← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
149.1 Vir man bonus good semper always vēritātem truth dīcit speaks
149.2 Semper always māter mother līberōs children suōs her amat loves
149.3 Hostēs enemies nostrī our semper always bellum war parant prepare
149.4 Nōn not semper always ver spring erit will be
149.5 Semper always sapientēs wise men cōnsilium advice bonum good dant give
149.6 Rōmānī Romans semper always prō for patriā fatherland pugnābant were fighting
149.7 Amīcī friends vērī true semper always fidēlēs faithful manent remain
149.8 Semper always discipulī students dīligentēs diligent magistrum teacher audiunt hear
149.9 Fortūna fortune nōn not semper always eadem same est is
149.10 Puer boy parvus small semper always cum with canibus dogs lūdit plays
149.11 Semper always avēs birds māne in morning cantant sing
149.12 Virtūs virtue semper always laudanda to be praised est is
149.13 Agricolae farmers semper always dē about tempestāte weather cōgitant think
149.14 Semper always ego I tuī of you meminerō will remember
149.15 Sōl sun semper always ab from oriente east oritur rises
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
149.1 Vir bonus semper vēritātem dīcit. A good man always speaks the truth.
149.2 Semper māter līberōs suōs amat. A mother always loves her children.
149.3 Hostēs nostrī semper bellum parant. Our enemies are always preparing for war.
149.4 Nōn semper ver erit. It will not always be spring.
149.5 Semper sapientēs cōnsilium bonum dant. Wise men always give good advice.
149.6 Rōmānī semper prō patriā pugnābant. The Romans always fought for their fatherland.
149.7 Amīcī vērī semper fidēlēs manent. True friends always remain faithful.
149.8 Semper discipulī dīligentēs magistrum audiunt. Diligent students always listen to their teacher.
149.9 Fortūna nōn semper eadem est. Fortune is not always the same.
149.10 Puer parvus semper cum canibus lūdit. The small boy always plays with dogs.
149.11 Semper avēs māne cantant. Birds always sing in the morning.
149.12 Virtūs semper laudanda est. Virtue is always to be praised.
149.13 Agricolae semper dē tempestāte cōgitant. Farmers always think about the weather.
149.14 Semper ego tuī meminerō. I will always remember you.
149.15 Sōl semper ab oriente oritur. The sun always rises from the east.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
149.1 Vir bonus semper vēritātem dīcit.
149.2 Semper māter līberōs suōs amat.
149.3 Hostēs nostrī semper bellum parant.
149.4 Nōn semper ver erit.
149.5 Semper sapientēs cōnsilium bonum dant.
149.6 Rōmānī semper prō patriā pugnābant.
149.7 Amīcī vērī semper fidēlēs manent.
149.8 Semper discipulī dīligentēs magistrum audiunt.
149.9 Fortūna nōn semper eadem est.
149.10 Puer parvus semper cum canibus lūdit.
149.11 Semper avēs māne cantant.
149.12 Virtūs semper laudanda est.
149.13 Agricolae semper dē tempestāte cōgitant.
149.14 Semper ego tuī meminerō.
149.15 Sōl semper ab oriente oritur.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
For English speakers learning Latin, "semper" presents several important features: -
Form and Function: -
"Semper" is an adverb meaning "always" or "ever" -
It is indeclinable (doesn't change form) -
Unlike English, which places "always" in various positions, Latin has more flexibility -
Position in the Sentence: -
Initial position for emphasis: "Semper māter līberōs suōs amat" (emphasizes the constancy) -
Between subject and verb: "Vir bonus semper vēritātem dīcit" (natural flow) -
Before the main verb: "Hostēs nostrī semper bellum parant" (modifies the action) -
With Negatives: -
"Nōn semper" = "not always" -
Example: "Nōn semper ver erit" (It will not always be spring) -
Notice the word order: negative typically precedes "semper" -
Comparison with English: -
English: "always" usually comes between auxiliary and main verb -
Latin: more flexible placement for stylistic effect -
Example: "I will always remember" = "Semper ego tuī meminerō" (emphasis on "always") -
Common Phrases: -
"semper fidēlis" (always faithful) - motto usage -
"semper parātus" (always prepared) -
"semper eadem" (always the same)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
For English speakers, understanding "semper" in Roman culture reveals important values: -
Roman Ideals of Constancy: -
Romans valued consistency and reliability -
"Semper" appears in many mottos expressing eternal values -
The concept of perpetual duty (semper fidēlis) was central to Roman military ethics -
Legal and Religious Usage: -
Legal formulas often included "semper" for perpetual obligations -
Religious vows used "semper" to indicate eternal commitment -
Temple dedications often included phrases with "semper" -
Philosophical Context: -
Stoic philosophers used "semper" in discussions of eternal truths -
Contrasted with temporal things (temporāria) -
Important in discussions of virtue being "semper" valuable -
Modern Legacy: -
U.S. Marine Corps motto: "Semper Fidēlis" (Always Faithful) -
University mottos frequently use "semper" -
Legal principle: "Semper necessitas probandi incumbit ei qui agit" (The necessity of proof always lies with the person who lays charges)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From Virgil's Aeneid (1.607-609):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Sunt there are lacrimae tears rērum for things et and mentem mind mortālia mortal things tangunt. touch. Solve release metūs; fears; feret will bring haec this aliquam some tibī to you fāma fame salūtem. safety. Sīc thus ait he speaks atque and animum spirit pictūrā with picture pāscit feeds inānī empty multa many things gemēns, groaning, largōque and with large ūmectat he wets flūmine flood vultum. face.
