Latin
 
English translation
 
Attributed to
 
Ab ovo usque ad mala  From start to finish
 
Acta est fabula  Drama has been acted out
Emperor Augustus said these words at his deathbed
 
Adversus incendia excubias nocturnas vigilesque commentus est  Against the dangers of fires, he conceived of the idea of night guards and watchmen
'he' refers to Augustus
 
Agnus dei  Lamb of god
 
Alea jacta est  The die is cast
A latin translation of the Greek words Ceasar said in 49 BC when he crossed de Rubico
 
Ama me fideliter, fidem meam noto, decorde totaliter, et ex mente tota, sum presentialiter, absens in remota  Love me faithfully, see how I am faithful, with all my heart, and all my soul, I am with you, even though I am far away
 
Annuit coeptis  God has favored us

Ante bellum  Before the war
 
Ars longa, vita brevis  Art is long, life isShort
Hippocrates
 
Audaces fortuna juvat  Fortune favors the bold
Virgil, Aeneid, Book 10
 
Auri sacra fames  The cursed hunger for gold
 
Aut Caesar, aut nihil  Either Caesar or nothing
Directive of Cesar Borgia
 
Avarus animus nullo satiatur lucro  A greedy mind is satisfied with no amount of gain
 
Ave atque vale  Hail and farewell
 
Ave Caesar morituri te salutant! Gegroet Casesar!  Hail, Caesar! Those who are about to die salute you!
Words said by gladiators according to Suatonius
 
Beati pauperes spiritu  Blessed are the poor in spirit

Bis repetita placent  The things that please are repeated again and again
Horatius
 
Caeca invidia est  Envy is blind
 
Cave canem  Beware of the dog
 
Caveat emptor  Let the buyer beware
 
Cogita ante salis  Think before you leap
 
Cogito ergo sum  I think therefore I am
 
Conditio sine qua non  Condition, necessarily to be fulfilled
 
Contraria contraiis curantur  Opposites are cured by opposites
Hippocrates
 
Cui bono  For what good?
 
De facto  In reality
 
Delenda Carthago  Carthage must be destroyed
Cato de Oude
 
De mortuis nil nisi bene  Speak nothing but good of the dead
Chilo
 
Desinit in piscem mulier formosa superne  A woman who is beautiful above ends in a fishtail
Horatius
 
Diem perdidi  I have lost the day
Suetonius
 
Difficile est satiram non scribere  It is difficult not to write satire
Juvenalis
 
Dignus est intrare  He is worthy to enter
Molière
 
Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos  As long as you are fortunate, you will have many friends
 
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori  It is sweet and fitting to die for the Fatherland
Horatius
 
Errare humanum est  To err is human
Hieronymus
 
Et nunc, reges, intelligite, erudimini, qui judicati terram  And now, kings, understand; you who decide the fate of the Earth, educate yourselves
Et tu, Brute  You too, Brutus

Exegi monumentum aere perennius  I have raised a monument more durable than bronze
Horatius
 
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas  Fortunate is he who has been able to learn the causes of things
Virgil, Georgica 2.490
 
Fiat justitia; ruat coelum  Let justice be done; though heaven fall
 
Flamma fumo est proxima  Flame follows smoke
Plautus, Curculio
 
Fluctuat nec mergitur  It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink
 
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres  All of Gaul is divided into three parts
Julius Caeser, Comentarii De Bello Gallico, I.1
 
Gloria victis  Glory to the defeated
 
Homines libenter quod volunt credunt  Men believe what they want to
Julius Caesar, but probably borrowed from Terentius
 
Illiud Latine dici non potest  You can't say that in Latin
 
Ipso facto  By that very fact
 
Ira furor brevis est  Anger is a brief madness
Horatius
 
Ita est  Thus it is
 
Ita diis placuit  Thus it pleased the gods

Major e longinquo reverentia  Greater reverence from afar
 
Malum consilium quod mutari non potest  It's a bad plan that can't be changed
 
Mens sana in corpore sano  A sound mind in a sound body
Juvenalis
 
Morituri te salutant

Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum  Not everyone is permitted to go to Corinth
Horatius
 
Non omnia possumus omnes  We cannot all do everything
Virgil
 
Nosce te ipsum  Know thyself
 
Nullius in verba  Take no one's word for it
 
Nunc est bibendum  Now it is time to drink
Horatius
 
O fortunates nimium, sua si bona norint agricolas  Oh! blessed beyond all bliss are the farmers, if they but knew their happiness
 
O tempora! o mores!  Oh! the the times! Oh! the habits!
Cicero
 
Panem et circenses  Bread and circuses
Juvenalis
 
Para bellum  Prepare for war
 
Pax Romana  Roman peace
 
Plaudite cives!  Applaud, citizens!
 
