List of Latin phrases (B) facts for kids

Latin phrases often share wisdom, give advice, or describe important ideas. Many of these sayings come from ancient Roman times or from later periods when Latin was widely used. Learning them can help you understand history, literature, and even some modern ideas better!

Wisdom and Appearance

Beards and Wisdom

Some Latin phrases talk about how a person looks versus how wise they truly are.

• barba crescit caput nescit

* This means "a beard grows, but the head doesn't grow wiser." It's a funny way to say that just getting older or looking mature doesn't automatically make someone smart.

• barba non facit philosophum

* This phrase translates to "a beard doesn't make one a philosopher." A philosopher is someone who thinks deeply about life. This saying means that looking wise (like having a long beard, which was common for thinkers in ancient times) doesn't mean you actually are wise. It comes from an ancient Roman writer named Aulus Gellius.

• barba tenus sapientes

* Meaning "wise as far as the beard," this phrase is similar to the others. It suggests someone only appears wise on the outside, but isn't truly smart. This saying was collected by Erasmus, a famous scholar from the 1500s.

Blessings and Good Fortune

Phrases about Being Blessed

Many Latin phrases from religious texts or ancient writings talk about what makes someone "blessed" or fortunate.

• Beata Virgo Maria (BVM)

* This means "Blessed Virgin Mary." It's a common name used in the Roman Catholic Church for Mary, who is the mother of Jesus.

• beatae memoriae

* This phrase means "of blessed memory." People use it to remember someone who has passed away, showing that they are remembered fondly and respectfully.

• beati pauperes spiritu

* This translates to "blessed in spirit [are] the poor." It's a famous saying from the Bible, found in the book of Matthew (chapter 5, verse 3). It means that those who are humble and spiritually open are truly blessed.

• beati possidentes

* Meaning "blessed [are] those who possess," this phrase suggests that those who have things are fortunate. It comes from the ancient Greek playwright Euripides.

• beati qui ambulant lege domini

* This phrase means "blessed are they who walk in the law of the Lord." It comes from Psalm 119 in the Bible and talks about the happiness of following good rules.

• beati quorum via integra est

* Translating to "blessed are they whose way is upright," this is another part of Psalm 119. It means that people who live honestly and with integrity are blessed.

• beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam

* This means "blessed is the man who finds wisdom." It comes from the book of Proverbs (chapter 3, verse 13) in the Bible. It highlights how valuable wisdom is.

War and Conflict

Sayings About Battle

Latin phrases often reflect on the nature of war, as it was a significant part of Roman history.

• bella gerant alii

* This means "let others wage war." A longer version, bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube, means "let others wage war; you, happy Austria, marry." This was a famous saying about the Habsburg family, who often gained power through marriages rather than battles. It suggests that it's better to achieve goals peacefully.

• bella detesta matribus

* This phrase means "war hateful to mothers." It comes from the Roman poet Horace and shows the deep sorrow and pain war brings to families, especially mothers who worry about their children.

• bellum omnium contra omnes

* Meaning "war of all against all," this phrase was used by the philosopher Thomas Hobbes. He used it to describe a "state of nature" where there are no rules or government, and everyone is fighting for themselves.

• bellum Romanum

* This translates to "war as the Romans did it." It describes a type of total war, where the Romans fought with no limits against groups they considered enemies.

• bellum se ipsum alet

* This means "war feeds itself." It suggests that once a war starts, it often creates its own reasons and resources to continue, becoming self-sustaining.

Knowledge and Understanding

Learning and Books

Some Latin phrases relate to knowledge, books, and how we learn.

• Biblia pauperum

* This means "Paupers' Bible." It refers to a tradition of biblical pictures that showed the main stories of Christianity. These picture Bibles were helpful for people who couldn't read.

• bibo ergo sum

* This is a playful twist on a very famous phrase. It means "I drink, therefore I am." It's a humorous take on "cogito ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), which was said by the philosopher René Descartes to mean that the act of thinking proves one's existence.

Giving and Receiving

The Act of Giving

One well-known Latin phrase talks about the value of giving quickly.

• bis dat qui cito dat

* This means "he gives twice, who gives promptly." It suggests that a gift given without hesitation or delay is worth more, almost like two gifts, because it shows true generosity and willingness.

Everyday Life and Law

Common Phrases and Legal Terms

Many Latin phrases are still used today, especially in medicine and law.

• bis in die (bid)

* This means "twice in a day." You might see this on a medical prescription as shorthand for taking medicine two times a day.

• bona fide

* This translates to "in good faith." When someone acts bona fide, it means they are being honest, sincere, and well-intentioned. It's the opposite of mala fide, which means in bad faith.

• bona officia

* Meaning "good services," this term is used in international relations. It refers to one country offering to help settle a disagreement between two other countries.

• bona vacantia

* This is a legal term, mainly used in the United Kingdom, meaning "vacant goods." It refers to property that has no owner, which then usually goes to The Crown (the government).

• boni pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere

* This wise saying means "it is a good shepherd's [job] to shear his flock, not to flay them." It suggests that a good leader should take care of their people and not exploit them or tax them too much. The Roman Emperor Tiberius reportedly said this.

• bono malum superate

* This means "overcome evil with good." It's a motto that encourages people to respond to bad actions with kindness and positive deeds.

• bonum commune communitatis

* This phrase means "common good of the community" or "general welfare." It refers to what benefits everyone in a society, rather than just one person.

• bonum commune hominis

* This means "common good of a man." It refers to what makes an individual person happy or well, like finding joy in similar things that other people do.

• brutum fulmen

* This translates to "harmless (or inert) thunderbolt." It's used to describe an empty threat or a legal judgment that sounds powerful but actually has no real effect.

• busillis

* This word means a "baffling puzzle" or a "thorny problem." It comes from a funny mistake: a scribe misread "in diebus illis" (in those days) as "in die busillis" (at the day of Busillis), thinking "Busillis" was a famous person. Now, it means something confusing!