← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
88.1 Magis more labōrāre to work necesse necessary est is
88.2 Puer boy magistrum teacher magis more timet fears quam than patrem father
88.3 Deum God magis more amāre to love dēbēmus we ought quam than mundī of world rēs things
88.4 Virtūtem virtue magis more laudant praise sapientēs wise men quam than dīvitiās riches
88.5 Frāter brother meus my magis more studet studies quam than ego I
88.6 Sacerdōs priest magis more ōrat prays quam than loquitur speaks
88.7 Verba words Chrīstī of Christ magis more valent are strong quam than sapientia wisdom mundi of world
88.8 Fīliōs sons magis more docēre to teach quam than punīre to punish cupimus we desire
88.9 Discipulī pupils librōs books sacrōs sacred magis more amant love quam than lūdōs games
88.10 Magis more pācem peace quam than bellum war petimus we seek
88.11 Spīritum spirit magis more quam than corpus body cūrāre to care for dēbēmus we ought
88.12 Magis more crēscit grows bonī of good scientia knowledge quam than malī of evil
88.13 Magistra teacher exempla examples magis more quam than praecepta precepts dat gives
88.14 Magis more prodest benefits silentium silence quam than verbum word
88.15 Discipulī pupils magistrī of teacher vocēm voice magis more audiunt hear quam than librōs books legunt read
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88.1 Magis labōrāre necesse est. It is necessary to work more.
88.2 Puer magistrum magis timet quam patrem. The boy fears the teacher more than his father.
88.3 Deum magis amāre dēbēmus quam mundī rēs. We ought to love God more than worldly things.
88.4 Virtūtem sapientēs magis laudant quam dīvitiās. The wise praise virtue more than riches.
88.5 Frāter meus magis studet quam ego. My brother studies more than I do.
88.6 Magis ōrat sacerdōs quam loquitur. The priest prays more than he speaks.
88.7 Verba Chrīstī magis valent quam sapientia mundī. The words of Christ are stronger than the wisdom of the world.
88.8 Fīliōs magis docēre quam punīre cupimus. We desire to teach our sons more than to punish them.
88.9 Discipulī librōs sacrōs magis amant quam lūdōs. The pupils love sacred books more than games.
88.10 Pācem magis quam bellum petimus. We seek peace more than war.
88.11 Spīritum magis quam corpus cūrāre dēbēmus. We ought to care for the spirit more than the body.
88.12 Bonī scientia magis crēscit quam malī. Knowledge of good grows more than that of evil.
88.13 Magistra exempla magis quam praecepta dat. The teacher gives examples more than precepts.
88.14 Silentium magis prodest quam verbum. Silence benefits more than speech.
88.15 Discipulī magistrī vocēm magis audiunt quam librōs legunt. The pupils hear the teacher's voice more than they read books.
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88.1 Magis labōrāre necesse est.
88.2 Puer magistrum magis timet quam patrem.
88.3 Deum magis amāre dēbēmus quam mundī rēs.
88.4 Virtūtem sapientēs magis laudant quam dīvitiās.
88.5 Frāter meus magis studet quam ego.
88.6 Magis ōrat sacerdōs quam loquitur.
88.7 Verba Chrīstī magis valent quam sapientia mundī.
88.8 Fīliōs magis docēre quam punīre cupimus.
88.9 Discipulī librōs sacrōs magis amant quam lūdōs.
88.10 Pācem magis quam bellum petimus.
88.11 Spīritum magis quam corpus cūrāre dēbēmus.
88.12 Bonī scientia magis crēscit quam malī.
88.13 Magistra exempla magis quam praecepta dat.
88.14 Silentium magis prodest quam verbum.
88.15 Discipulī magistrī vocēm magis audiunt quam librōs legunt.
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "magis" requires attention to several key points: -
Basic Usage: -
Adverb meaning "more" -
Used for comparisons -
Often paired with "quam" (than) -
Cannot be declined (unlike adjectives) -
Common Constructions: -
With verbs: magis + verb (magis studet) -
With infinitives: magis + infinitive (magis labōrāre) -
In comparisons: magis... quam... -
With adjectives: reinforcing comparison -
Word Order: -
Usually precedes the word it modifies -
Can be separated from quam clause -
Flexible position for emphasis -
Special Uses: -
With abstract concepts -
In religious contexts -
For moral comparisons -
With infinitives
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Understanding "magis" in medieval Christian Latin requires cultural context: -
Religious Significance: -
Central to Jesuit motto "Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam" -
Used in spiritual comparisons -
Important in biblical translations -
Common in theological writings -
Educational Usage: -
Frequent in medieval textbooks -
Used for moral instruction -
Important in scholastic debates -
Part of rhetorical training -
Philosophical Context: -
Used in logical arguments -
Important for expressing degrees -
Part of medieval dialectic -
Common in ethical discussions -
Modern Relevance: -
Still used in Church Latin -
Important in classical education -
Found in academic Latin -
Used in legal Latin phrases
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From Thomas à Kempis, "De Imitatione Christi" (Book III, Chapter 32):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Magis more oportet it behooves ut that tē you subiciās submit Deō to God et and sensus senses tuōs your subiciās submit fidē by faith quam than ut that multum much quaerās you seek in in profundō deep Deī of God operē work.