Proximo satis pro administratio  Close enough for government work
 
Proximo sed nolo fumigare  Close, but no cigar
 
Quid me nutrit me destruit  What nourishes me also destroys me
 
Quid novi?  What's new?
 
Qui habet aures audiendi audiat  He who has ears, let him understand how to listen
 
Qui vult dare parva non debet magna rogare  He who wishes to give little shouldn't ask for much
 
Quis, quod, ui, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando?  Who, what, where, in what ways, why how and when?
 
Quod erat demomstrandum  Which was to be demonstrated
 
Quomodo vales  How are you?
 
Quot capita, tot sensus  There are as many opinions as there are heads
Terentius
 
Quousque tandem  How long?
Cicero
 
Quo vadis  Whither goest thou?
 
Redde Caesari quae sunt Caesaris  Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's
 
Ruber et Niger  Red and Black
 
Sic ad nauseam  And so on to the point of causing nausea

Sic transit gloria (mundi)  Thus passes away the glory of the world
 
Singularis Porcus  Wild boar
 
Si vis pacem, para bellum  If you want peace, prepare for war
 
Sol lucet omnibus  The sun shines for everyone
Petronius
 
Sursum corda  Lift up your hearts
 
Tempus fugit et nos fugimus in illus  Time flies and we fly with it
Ovidius, Fasti
 
Timeo Danaos et Dona ferentes  I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts
Virgil
 
Trahimur omnes studio laudis  We are all attracted by the desire for praise
 
Tu quoque fili  You too, son!
 
Ubi fumus, ibi ignis  Where there's smoke, there's fire
 
Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant  Where they create desolation, they call it peace
 
Uti, non abuti  To use, not abuse
 
Vade retro  Get thee behind me
 
Vae victo, vae victis  Woe to the vanquished men, woe to the vanquished people
 
Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas  Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
 
Veni vidi vici  I came, I saw, I conquered
 
Veritas odium parit  Truth breeds hatred
 
Victrix causa deis placuit, sed victa Catoni  The victorious cause pleased the gods, the defeated one pleased Cato
Cato Uticensis
 
Victurus te saluto  He who is about to win salutes you
 
Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor  I see the better way and approve it, but I follow the worse way
Ovidius
 
Vinum et musica laetificant cor  Wine and music gladden the heart
 
Vis comica  Sense of humour
 
Exegi monumentum aere perennius  I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze
Horace
 
Fama nihil est celerius  Nothing is swifter than rumor
 
Fama volat  Fame has wings
 
Mea mihi conscientia pluris est quam omium sermo  My conscience is more to me than what the world says
 
