Can anyone think of any witty or inspirational Latin phrases? I have a Latin phrase project. I googled Latin phrases, but a lot of phrases are modern day ones, only in Latin. For my project, they must be ancient Latin phrases (or at least appear that way). Thank you.

There's a wonderful little book originally printed in 1960 called Winnie Ille Pu by A. A. Milne, translated by Alexander Lenard. There's LOTS of wit in there!

It's not ancient Latin, but it's very faithfully translated into classical Latin by Lenard. See if you can find this in your library or bookstore. It's great fun!

If you can find anything by the playwright Plautus, you'll "hit a gold mine"!!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=plautus+witty+latin+sayings

Here is what my "google" came up with

http://www.thetipsbank.com/latinthinkers.htm

and do not forget the universal motherly advise...

Semper ubi sub ubi.

Reiny -- LOL!!!

Certainly! Here are a few ancient Latin phrases that you can consider for your project:

1. Carpe Diem - This well-known phrase means "seize the day." It was coined by the Roman poet Horace and can be traced back to his work "Odes."

2. Veni, Vidi, Vici - This phrase translates to "I came, I saw, I conquered." It was famously said by Julius Caesar to describe his swift victory in the Battle of Zela.

3. Alea iacta est - This phrase means "the die is cast." It was said by Julius Caesar as he crossed the Rubicon River, symbolizing his decision to start a civil war.

4. Dum Spiro Spero - This phrase translates to "while I breathe, I hope." It is an encouragement to remain optimistic in the face of challenges and is attributed to Cicero.

5. Memento Mori - This phrase means "remember that you must die." It serves as a reminder of mortality and was used in ancient Rome to avoid complacency or arrogance.

To find more ancient Latin phrases, one way is to consult classical texts such as those written by Roman authors like Cicero, Virgil, Ovid, and Seneca. You can search for their works in translation and identify Latin phrases within them. Additionally, Latin dictionaries or phrasebooks specifically focused on ancient Latin can be useful resources.

Keep in mind that when using these phrases for your project, it's important to provide proper attribution and context.