"Magis oportet ut tē subiciās Deō et sensus tuōs subiciās fidē quam ut multum quaerās in profundō Deī operē."
It is more fitting that you submit yourself to God and subject your senses through faith than that you seek much in the depths of God's work.
Thomas à Kempis uses "magis" to emphasize spiritual priorities. The comparison reinforces the medieval Christian emphasis on faith over intellectual inquiry.
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"magis" introduces main comparison -
Subjunctive "subiciās" in result clauses -
Parallel structure with repeated "ut" -
Ablative "fidē" showing means
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88.16 Carissimī dearest ones fratrēs brothers magis more animam soul quam than corpus body cūrāte care for
88.17 Magis more ōrāre to pray quam than loquī to speak debemus we ought
88.18 Christus Christ magis more misericordiam mercy quam than sacrificium sacrifice quaerit seeks
88.19 Magis more opera works quam than verba words Deus God respicit regards
88.20 Fīdem faith magis more quam than scientiam knowledge laudāre to praise dēbēmus we ought
88.21 Magis more caritas charity quam than timor fear salūtem salvation operātur works
88.22 Spīritum spirit magis more quam than litteram letter sequī to follow oportet it is fitting
88.23 Magis more grātia grace quam than nātūra nature hominem man perficit perfects
88.24 Caelestia heavenly things magis more quam than terrestria earthly things dīligite love
88.25 Magis more paenitentiam repentance quam than iūstitiam justice praedicāmus we preach
88.26 Virtūtem virtue magis more quam than scientiam knowledge docēre to teach dēbēmus we ought
88.27 Magis more caritatem charity quam than sapientiam wisdom quaerimus we seek
88.28 Christus Christ magis more corda hearts quam than vultūs faces respicit regards
88.29 Magis more humilitātem humility quam than potentiam power laudāmus we praise
88.30 Deus God magis more spiritum spirit quam than formam form amat loves
88.16 Carissimī fratrēs, magis animam quam corpus cūrāte. Dearest brothers, care more for the soul than the body.
88.17 Magis ōrāre quam loquī debemus. We ought to pray more than speak.
88.18 Christus magis misericordiam quam sacrificium quaerit. Christ seeks mercy more than sacrifice.
88.19 Opera magis quam verba Deus respicit. God regards works more than words.
88.20 Fīdem magis quam scientiam laudāre dēbēmus. We ought to praise faith more than knowledge
88.21 Magis caritas quam timor salūtem operātur. Charity more than fear works salvation.
88.22 Spīritum magis quam litteram sequī oportet. It is fitting to follow the spirit more than the letter.
88.23 Magis grātia quam nātūra hominem perficit. Grace more than nature perfects man.
88.24 Caelestia magis quam terrestria dīligite. Love heavenly things more than earthly things.
88.25 Magis paenitentiam quam iūstitiam praedicāmus. We preach repentance more than justice.
88.26 Virtūtem magis quam scientiam docēre dēbēmus. We ought to teach virtue more than knowledge.
88.27 Magis caritatem quam sapientiam quaerimus. We seek charity more than wisdom.
88.28 Christus magis corda quam vultūs respicit. Christ regards hearts more than faces.
88.29 Magis humilitātem quam potentiam laudāmus. We praise humility more than power.
88.30 Deus magis spiritum quam formam amat. God loves spirit more than form.
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88.16 Carissimī fratrēs, magis animam quam corpus cūrāte.
88.17 Magis ōrāre quam loquī debemus.
88.18 Christus magis misericordiam quam sacrificium quaerit.
88.19 Opera magis quam verba Deus respicit.
88.20 Fīdem magis quam scientiam laudāre dēbēmus.
88.21 Magis caritas quam timor salūtem operātur.
88.22 Spīritum magis quam litteram sequī oportet.
88.23 Magis grātia quam nātūra hominem perficit.
88.24 Caelestia magis quam terrestria dīligite.
88.25 Magis paenitentiam quam iūstitiam praedicāmus.
88.26 Virtūtem magis quam scientiam docēre dēbēmus.
88.27 Magis caritatem quam sapientiam quaerimus.
88.28 Christus magis corda quam vultūs respicit.
88.29 Magis humilitātem quam potentiam laudāmus.
88.30 Deus magis spiritum quam formam amat.
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For English speakers studying medieval sermon Latin, understanding the use of "magis" requires attention to several key features: -
Sermonic Comparison Structures: -
Spiritual vs. Material contrasts -
Abstract vs. Concrete comparisons -
Moral vs. Worldly distinctions -
Divine vs. Human preferences -
Common Patterns: -
With imperative verbs (cūrāte, dīligite) -
With theological terms -
In pastoral exhortations -
With moral teachings -
Word Order in Sermons: -
Often begins sentences for emphasis -
Paired with key Christian concepts -
Used in balanced phrases -
Creates rhetorical patterns -
Special Uses: -
In spiritual advice -
For moral instruction -
In theological arguments -
With religious vocabulary
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