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Quotes From Latin Sources Trivia Quiz

In this quiz you find some 'popular' quotes from Latin sources. In most cases you have to guess their correct meaning.In a couple of cases you are required to know the source of the quote.

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
flem-ish

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
68,653

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
932

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the Roman Emperor who laid taxes on the use of public 'washrooms', commenting 'Pecunia non olet'? Hint

Trajanus

Nero

Vespasianus

Titus

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the correct preposition for this quote: Hannibal ___ portas? Hint

extra

propter

apud

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Question 3 of 10

3. What did Cicero mean by : 'Cedant arma togae'? Hint

Even the best of soldiers is not worth a good scholar.

When the military rule, the scholars have to shut up.

The bearers of arms should give precedence to the negotiators of peace.

It's better to fight through your lawyer than get involved in a direct fight.

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these quotations is the Latin version of the Greek text on the walls of Apollo's Temple at Delphi, and also a quotation from Socrates ? Hint

Nunc est bibendum.

Nosce te ipsum.

In vino veritas.

De mortuis nihil nisi bene.

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Question 5 of 10

5. What did Cicero (De officio, 1,5) mean by his often quoted 'Cui bono'? Hint

Everybody has a right to his own property.

Too much justice is no good either.

There is no quarrel behind which there is not a woman.

When a crime happened, you always have to look for the one who got some profit from it.

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Question 6 of 10

6. 'Tempus edax rerum' is a quote from Ovid. What does it mean? Hint

Time devours everything.

It's better not to hurry.

Time heals wounds.

Time will show.

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Question 7 of 10

7. What did Horace mean by: 'Odi profanum vulgus et arceo.' (Odes III, 1,1)? Hint

I hate the common people and am mightily afraid of them.

I hate the common people and I keep them at a distance.

I hate the common people and look down on them.

I hate the common people ,and yet I build triumphal arches for them.

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Question 8 of 10

8. What did Terentius mean by: 'Homo sum; humanum nihil a me alienum puto' ? Hint

There is nothing human I don't find in myself too.

I am gay but I think there is nothing wrong with that.

I am a human but I don't mind meeting aliens

I am a man and there is nothing another man can do, I cannot do as well.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these renderings comes nearest to the meaning of : Ridendo dicere verum? Hint

One fool can put more questions than ten wise people can answer.

There is many a true word spoken in jest.

You cannot tell jokes and speak about serious matters at same time.

Some people always exaggerate when they try to tell the truth.

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Question 10 of 10

10. In his 'Ars Poetica' Horace made an effort to analyse his own writer's job. What self-knowledge did he express by this remark : 'Brevis esse laboro. Obscurus fio.'? Hint

My writing-job gets easier when I can do it after dark.

The job becomes harder when you have to hurry.

The more I try to be brief, the more I become obscure.

It's getting dark and I still have to finish this job.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the Roman Emperor who laid taxes on the use of public 'washrooms', commenting 'Pecunia non olet'?

Answer: Vespasianus

'Money does not smell'.

2. What is the correct preposition for this quote: Hannibal ___ portas?

Answer: ad

Must have sounded like 'The Russians are coming'.
Hannibal ante portas is heard as well but this is NOT a correct quotation.
The line is from Titus Livy's "War With Hannibal" (21.16.2). The author describes the consternation of the Roman senators. The correct quote is :"velut si iam ad portas hostis esset". The name Hannibal is not even mentioned as it was obvious WHO the enemy was.

3. What did Cicero mean by : 'Cedant arma togae'?

Answer: The bearers of arms should give precedence to the negotiators of peace.

In other words: it's time the diplomats (in Rome the Senators) take over from the generals.

4. Which of these quotations is the Latin version of the Greek text on the walls of Apollo's Temple at Delphi, and also a quotation from Socrates ?

Answer: Nosce te ipsum.

Gnothi seauton (Greek) = Know yourself. The other quotations mean: Now it's the right moment to drink. Drinking a bit of wine helps the truth rise tot he surface. Don't talk evil about those that are dead and cannot defend their honour any more.

5. What did Cicero (De officio, 1,5) mean by his often quoted 'Cui bono'?

Answer: When a crime happened, you always have to look for the one who got some profit from it.

The Wild West context did not allow of such complicated research and suggested a more direct approach: Look for the smoking gun. Everybody has a right to his own property = suum cuique. Juvenal (47 AD-113 AD) thought that: Nulla (fere) causa est in qua non femina litem moverit. Freely rendered by the French as : Cherchez la femme.

6. 'Tempus edax rerum' is a quote from Ovid. What does it mean?

Answer: Time devours everything.

Festina lente would render: It's better not to hurry. Other quotes from Ovid: Pia fraus. A well-intentioned deceit. And: Nonima sunt odiosa. Mentioning names is not nice.

7. What did Horace mean by: 'Odi profanum vulgus et arceo.' (Odes III, 1,1)?

Answer: I hate the common people and I keep them at a distance.

Other famous quotes from Horace: Nil mortalibus arduum est. Nothing is too harsh for humans.Odes, I, 3,37. Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Odes I, 11. Aurea mediocritas.Golden mean or golden mediocrity. Odes II,10,5. Eheu fugaces labuntur anni. The years slip by.. Odes II,14,1 and 2.

8. What did Terentius mean by: 'Homo {sum;} humanum nihil a me alienum puto' ?

Answer: There is nothing human I don't find in myself too.

Homo as in homosexual is from Greek homo= {similar;same.} Homo as in 'Ecce homo' means human being.

9. Which of these renderings comes nearest to the meaning of : Ridendo dicere verum?

Answer: There is many a true word spoken in jest.

Quote from Horace Satires, I, 1,24. A similar saying is : Ridendo, castigare mores. By saying things in a jesting way, you may be able to make people see their behaviour is wrong.

10. In his 'Ars Poetica' Horace made an effort to analyse his own writer's job. What self-knowledge did he express by this remark : 'Brevis esse laboro. Obscurus fio.'?

Answer: The more I try to be brief, the more I become obscure.

From 'Ars Poetica', 25-26.

Source: Author flem-ish

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