Apparently, there is no particular need to explain that a huge number of so-called winged phrases and expressions by folklore of many peoples of the world are borrowed from the Latin language since ancient times. Many of us today do not even pay attention to such phrases, considering them to be something familiar and completely mundane. But, in essence, they are of a very old origin. Consider the most famous expressions in Latin, which have become, so to speak, classics.
Latin and the origin of the language
Latin as such is related to the Indo - European language family of Italians and a subgroup of Latin-Falish languages. The period of the origin of this language can be called the interval of several centuries before the birth of Christ. At first, it is believed that it was spoken by peoples, often called Latin. But this, so to speak, is a general conditional concept. Among them, the Romans became the most famous.
The Roman Empire
Latin reached its peak of prosperity precisely in the Roman Empire somewhere in the 1st century BC, during the reign of Augustus. Many historians call this period the "golden age" of Latin.
It is not surprising that it was at this time that Latin expressions appeared, which still remain in use today. Beautiful phrases in Latin were then used very widely, and the language existed as officially adopted at the state level until the fall of the Western Roman Empire and its complete destruction. Although officially the language itself is considered dead, you can not agree with this, but more on that later.
Latin expressions in the Ancient World
Oddly enough, this sounds, but the Roman Empire gave the world a lot more famous phrases, proverbs and sayings than the same Ancient Greece with its myths and legends. The fact is that almost any expression in Latin of that time has a kind of hidden philosophical meaning, which makes one reason not only about the high, but also, so to speak, to go down to earth. Greek myths, by contrast, look very fabulous and have practically nothing to do with the real world.
If you ask a person a question about what he knows the most famous expression in Latin that came to us from Ancient Rome, he is very likely to answer: “He came, saw, won” (Veni, vidi, vici) or “Divide or conquer” ( Divide et impera). " These statements belong to the great Caesar, as well as his dying phrase: "Brutus, and you too ...".
Communication of Latin with other languages
Now very often you can find expressions in Latin with translation. However, the interpretation of the translation of many is simply shocking. The fact is that many simply do not assume that a familiar phrase is an interpretation of Latin concepts. This is due to the fact that not only in Latin were common winged phrases present. Very many of them became so after entering into use in the Latin language.
Probably, many people know the phrase “A friend is in need”, it is usually found in any language, in any folklore, in any nation. But in reality, it can be attributed to the concept of what we call today “expressions in Latin with translation,” since initially such a judgment, perhaps even borrowed from another culture, was made precisely by Roman philosophers.
Great philosophers and thinkers
Roman (and in general, any) philosophers and thinkers are a separate category that has given the world so many phrases that now it’s just a head spinning from deep thoughts embedded in a particular expression in Latin.
What can I say, many thinkers of their time, even of a different nationality, expressed their phrases in Latin. At least Descartes with his philosophical dictum “I think, then I exist” (Cogito, ergo sum).
The phrase “I know that I know nothing” (Scio me nihil scire), which is attributed to Socrates, came to us from Rome.
Very philosophically interesting are many sayings of the ancient Roman poet Quintus Horace Flaccus. He very often used beautiful expressions in Latin (more about love), which had a subtle and barely perceptible philosophical meaning, well, for example, the phrase "Love not what you want to love, but what you can, what you possess." He is also credited with the phrase “Catch the day” or “Catch the moment” (Carpe diem), as well as the dictum today known as “Measure must be in everything.”
Latin in literature
As for writers (writers, poets or playwrights), they did not pass over Latin and very often in their works used not only original phrases, but also expressions in Latin with transcription.
Recall at least the poem of the Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka, “We’re kontra sleeping” (“I hope without hope”). But in essence this is precisely the Latin phrase "Contra spem spero" with the same meaning.
You can recall the poem of A. Blok, in which he uses the expression "Truth in wine" ("In vino veritas"). But this is the phrase of Pliny. By the way, her descendants thought up, so to speak, and it turned out "In vino veritas, ergo bibamus!" (“Truth in wine, therefore, we will drink!”). And there are quite a few such examples.
Latin expressions in the modern world
In general, many will be surprised that we use well-known phrases today, without really thinking about their origin. All the same, this is mostly expressed in Latin with translation.
Let's see what remains of our Latin heritage. Of course, many beautiful expressions in Latin are very popular in the modern world, but philosophical phrases are most widely used. Who doesn’t know such famous expressions as “Silence is a sign of consent”, “The great thing is love”, “Through thorns to the stars”, “They don’t argue about tastes”, “Make an elephant out of a fly”, “There is no smoke without fire” ( in the original “Where there is smoke, there is fire nearby”), “If you want peace, get ready for war”, “A woman is always changeable and unstable”, “Every blacksmith of his own happiness (fate)”, “Ignorance of the law does not absolve from responsibility” , "Oh, times! Oh morals! ”,“ About the dead - either good or nothing ”,“ Fire and iron (sword) ”,“ Plato is my friend, but truth is dearer ”,“ Fate helps (the fortune) ”(“ He accompanies the brave (patronizes ) luck ”),“ Vanity is vanity, everything is vanity ”,“ Bread and circuses ”,“ Man to man is a wolf ”,“ Language is your enemy ”(in the original“ Language is an enemy of people and a friend of the devil and women ”),“ Who is warned is armed ”, etc.? But, probably, the most sacred phrase is “Memento mori” (“Living, remember death”).
As can be seen from the above examples, all these are well-known expressions in Latin, translated into different languages ​​of the world and sometimes interpreted in their own way. Yes Yes! This is exactly what we inherited from our ancestors.
On the other hand (and this is natural), among winged phrases one can also find expressions that came to Latin from other cultures. Most often this is Eastern wisdom. In some ways, it is even akin to the philosophical reasoning that once very long ago was expressed by thinkers of the Roman Empire. And there is nothing surprising in this, because almost all cultures of the peoples of the Earth are interconnected to one degree or another.
Conclusion
Summing up some results, it can be noted that the whole history of the development of the Latin language, culture and society has given the world so many catchphrases and expressions that involuntarily recall the words of Captain Blood from the novel by Rafael Sabatini: “Honestly, the old Romans were smart people.” If someone does not remember or does not know, before that he uttered his favorite expression in Latin “Audaces fortuna juvat” (“Fate helps the brave ones”).
And all those who say that Latin is a dead language are wrong. Not to mention that it is now used in medicine, it is worth noting that Christianity also does not forget it. For example, Latin today is the official language of the Holy See, the Vatican and the Order of Malta.
Apparently, even there in everyday communication one can often hear winged phrases, so to speak, adapted to the Holy Scripture, or expressed by some theologians, which was not uncommon in the same Middle Ages.
That is why not only Latin itself, but also many people who had a hand in its development and prosperity, enjoy great love and respect among grateful descendants.
Sometimes it even comes to the fact that some use Latin winged sayings in tattoos!
However, you can find many phrases and expressions that have become winged, but not a single source, even on the World Wide Web, can provide a complete list. At best, you can find the most famous or most common phrases. And how much remains unknown and unknown, hidden behind the veil of history ...