Phrases used as mottos on Sundials
(priamarily in Latin, some in French and Italian)
WHAT an antique air had the now almost effaced sun-dials, with their moral inscriptions, seeming coevals with that Time which they measured, and to take their revelations of its flight immediately from Heaven, holding correspondence with the fountain of light! How would the dark line steal imperceptibly on, watched by the eye of childhood, eager to detect its movement, never catched, nice as an evanescent cloud, or the first arrests of sleep!..
Charles Lamb. Essays of Elia
See also:
Latin quotes and sayings
ABSQUE SOLE, ABSQUE USU - Without sun, without use
AGE QUOD AGIS - Do what you are doing
ALIIS INSERVIENDO CONSUMOR - By serving others, I am worn away
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS - Art lasts, life is short
ASPICE ET ABI - Look (at me) and pass on
ASPICE ME - Look upon me
BULLA EST VITA HUMANA - Human life is a bubble
DEO FAVENTE - With God's favour
DEUS ADEST LABORANTIBUS - God favors the diligent
DEUS EST LUMEN LUMINIS - God is the light of light
DIES DIEM TRUDIT - Each day forces out another day
DISCE BENE VIVERE & MORI - Learn to live well and to die well
DISCE DIES NUMERARE TUOS - Learn to value your days
DUM SPECTAS FUGIO - I flee even as you observe me
EX HOC MOMENTO PENDET AETERNITAS - Eternity is hinged upon this moment
FESTINA LENTE - Make haste slowly
HINC VIVERE DISCE,
HOMO QUASI UMBRA - A man is like a shadow
HORA PARS VITAE - Every hour is a part of life
ICH DIEN - I serve (German)
ILLINC DISCE MORI - Learn to live on this side, learn to live on the other side (i.e. of the sundial)
IN COELO QUIES - In heaven is rest
IO VADE E VEGNO OGNI GIORNO, MA TU ANDRAI SENZA RITORNO - I go and come every day, but thou shalt go without returning (Italian)
ITA VITA - Thus (passes) life
LABOR IPSE VOLUPTAS - Labor contains pleasure
last one to shine upon you
LEX DEI, LUX DEI - The law of God, the light of God
MORA TRAHIT PERICULUM - Delay engenders perils
MUNDI OCULUS - The eye of the world
NE QUID PEREAT - Let nothing be lost
NEMO SINE CRIMINE VIVIT - Nobody lives sinlessly
NIL SINE NOBIS - Nothing exists without us
NON NOBIS NATI SUMUS - We are not born for ourselves
NON REDIBO - I shall not return
NON SINE LUMINE - Not without light
NOSCE TEIPSUM - Know thyself
OMNEM CREDE DIEM TIBI DILUXISSE SUPREMUM - Assume that every day is the
OMNIA FALCE METIT TEMPUS - Time reaps everything with its sickle
OMNIA FERT AETAS - Time brings all things
OMNIBUS LUCET - It shines for all
PER I FELICI ED I TRISTI SEGNO UGULAMENTE LE ORE - For the happy and the sad, I mark the hours alike (Itaian)
POST TENEBRAS SPERO LUCEM - I hope for light after darkness
POST VOLUPTATEM MISERICORDIA - After pleasure - pity
QUALIS VITA, FINIS ITA - Each life has an end that suits it
QUID CELERIUS TEMPORE? - What is swifter than time?
SAPIENTIS EST NUMERARE - It is the wise who count
SENZA PALAR DA TUTTI SON INTESO. SENZA PALESO FAR RUMOR L'ORA - Without speaking, I am understood by all, without a noise, I reveal the hour (Italian)
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI - Thus passes the glory of this world
SILENS LOQUOR - THOUGH SILENT, I SPEAK SINE SOLE SILEO - Without sun, I am silent
SINE UMBRA NIHIL - Without shadow nothing
SOL DEUS VISIBILIS, DEUS SOL INVISIBILIS - The Sun is the visible god, God the invisible sun
SOL REGIT OMNIA - The sun rules all
SUB SOLE VANITAS - Vanity under the sun
TEMPUS AD LUCEM DUCIT VERITATEM - Time brings truth to light
ULTIMA DECIDET - The last one decides
UMBRA DEI - The shadow of God
UMBRA! QUID ASPICIS? UMBRAM - Shadow! What seest thout? Shadow
UNAM TIME - Fear one hour
VENI, VIDE, VALE - Come, see, farewell
VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA - Truth is the daughter of time
VIA VITAE - The road of life
VIGILATE & ORATE, TEMPUS FUGIT - Be vigilant and pray, for the time hastes away
VOICI VOTRE HEURE - Here is your hour (French)
VOS ESTIS LUX MUNDI - You are the light of the world
See also:
Instructions on making a simple sundial with Roman numerals
Garden design ideas from different historic times
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