These words are written to my sons, that they may be instructed in how to avoid the ways that many take, and instead to follow the moral path that brings one dignity, that they may believe these things and consider the esteem they will bring to your reputations, so that you may live with the greatest glory and achieve honors. Now, my dearest sons, I shall teach you the manner by which to well compose yourselves. Therefore read my precepts that you may understand, for to read and not understand would be to neglect me, your father.
- Itaque deo supplica. Therefore pray to God.
- Parentes ama. Love your parents.
- Cognatos cole. Show respect to your relatives.
- Magistrum metue. Give fearful respect to your teacher.
- Datum serva. Safeguard what is entrusted to you.
- Fora para. Prepare for the Forum.
- Cum bonis ambula. Go about in the company of good people.
- Antequam voceris, ne accesseris. Do not approach before you are called.
- Mundus esto. Be clean.
- Saluta libenter. Willingly greet others.
- Maiori concede. Concede to your superiors.
- Minori parce. Be kind to your inferiors.
- Rem tuam custodi. Keep your thought to yourself.
- Verecundiam serva. Preserve your modesty.
- Diligentiam adhibe. Apply yourself diligently.
- Libros lege. Read books.
- Quae legeris, memento. Remember what you read.
- Familiam cura. Care for your family and its reputation.
- Blandus esto. Be courteous.
- Irascere ob rem noli. Do not become angry over nothing.
- Neminem riseris. Do not laugh at anyone.
- Mutuum da. Give in return for what you receive.
- Cui des, videto. Be mindful of to whom you give.
- In iudicio adesto. In court stand by your friends.
- Ad praetorium stato. Attend to your commanding officer.
- Convivare raro. Seldom entertain, or not too much.
- Quod satis est, dormi. Get enough sleep.
- Iusiurandum serva. Keep your oath.
- Vino tempera. Be moderate in drinking wine.
- Pugna pro patria. Fight for your country.
- Nihil temere credideris. Do not be gullible.
- Tute consule. Give good counsel.
- Meretricem fuge. Flee from a harlot.
- Litteras disce. Study literature.
- Nihil mentire. Do not deceive others.
- Bono benefacito. Be beneficial to good people.
- Maledicus ne esto. Do not curse others.
- Existimationem retine. Safeguard your good reputation.
- Aequum iudica. Judge fairly.
- Parentem patienter vince. Overcome your parent with patience.
- Beneficii accepti esto memor. Remember those from whom you receive favors.
- Miserum noli ridere. Do not laugh at the misery of others. [Do not ridicule the poor].
- Consultus esto. Be a good adviser.
- Virtute utere. Practice virtue.
- Iracundiam temporale rege. Master your anger.
- Trocho lude. Play games for enjoyment.
- Aleam fuge. Spurn games of chance.
- Nihil arbitrii virium feceris. Do not abuse your power and authority against anyone.
- Minorem non contempseris. Do not be contemptuous of your inferiors.
- Alienum noli concupisci. Desire nothing of others.
- Coniugem ama. Love your wife.
- Liberos erudi. Teach your children.
- Pati legem, quam ipse tuleris. Abide by the rules you make yourself.
- Pauca in convivio loquere. Speak little at a banquet.
- Illud stude agere, quod iustum est. Apply yourself to do that which is right and just.
- Libenter amorem ferto. Show your affections freely.
- Minime iudica. Do not misjudge.
Alternative translation #1:
Since I am aware of how many stray in the path of morals, I thought I should come to the aid of their understanding and take their reputations into account, so that they might live with greatest glory and obtain honors. Now I shall teach you, dearest son, how to fabricate morals for your own mind. There read my precepts, that you may understand; to read and not to understand is to be negligent.
- Itaque deo supplica. So, pray to God.
- Parentes ama. Love your parents.
- Cognatos cole. Respect your kindred.
- Magistrum metue. Fear (respect) your teacher.
- Datum serva. Keep what is given to you.
- Fora para. Be careful of the market-place.
- Cum bonis ambula. Keep company with good people.
- Antequam voceris, ne accesseris. Don't go until called.
- Mundus esto. Keep clean.
- Saluta libenter. Greet freely.
- Maiori concede. Give way to your superior.
