Another version is ."Choose the lesser of two evils." Thomas à Kempis, the fifteenth-century theologian, advises us to make the best of a bad situation as we recognize the realities of choosing between less than ideal alternatives.

Motto of the State of West Virginia, USA.

A quote by Erasmus, Adagia, iv. iii, 86 (1523). Another English equivalent is, "Be prepared for hard times." A similar motto from Seneca: Non semper Saturnalia erunt., "The Saturnalia will not last forever" or "Every day is not a holiday." By extension, it also means, "Have a good time now, but remember that it will end and you will be required to pay for any excesses."

The Saturnalia was a principal festival of the Romans which was celebrated in December. This was a time of merrymaking, including debauchery, during which there was a suspension of all public business; such as, closing down schools and courts, slaves having a chance to temporarily exchange places with their masters, and criminals not being punished.

This motto came from a reader who said, "I have a tatoo that reads 'PAX ET FELICITAS SEMPER OMNIBUS'. See if any of your subscribers can translate that."

I sent him the translation above; as well as, the following:

"Peace and good fortune (or success) always to everyone."

Also: "Avarice, or greed, is never satisfied."

The motto of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Always fortunate or successful.

Motto of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Latin idiom: Similar to "Birds of a feather flock together."

Motto of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The guilty live in fear of being found out.

Said to be an "old Latin student's joke."

Motto of Lake City Community College, Lake City, Florida, USA.

Sic semper tyrannis is the motto of the State of Virginia, U.S.A.

There are some who say these words were shouted by John Wilkes Booth as he leaped to the stage after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. Other witnesses thought he said something else, for example it is said that he added, "The South is avenged."