Modus operandi  Method of work
 
Vademecum  Go with me
 
Novus ordo saeculorum  A new order of ages
 
Terra firma  Solid ground
 
Tabula rasa  A clean slate
 
Sine qua non  Necesssity
 
rara avis  a rare bird
 
lapsus alumni  error made
 
and maybe hundreds of others

dies irae
the Day of Wrath or Judgment Day
sub rosa
under the rose (i.e. confidentially)
ex cathedra
with authority
Fiat lux.
Let there be light (Vulgate Genesis)
Qui tacet consentit.
He who is silent agrees.
Fides Punica.
Treachery (Livy)
Quid Novi.
What's New?
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium.
2There is no free lunch!
Homo homini lupus.
A man to a man is like a wolf
Carpe Diem!
Seize the day (Horace)
Veni, vidi, vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered. (Caesar)
Hic puer est stultissimus omnium!
This boy is the stupidest of all!
O di immortales!
Good heavens! (uttered by Cicero on the Senate floor.)
Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.(Vergil, Aeneid II.49)
Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even bearing gifts.
Quidquid id est timeo puellas et oscula dantes.
Whatever it is, I fear the girls, even when they kiss.
Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat. (Horace, Satires)
What prevents me from speaking the truth with a smile?
Venienti occurrite morbo.(Persius, Satires)
Meet the misfortune as it comes.
Forsan miseros meliora sequentur.(Virgil)
For those in misery perhaps better things will follow.
Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur.(Pliny)
Many fear their reputation, few their conscience.
Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur.
It is a wise man who speaks little.
Gaudeamus igitur (iuvenes dum sumus).
Therefore, let us rejoice (while we are young)
infra dignitatem.
undignified (beneath (our) dignity).
lapsus calumni.
A slip of the pen
mirabile dictu.
Wonderful to say
E Pluribus Unum.
One from many
post proelia praemia.
After the battles come the rewards
qualis pater talis filius.
As is the father, so is the son; like father, like son
Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
always wear underwear
Maxima debetur puero reverentia.
We owe the greatest respect to a child.
Cogito Ergo Sum.
I think Therefore I am.
Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit.
Diverse grapes, through time, grow together.
Non Gradus Anus Rodentum!
Not Worth A Rats Ass!
Alma Mater.
Old school (actual translation - nourishing mother)
Ad hoc.
For one reason
Alter ego.
Other 'I' or Other Self
naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret
You can drive nature out with a pitchfork but she always comes back.
Literally, Nature can be expelled with a fork, but nevertheless always returns
Studium discendi voluntate quae cogi non potest constat (Quintilian Institutio Oratoria, iii)
Study depends on the good will of the student, a quality which cannot be secured by compulsion.
Vacca foeda.
Stupid cow.
Die dulci fruere.
Have a nice day.
Mihi ignosce. Cum homine de cane debeo congredi.
Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.
Raptus regaliter.
Royally screwed.
Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinis alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes!
If you can read this sign, you can get a good job in the fast-paced, high-paying world of Latin!
Sona si Latine loqueris.
Honk if you speak Latin.
Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum!
Don't you dare erase my hard disk!
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.
Gramen artificiosum odi.
I hate Astroturf.
Furnulum pani nolo.
I don't want a toaster.
Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.
I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.
I'm not interested in your dopey religious cult.
Noli me vocare, ego te vocabo.
Don't call me, I'll call you.
Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules.
If I were you, I wouldn't walk in front of any catapults.
Canis meus id comedit.
My dog ate it.
Illiud Latine dici non potest.
You can't say that in Latin.
Vidistine nuper imagines moventes bonas?
Seen any good movies lately?
Nullo metro compositum est.
It doesn't rhyme.
Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.
I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't a poem.
Fac ut gaudeam.
Make my day.
Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!
Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid jacket!
Visne saltare? Viam Latam Fungosam scio.
Do you want to dance? I know the Funky Broadway.
Re vera, potas bene.
Say, you sure are drinking a lot.
Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!
May barbarians invade your personal space!
Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant!
May conspirators assassinate you in the mall!
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy!
Radix lecti.
Couch potato.
Quo signo nata es?
What's your sign?
Romani quidem artem amatoriam invenerunt.
You know, the Romans invented the art of love.
O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem!
Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm!
Spero nos familiares mansuros.
I hope we'll still be friends.
Mellita, domi adsum.
Honey, I'm home.
Tam exanimis quam tunica nehru fio.
I am as dead as the nehru jacket.
Ventis secundis, tene cursum.
Go with the flow.
Totum dependeat.
Let it all hang out.
Te precor dulcissime supplex!
Pretty please with a cherry on top!
Magister Mundi sum!
I am the Master of the Universe!
Fac me cocleario vomere!
Gag me with a spoon!
Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.
