Thursday, November 16, 2006

Review: Latin Proverbs: Wisdom from Ancient to Modern Times

copyright 2002, Bolchazy-Carducci, 278 pages, softcover (6 inches x 6 inches)

This nifty, pocket-sized paperback is, quite simply, loaded with Latin proverbs (along with their English translations and whatever information is available about the source). There are over 1,100 proverbs in all and the appendices contain topical and author indices.




A few samples (note: the book does include macrons to indicate long vowel sounds, which are not easy to duplicate here):


Malum vas non frangitur.
The bad vase does not get broken.
(Anonymous)

Perenne conjugium animus, non corpus, facit.
Personality and not physical beauty makes a marriage lasting.
(Publilius Syrus, Sententia 481)

Homo sine religione sic ut equus sine freno.
Man without religion is like a horse without a bridle.
(Medieval)

Numquam aliud natura, aliud sapientia dicit.
Nature never says one thing and wisdom something else.
(Juvenal, Satires 14.321)

This makes a nice little supplement for a Latin class and could provide a lot of interesting discussion starters in any setting.

Reviewed by Alicia Van Hecke (11-16-06)
Available from Bolchazy-Carducci

1 comment:

Ana Braga-Henebry said...

Love it! Can't wait to get myself a copy of this!
Ana