Sunt lacrimae rērum et mentem mortālia tangunt. Solve metūs; feret haec aliquam tibī fāma salūtem. Sīc ait atque animum pictūrā pāscit inānī multa gemēns, largōque ūmectat flūmine vultum.
There are tears for things and mortal matters touch the mind. Release your fears; this fame will bring you some salvation. Thus he speaks and feeds his spirit with an empty picture, groaning much, and wets his face with a copious flood of tears.
In this passage, Aeneas views the temple murals at Carthage depicting the Trojan War. Though "semper" doesn't appear directly, the passage illustrates the eternal (semper) nature of human suffering and compassion that transcends time and place—a key theme throughout the Aeneid.
-
"Sunt lacrimae rērum" - existential use of "sum" with dative of possession -
"mortālia" - neuter plural substantive adjective -
"Solve metūs" - imperative with direct object -
"largō flūmine" - ablative of means -
Complex sentence structure showing Virgil's sophisticated style
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
149.16 Philosophus philosopher docet teaches vēritātem truth semper always esse to be aeternam eternal
149.17 Semper always homō man sapiens wise virtūtem virtue colit cultivates
149.18 Nātūra nature semper always sibi to itself cōnstat remains constant
149.19 Nōn not semper always ea those things quae which videntur seem vēra true sunt are
149.20 Semper always animus mind hominis of man vēritātem truth quaerit seeks
149.21 Mors death semper always omnibus to all hominibus men venit comes
149.22 Sapientia wisdom semper always cum with aetāte age crēscit grows
149.23 Semper always tempus time omnia all things mūtat changes
149.24 Iūstitia justice semper always in in rēbus affairs hūmānīs human necessāria necessary est is
149.25 Nōn not semper always fēlīcitās happiness cum with dīvitiīs riches habitat dwells
149.26 Semper always causae causes effectūs effects suōs their gignunt produce
149.27 Dolor pain et and gaudium joy semper always sē themselves sequuntur follow
149.28 Semper always philosophī philosophers dē about nātūrā nature rērum of things disputant debate
149.29 Memoria memory semper always praeterita past things tenet holds
149.30 Semper always spēs hope in in animīs souls hominum of men manet remains
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
149.16 Philosophus docet vēritātem semper esse aeternam. The philosopher teaches that truth is always eternal.
149.17 Semper homō sapiens virtūtem colit. A wise man always cultivates virtue.
149.18 Nātūra semper sibi cōnstat. Nature always remains constant to itself.
149.19 Nōn semper ea quae videntur vēra sunt. Those things which seem true are not always so.
149.20 Semper animus hominis vēritātem quaerit. The human mind always seeks truth.
149.21 Mors semper omnibus hominibus venit. Death always comes to all men.
149.22 Sapientia semper cum aetāte crēscit. Wisdom always grows with age.
149.23 Semper tempus omnia mūtat. Time always changes all things.
149.24 Iūstitia semper in rēbus hūmānīs necessāria est. Justice is always necessary in human affairs.
149.25 Nōn semper fēlīcitās cum dīvitiīs habitat. Happiness does not always dwell with riches.
149.26 Semper causae effectūs suōs gignunt. Causes always produce their effects.
149.27 Dolor et gaudium semper sē sequuntur. Pain and joy always follow each other.
149.28 Semper philosophī dē nātūrā rērum disputant. Philosophers always debate about the nature of things.
149.29 Memoria semper praeterita tenet. Memory always holds past things.
149.30 Semper spēs in animīs hominum manet. Hope always remains in the souls of men.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
149.16 Philosophus docet vēritātem semper esse aeternam.
149.17 Semper homō sapiens virtūtem colit.
149.18 Nātūra semper sibi cōnstat.
149.19 Nōn semper ea quae videntur vēra sunt.
149.20 Semper animus hominis vēritātem quaerit.
149.21 Mors semper omnibus hominibus venit.
149.22 Sapientia semper cum aetāte crēscit.
149.23 Semper tempus omnia mūtat.
149.24 Iūstitia semper in rēbus hūmānīs necessāria est.
149.25 Nōn semper fēlīcitās cum dīvitiīs habitat.
149.26 Semper causae effectūs suōs gignunt.
149.27 Dolor et gaudium semper sē sequuntur.
149.28 Semper philosophī dē nātūrā rērum disputant.
149.29 Memoria semper praeterita tenet.
149.30 Semper spēs in animīs hominum manet.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The philosophical treatise genre demonstrates sophisticated uses of "semper": -
With Indirect Statement (AcI): -
"Philosophus docet vēritātem semper esse aeternam" -
Structure: main verb (docet) + accusative (vēritātem) + infinitive (esse) -
"Semper" modifies the infinitive clause -
Abstract Concepts: -
"Nātūra semper sibi cōnstat" - philosophical principle -
"Semper" emphasizes universal truths -
Reflexive pronoun "sibi" shows self-consistency -
Philosophical Paradoxes: -
"Nōn semper ea quae videntur vēra sunt" -
Complex relative clause structure -
Distinction between appearance and reality -
Paired Concepts: -
"Dolor et gaudium semper sē sequuntur" -
Reciprocal relationship emphasized by "semper" -
Reflexive "sē" shows mutual following -
Universal Statements: -
"Mors semper omnibus hominibus venit" -
Dative "omnibus hominibus" shows universality -
"Semper" reinforces inevitability -
Causal Relationships: -
"Semper causae effectūs suōs gignunt" -
Natural law expressed through "semper" -
Possessive "suōs" links cause to specific effects
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---