What is My Latin Phrase? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Love conquers all

This saying has been attributed to the ancient Roman poet, Virgil, who lived from 70 BC until 19 AD. His full name was Publius Vergilius Maro and he wrote three of ancient Rome's most famous poems - the "Eclogues", the "Georgics", and the "Aeneid". The highly romantic and somewhat optimistic expression "Omnia vincit Amor" is taken from Eclogue X which is set in a six-year unsettled period of Roman history from 44-38 BC. Eclogue X, which is the last to appear in Virgil's book, features a young poet, pining languidly in an idyllic pastoral setting, where he imagines he is dying of love. Oh blah, blah, no doubt he got over it in time.

Answer: Valor becomes feeble without an opponent

What a terrible endorsement for war. The Roman philosopher and satirist, Seneca the Younger (4BC-65AD) gives us this depressing and all too true statement in his famous essay "de Providentia" (On Providence). This has been translated in more modern times by various writers as "Strength and courage droop without an antagonist" (Aubrey Stewart, 1900); or "without an adversary, prowess shrivels" (John W. Basore, 1928). Surely we have advanced more as a race than to believe that any one person, army or nation prepared for war, must go to war? Oh, but what am I saying? Resting on the desk are the blueprints for a bunker in the back yard - beside the ferocious guard dog's kennel - even as we speak.

Answer: The jackass rubs the jackass

This Latin phrase, author unknown, basically describes two people who are trying to outdo each other with their use of extravagant compliments, flattery and praise of one another. It smacks of insincerity and I wouldn't trust either of them an inch. Given the bloody times and constant stabbings and poisonings in ye old Roman days, that's probably sound advice.

A more up to date example of the above Latin expression can be seen now and then with the meetings in the political world between two heads of state.

It's positively nauseating at times with their fulsome words of praise, long lingering handshakes, oozing compliments, and eternal vows of friendship. They're just as likely the following week to blow each other out of the water.

Answer: Wise as far as the beard

To apply this phrase to a man (obviously) with a beard - a facial growth once associated with age and wisdom - means that that person in fact is a bit of a dill, and wise only as far as his beard is supposed to indicate. There's not much going on between the ears in other words. This was one of the many expressions found in a collection of adages by the Dutch humanist, theologian, social critic and teacher, Erasmus of Rotterdam (1456-1536). This famous thinker spent five years of his long life at Queen's College, Cambridge (England) and was invited to spend the remainder of it there, but although he loved the great minds he met during the course of his studies and lectures in that country, he absolutely detested the English ale - and the English weather.

Did you know that in the Renaissance period of history, it was believed that a cure for gallstones was to drink lots of wine? It wouldn't have had any effect on the gallstones at all, but you'd be so pie-eyed you wouldn't have felt the pain. Now that's true wisdom.

Answer: Distinguished by its swans

This Latin pun is based round their words for "Swan" and "distinguished", the author of which is unknown. It is also the motto for Western Australia, the largest state in this nation. Certainly it is famous for its beautiful and graceful black swans, one of the loveliest birds ever created, but Western Australia is far more than that.

It is a huge area of land, one third the size of the entire country, and famous for its awesome geology, its deserts, its wildlife, its beauty, its sea life, its mining, its history and its fiercely independent residents.

These include Fun Trivia member, Mommakat, as interesting a character as you'll ever meet, but who hasn't been very well lately. Perhaps then, Western Australia's motto should really be "Mommakat insignis" - distinguished by its Mommakat.

Answer: Be suspicious about everything

Also expressed as "doubt everything", this Latin term has been attributed to famous French philosopher, Rene Descartes (1596-1650), he of the "Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am) fame. "De Omonibus Dubitandum Est" was also the title of a later book written by the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Yet again, it has become associated with the German philosopher and revolutionary socialist, Karl Marx (1818-1883) because it was considered his favourite motto. What a jolly lot of dinner guests they'd make.

They'd even look at the jelly suspiciously.

Answer: Do not trust the horse

This term is taken from "Aeneid", a work by the ancient Roman poet, Virgil, who lived from 70-19 BC. It is a reference to the deceit of the Greek forces who used trickery in the gift of a large wooden horse as a "gift" to the residents of Troy, but who had hidden a highly trained group of men inside the large structure. That night, after the Greeks had pretended to sail away, those probably half suffocated fellows crept out of the belly of the horse and unlocked the gates to the city, allowing for the onslaught of the Greek army.

This trick gave rise to the later expression of "Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes" which translates to "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts". In the context in which "Equo ne credite" is written, it certainly is more than appropriate, but as a general saying, it's a little difficult to work into an everyday conversation today - unless of course you're at the races.

Answer: I once was what you are, you will be what I am

This highly depressing reminder of our mortality hammers home the end destination for all of us in a less than subtle fashion. Those Ancient Romans must have been a gloomy bunch in spite of all their feasts and orgies - or possibly because of them. Death, however, was a constant companion in that period of history. This Latin expression was a frequent inscription on the graves of Roman soldiers. The higher up ones, that is. The poor little common soldier was probably just hurled into the Tiber on his demise.

Answer: Man is a bubble

This Latin term was written by the Ancient Roman scholar and writer, Varo (116-27 BC). He lived to be a great old age for those times. It is part of the first line in his work "Rerum Rusticarum Libri Tres", a set of books with the full English title "Three Books on Agriculture". What that has to do with man being a bubble is anybody's guess.

The full first line of this work is "Quod, ut dicitur, si est homo bulla, eo magis senex". That translates to "For if, as they say, man is a bubble, all the more so is an old man". Perhaps it refers to the beautiful and bittersweet fleeting gift of life. Perhaps it means we're all going to pop off one day. Or perhaps it's an insulting comment that all old men are full of gas.

Answer: In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king

This expression appears in the work "Adagia", written around 1500 by Erasmus of Rotterdam. Many people interpret it to mean that in a country or state where nobody has any talent at all, somebody with even a little bit of talent will shine above the rest. Certainly this could be one meaning, but it seems to be much deeper and more meaningful than that.

It could be a search for knowledge from the darkness of ignorance, and that only a few people are given the ability to comprehend that knowledge for the benefit of all mankind. Or a search for the meaning of life, for faith in a greater power than that experienced by man - and refers to a rare individual who has found the secret to it all. Or it could even mean anyone who has within themselves the power of great leadership in any field. Certainly these all could be described as having talent - but talent taken to its greatest degree.