December 28, 2005
I received an interesting little Christmas gift yesterday from one of my editors. It is "Latin Quips At Your Fingertips" by Rose Williams. The subject quote complete is:

Mandare quemquam litteris cogitationes suas, qui eas nec disponere nec illustrare possit nec delectatione aliqua adlicere lectorem, hominis est intemperanter abutentis et otioi et litteris.

From Cicero's "Tusculanae Disputationes, I, 2, 4

And it translates:

To write without clarity and charm is a miserable waste of time and ink.

But you knew that already, didn't you?

Ah well. Here's one to carry us through New Year's Eve:

From Seneca the Elder, Controversiae, II, 6,3:

Bibamus, moriendum est.

Which means: Death's unavoidable; let's have a drink.

Best,
Mark Terry