Latin for Smartasses, Part I

Since I know that writers tend to be smartasses (at least sometimes), here are a few select quotes from Latin for you, to be used at your leisure to demonstrate your wisdom, exceptional education, or just to annoy the hell out of others.

"In vino veritas" (~truth in wine)
Alkaios from Lesbos, Greek poet (630-580 BC)
Plinius the Older (23-79 AD)
The original quote is supposed to be from Alkaios, though in his native language, Greek. Plinius was the first one to use the Latin version of it, "in vino veritas", though. It referred to the believe that drunk people can't effectively lie anymore and will therefore tell you the truth.

"Veni, vidi, vici." (~I came, I saw, I won.)
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC)
This quote is supposed to be written down by Julius Caesar after he had won a surprisingly easy battle over Pharnakes II.

"Qui tacet, consentire videtur." (~Who is silent seems to agree.)
Pope Bonifazius VIII (1235-1303)
Pope Bonifazius chose these words carefully to make it clear that silence needn't mean agreement in every case.

"Festina lente!" (~Hurry slowly!)
Augustus, Roman Emperor (63 BC-14 AD)
According to history, Emperor Augustus despised haste since he saw the flaws of a bad strategist in it.

"nolens volens" (~not wanting, wanting)
Augustinus from Hippo (354-430 AD)
This quote means that someone does something although he doesn't want to do it.

"Ceterum censeo...." (~Furthermore, I think....)
Cato the Older (234-149 BC)
Cato started his plea to destroy Carthago with this quote, according to history. He repeated his plea in every meeting of the Roman senat until Carthago was finally destroyed in 150 BC.

"Carpe diem." (~Seize the day.)
Horace, Roman poet (65-8 BC)
Maybe the most well-known Latin quote ever. Horace's intention was to remind people of how short life was. In his opinion, hope was pointless and it was much more sensible to live in the now and here instead of wasting time with predictions of the future.

Watch out for more Latin quotes next week!