I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.
Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre?
Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?
Prehende uxorem meam, sis!
Take my wife, please!
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Nihil est--in vita priore ego imperator Romanus fui.
That's nothing--in a previous life I was a Roman Emperor.
Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est.
Yes, that is a very large amount of corn.
Recedite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem!
Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.
Oblitus sum perpolire clepsydras!
I forgot to polish the clocks!
Vescere bracis meis.
Eat my shorts.
Sic faciunt omnes.
Everyone is doing it.
Fac ut vivas.
Get a life.
Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!
Let's all wear mood rings!
Insula Gilliganis.
Gilligan's Island.
illigitimi non carborundum
Roughly Translated: Don't let the bastards grind you down.
Exterioris pagina puella.
Cover Girl.
Coruscantes disci per convexa caeli volantes.
Flying saucers.
Escariorium lavator.
Dishwashing machine.
Instrumentum aeri temperando.
Airconditioner.
Aeronavis abstractio a prestituto cursu.
Hijacking.
Nummus americanus.
Greenback ($US)
Latine loqui coactus sum.
I have this compulsion to speak Latin.
Qui vir odiosus!
What a bore!
Heu! Tintinnuntius meus sonat!
Darn! There goes my beeper!
Labra lege.
Read my lips.
Non erravi perniciose!
I did not commit a fatal error!
Fortunatus sum! Pila mea de gramine horrido modo in pratum lene recta volvit!
Isn't that lucky! My ball just rolled out of the rough and onto the fairway!
Haec trutina errat.
There is something wrong with this scale.
Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europe vincendarum.
Sometimes I get this urge to conquer large parts of Europe.
Eheu, litteras istas reperire non possum.
Unfortunately, I can't find those particular documents.
Scio cur summae inter se dissentiant! Numeris Romanis utor!
I know why the numbers don't agree! I use Roman numerals!
Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima?
Do you by chance happen to own a large, yellowish, very flat cat?
Prescriptio in manibus tabellariorium est.
The check is in the mail.
Braccae tuae aperiuntur.
Your fly is open.
In dentibus acticis frustrum magnum spinaciae habes.
You have a big piece of spinach in your teeth.
Prospice tibi--ut Gallia, tu quoque in tres partes dividareis.
Watch out--you might end up divided into three parts, like Gaul.
Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare.
Well, if you don't understand plain Latin, I'm not going to dirty my hands on you.
Sane ego te vocavi. Forsitan capedictum tuum desit.
I did call. Maybe your answering machine is broken.
Da mihi sis cerevisiam dilutam.
I'll have a light beer.
Da mihi sis bubulae frustrum assae, solana tuberosa in modo Gallico fricta, ac quassum lactatum coagulatum crassum.
Give me a hamburger, french fries, and a thick shake.
Vinum bellum iucunumque est, sed animo corporeque caret.
It's a nice little wine, but it lacks character and depth.
Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat.
It's not the heat, it's the humidity.
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
God, look at the time! My wife will kill me!
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults.
Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum.
Garbage in, garbage out.
Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse.
I think we're on the same wavelength.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
The designated hitter rule has got to go.
Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem.
In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags.
Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.
If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.
Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri?
How do you get your hair to do that?
Feles mala! Cur cista non uteris? Stramentum novum in ea posui.
Bad kitty! Why don't you use the cat box? I put new litter in it.
At a barbeque Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri?
Ever noticed how wherever you stand, the smoke goes right into your face?
Neutiquam erro.
I am not lost.
Hocine bibo aut in eum digitos insero?
Do I drink this or stick my fingers in it?
Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.
Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out.
Caveat emptor
Let the buyer beware.
Cave canem
Beware of the dog.
Cave canem...te necet lingendo
Beware of the dog, he may lick you to death.
De mortuis nil nisi bonum
Say nothing but good of the dead.
Diis aliter visum
The Gods decided otherwise.
Divide et impera
Divide and rule.
In vino veritas
There is truth in wine.
Fax mentis incedium gloriae
The passion of glory is the torch of the mind.
Docendo discimus
We learn by teaching.
Ex nilhilo nihil fit
From, or out of, nothing, nothing comes; nothing begetes nothing.
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who watches the watchmen? (Juvenal)
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur
Anything said in Latin sounds profound.
Quod omne animal post coitum est triste.
Aristoteles: Every animal is sad after a copulation.
Ars longa, vita brevis.
Hypocrates: The work (art) is long, the life is short.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
Ther's no accounting for tastes.
In his ordo est ordinem non servare.
In this case the only rule is not obeying any rules.
O diem praeclarum!
Oh, what a beautiful day!
