Literally: the moments of anger between two lovers are or lead to the 'completion', 'perfection' of their love. In French 'un amant' is a (secret) lover.

6. Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo. What makes holes in stone according to this quote ?

Answer: Repeated drops of water

'Cavare' can be found in 'excavation'. Vis = strength. Related to vigour, vigorous. Cadere=to fall. Related to {accident;} incident. Cadenza is the rhythmic 'falling' of the beats. Saepe = often. Gutta = French 'goutte', 'drop'.

7. 'Mens agitat molem' is a quote from Virgil's De Aeneis. 6, 727. What does it mean?

Answer: Matter is moved by mind.

Molestare = using your strength in an unpleasant way against {somebody;} using violence.

8. What is meant by the label given to a book 'in usum delphini'?

Answer: With 'adult' passages removed

Delphinus is related to French 'dauphin' , the son of the King and his future successor. The education of a King's son was the task of the best educators and preceptors of the realm. It was their role to teach the Prince cautiously without letting him slip off onto bad habits and less virtuous behaviour. Cp. Mentor teaching Telemachus, Ulysses' son.

In 17th century the French bishop Fenelon wrote a famous Telemachia or 'education of Telemachus', meant for the French dauphin. The French word 'dauphin' is etymologically related to English dolphin and to the French province of Dauphiny, of which the successor to the throne was traditionally made the prince. Cp. Prince of Wales in Britain.

9. What did Seneca the Younger mean in his seventh letter by the maxim: Docendo discimus?

Answer: We learn by teaching.

The idea that lies behind this 'maxim' is that to explain something to an audience you have first to refine your own understanding of it. Seneca the Younger was born in 4BC at Cordoba {;} Messalina, the debauched Empress, had him banished to Corsica in 41 AD but Agrippina called him back and made him the educator of her son Nero. 12 years after Nero acceded to the throne he forced his ex-teacher to commit suicide, which illustrates that even the best teachers cannot always reform a corrupt soul.

10. 'Non scholae sed vitae discimus' is also a quotation from Seneca the Younger.(106th letter). What view on education does it express?

Answer: We do not learn for school, but for life

A more literal translation would be "We do not learn for school, but for life".

Henry Ford said that 'history was bunk' - an opinion which can be safely disregarded, as inventing and perfecting car-models is not proof of any educative talent. Of course life may be a good teacher, but it often teaches the hard way.

Source: Author flem-ish

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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Most Recent Scores

Jun 03 2023 : Guest 166: 5/10
May 27 2023 : Guest 78: 4/10
Apr 21 2023 : Guest 60: 6/10

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