Latin Proverbs, Mottoes, Phrases, and Words: Group Q

Literally, something for something; this for that.

Something given in return for something else; a favor in return, a substitution or fair exchange. It is a legal, as well as idiomatic, term indicating the necessity of mutual back-scratching; especially, in business and politics.

Translation: "Avoid asking what tomorrow will bring." or "Stop asking what tomorrow will bring."

Horace advised us to live in the here and now because nobody can live tomorrow until it becomes today.

Whatever you do, do with caution.

The full proverb is Quidquid agas prudenter agas et respice finem and is translated as "Whatever you do, do with caution, and look to the end."

A shorter version using, Respice finem, is translated as, "Look before you leap."

Not to disturb quiet things.

Better translated as "Don't disturb things that are at peace"; and by extension: "Let sleeping dogs lie."

There are those now who say, "If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it." Then there are the slang-mongers who say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

1. The most important part of something: A musician told his audience that the quintessence of music is the melody.
2. A perfect example of something: Henry was the quintessence of calmness when his wife Mildred told him that their car had a dent in the fender because someone else had backed into it while it was parked at the supermarket.
3. Etymology: from Latin quinta essentia, "fifth essence." © ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

Who will guard the guards themselves?

Juvenal wrote this proverb in his Satires and it is applicable to modern times; such as, a reference to situations in which there is little confidence in the people appointed to positions of trust; for example, those who are duty-bound to watch over public funds.

Juvenal may also have been referring to the problem of hiring guards to prevent infidelity among women whose husbands were out of town. Another interpretation could be the advice to avoid assigning a fox to guard the henhouse.

Who shall separate us?

Motto on the seal of the State of South Carolina, USA.

With what intention?

Even when we report all the words someone has used in telling us something, we may not be conveying a true reflection of what was intended.

Facial expressions, emphasis, and so forth may be as significant as the words being used in revealing one's full intent.

I want to see what is beyond.

Early motto of the State of Minnesota, USA; changed in 1858.

Whither goest thou? or Where are you going?

These words were said to have been spoken by Christ when He met the discouraged Apostle Peter as he was leaving Rome.

Which may God avert

Also translated as, "God forbid!"

What is good to some is poison to others.

Also, "What you and I find attractive, others may well find abhorrent" or "One man's meat is another man's poison."

Translation: "That which is quickly acquired, quickly vanishes."

Another version is "Easy come, easy go."

What I have said, I have said

Could this be a different version of Quod scripsi scripsi?

Which was the thing to be demonstrated; Which was to be demonstrated.

A formula appended at the end of a proof in geometry, or other mathematical solution, with the meaning, "We have proven the proposition we set out to prove."