- Minori parce. Be nice to your inferior.
- Rem tuam custodi. Keep what you have. [Keep your counsels].
- Verecundiam serva. Preserve modesty.
- Diligentiam adhibe. Be diligent.
- Libros lege. Read books.
- Quae legeris, memento. Remember what you read.
- Familiam cura. Take care of your family.
- Blandus esto. Be nice. [Be laid back].
- Irascere ob rem noli. Don't get angry for no reason.
- Neminem riseris. Don't laugh at anybody.
- Mutuum da. Give in return.
- Cui des, videto. Think about to whom you are giving.
- In iudicio adesto. Stand by a friend in court.
- Ad praetorium stato. Keep in good standing.
- Convivare raro. Don't party too much.
- Quod satis est, dormi. Sleep the right amount of time.
- Iusiurandum serva. Keep your oath.
- Vino tempera. Don't drink too much.
- Pugna pro patria. Fight for your country.
- Nihil temere credideris. Don't be gullible.
- Tute consule. Give good advice.
- Meretricem fuge. Flee the prostitute.
- Litteras disce. Study literature.
- Nihil mentire. Don't lie.
- Bono benefacito. Do good to the good.
- Maledicus ne esto. Don't curse.
- Existimationem retine. Hold on to your reputation.
- Aequum iudica. Judge properly.
- Parentem patienter vince. Overcome your parent with patience.
- Beneficii accepti esto memor. Remember a good turn.
- Miserum noli ridere. Don't sneer at the poor.
- Consultus esto. Be a good guru.
- Virtute utere. Practice virtue.
- Iracundiam temporale rege. Control your anger.
- Trocho lude. Play with the hoop.
- Aleam fuge. Spurn dice-playing.
- Nihil arbitrii virium feceris. Don't be a bully.
- Minorem non contempseris. Don't sneer at your inferior.
- Alienum noli concupisci. Don't covet.
- Coniugem ama. Love your wife.
- Liberos erudi. Teach your children.
- Pati legem, quam ipse tuleris. Keep the law you make yourself.
- Pauca in convivio loquere. Don't talk much at a banquet.
- Illud stude agere, quod iustum est. Seek to do that which is right.
- Libenter amorem ferto. Be ready to show affection.
- Minime iudica. Do not misjudge.
Alternative translation #2:
When I noticed how very many go seriously wrong in their manner of living I concluded that I must apply a corrective to their belief and take counsel of the experience of mankind in order that they may live most gloriously and attain honor. Now I will teach thee, dearest son, in what way thou mayest fashion a rule for thy life. Therefore, so read my precepts that thou mayest understand them, for to read and not to-understand is equivalent to not reading.
- Pray to God.
- Love thy parents.
- Cherish those of kin to thee.
- Guard that entrusted to thee.
- Shun the market place.
- Walk with the upright.
- Attack not until you have challenged.
- Be neat.
- Salute freely.
- Yield to him who is older than thou.
- Respect the magistrate.
- Preserve thy sense of shame.
- Guard well thine own interests.
- Practice diligence.
- Care for thy family.
- Return like for like.
- Consider well to whom to make presents.
- Indulge rarely in banquets.
- Sleep enough.
- Love thy wife.
- Keep thy word.
- Be moderate with wine.
- Fight for thy country.
- Be not easily imposed upon.
- Shun the harlot.
- Read books.
- Remember what thou readest.
- See to the instruction of thy children.
- Be kind.
- Be angry when the affair requires it.
- Ridicule no one.
- Attend the law court.
- Frequent the residence of the praetor.
- Be conversant with the law.
- Practice virtue.
- Play with a hoop.
- Eschew the dice.
- Learn to read.
- Show favor to the good.
- Give sound counsel.
- Be not abusive.
- Hold to thy opinion.
- Judge fairly.
- Never lie.
- Keep thy temper.
- Overcome thy parent with patience.
- Despise not thy inferior.
- Do nothing under the pressure of force.
- Respect the law thou thyself hast made.
- Be mindful of favor received.
- Say little at banquets.
- Deride not the unhappy.
- Never pass judgment.
- Covet not the possessions of another.
- Seek that which is right.
- Feel affection freely.
- Strive after noble things.