Thursday, September 24, 2009

a.d. VII Kal. Oct.

MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ

Nōn enim tam praeclārum est scīre Latīnē quam turpe nescīre.
“It is not as praiseworthy to know Latin as it is shameful not to know it.” (Cicero, Brutus, 37.140)

In this dialogue about oratory, Cicero makes this famous remark, when characterizing the unaffected speech of an orator a generation older than himself, named Marcus Antonius. Cicero observes that although this man gave the impression of speaking in a casual manner, his Latin was pure and correct.

From Latin for the New Millennium

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