Astra non mentiuntur, sed astrologi bene mentiuntur de astris.
The stars never lie, but the astrologs lie about the stars.
si hoc legere scis nimium eruditiones habes.
essentially it says: if you can read this, you're overeducated.
Cogito Ergo Doleo.
I think therefore I am depressed.
in flagrante delicto
red-handed
Multa ferunt anni venientes commoda secum, Multa recedentes adimiunt--Horace, Ars Poetica
The years as they come bring may agreeable things with them; as they go, they take many away.
Exemplum de simia, quae, quando plus ascendit, plus apparent posteriora eius--Saint Bonaventure
He doth like the ape, that the higher he clymbes the more he shows his ars. --Translation by Sir Francis Bacon
Anicularum lucubrationes
Old wives' tales.
Sic transit gloriae mundi
thus passes the glory of the world
Errare humanum est
mistakes are human
Errare humanun est - sed perseverare diabolicum
mistakes are human, but to continue making mistakes is devilish
Vita luna
crazy life
Re vera, potas bene.
Say, you sure are drinking a lot.
Primum viveri deinde philosophari
Live before you philosophize. or Leap before you look.
Quid pro quo?
what for what?
Cave cibum, valde malus est.
Beware the food, it is very bad.
Recta non toleranda sunt!
No assholes will be tolerated!
Nos morituri te salutant!
We, who are about to die, salute you
it was used when gladiatiors were about to undergo their
punishment during the Roman Circus celebrations.
They hailed Cesar with that saying.
Veni Vidi Vici
I came, I saw, I conquered
Absconde obesito illegitimo
Get outta here you fat bastard (Buddy Hacket)
Vincit omnia veritas
The truth conquers all
tum podem extulit horridulum
you are talking shit
stercus tauri
manure of the bull (Bull Shit)
Semper Fidelis
Always Faithful (Motto of the US Marine Corps)
non omnia possumus omnes
We all cannot do everything.
ascendo tuum
Up yours
Semper Letteris Mandate
Always get it in writing!
Vultur non capit muscam!
The eagle does not catch flies
Philosophum non facit barba!
The beard does not define a philosopher
Veni, Vidi, volo in domum redire.
I came, I saw, I want to go home.
Sit vis vobiscum.
May the Force be with you.
quasi
as if
coutus non circum.
No Fucking around
Ars sine scientia nihil est
art without science is nothing (I would also claim that the opposite is true.)
Anus Equi Volants!
Flying ass of the horse. (Fr. R. Macchietto)
Ne conjugare nobiscum
Don't fuck with us
Per aspera ad astra
through the thorns to the stars
Sunt pueri, pueri puerilia tractant.
Children are children, (therefore) children do childish things
nemo me impune laccessit
no one harms me unpunished (E.A.Poe)
ad alta
to the summit
ad astra
to the stars
Mens sana in coporae sana
A sound mind in a sound body
Aspice, officio fungeris sine spe honoris amplioris.
Face it, you're stuck in a dead end job.
Huc accedit Zambonis
Here comes the Zamboni
in vinculis etiam audax
in chains yet still bold(free)
Cum Grano Salis
With a Grain of Salt.
Propino tibi salutem!
Cheers!
Poli, poli, di umbuendo
Slowly, Slowly we will get there.
Ne humanus crede
Trust no human.
Deo Vindice
God will prove us right
Fabricati diem
Make my day
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.
I'll either find a way or make one.
Ave Caesar imperator, morituri te salutant
Hail Caesar, those about to die salute you (gladiators before the fight)
festina lente
hurry slowly
Meum pactum dictum
My word is my bond
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum
Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei
The heavens declare the glory of God
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae
There is no one great ability without a mixture of madness
Nil actum credens dum quid superesset agendum.
Thinking nothing done, while anything was yet to do.
deo volente
It means god willing.
non scholae sed vitae discimus
we learn not for school, but for life
ad astra per aspera
to the stars through difficulty
Donna Nobis Pacem
Grant up peace
Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomine Tu o da gloriam
Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.
Manus manum lavat
Hand washes hand, one hand washes another or more contemporarily you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours
Aquila non copit murem
the eagle does not catch the mouse, don't sweat the small things
Luctor et emergo
I struggle but i'll survive....something like that...its on the Dutch shield banner..
Liberate Te Ex Inferis
Save yourself from hell.
Requiescat in pace
rest in peace
Amor vincit omnia
love conquers all
Feliz ano novo
Happy new year
Isso fede
This stinks
Preciso cagar
I need take a shit
Ignis aurum probat, miseria fortes viros.
Life is not a bowl of cherries, or, literally, Fire tests gold; adversity tests strong men.
Musica delenit bestiam feram.
Music soothes the savage beast.
Cursum Perficio
My journey is over. (also sometimes as I finish my journey)
mea culpa
My fault.
Si Vis Pacern Parabellum.
Those who wish for peace, prepare for war
Romani ite domus
Yankee go home! ---(Monty Phyton's Life of Brian)
Post Festum Pestum
Literally After holidays The Plague, it means The end of Holidays is a shit!
nemo surdior est quam is qui non audiet
No man is more deaf than he who will not hear
 

--------------------------Ghengis Kahn--------------------------------

"The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him. To ride their horses and take away their possessions. To see the faces of those who were dear to them bedewed with tears, and to clasp their wives and daughters in his arms" --GK