People who do Classical languages

[Housebroken Lunatic]

I only use terms, addages and sayings in classical languages in a slightly sarcastic manner. I hate people who are so obviously full of themselves whenever they think that they must be some kind of genius simply because they occasionally spout platitudes like "carpe diem!" or "cogito, ergo sum".

I usually refer to these as "poser-intellectuals", and I do what I can to distance myself from them...

 

[Kuranesno7]

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
"Who watches the watchmen?"

"Mortui docent vivos."
"The living learn from the dead."

"Fiat Lux"
"Let there be light"

"Fiat homo"
"Let there be man"

this is the extent of my knowledge of Latin

It's an interesting language and everyone should learn a little for the sake of novelty as well at least a few greek words.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I took two years of Latin in high school (but I don't know enough to have a conversation), and I can generally tell what people are saying when they speak Ren Faire (which is, I think, Middle English)

 

[Rhino of Steel]

Well I'm in Classical Studies so I've done a few years of both Latin and Ancient Greek. I find Latin to be much easier but I know a lot of my classmates feel differently. I'm better with the grammar rules than the vocab so I think that is why. Greek has ten words to say anything and each of those will have different meanings depending on context. Latin tends to be less poetic and more direct aside from the actual poetry (thank you very much Virgil).

It is definitely rewarding but not for everyone. If you happen to be in university or college and are interested in learning a bit more, I'd suggest taking an etymology course that focuses on Latin and Greek origins for words. It can give you a great starting point if you aren't studying history or languages themselves.

Incidentally, this thread is in need of a few Greek quotes to offset all the Latin (though a good deal of it so far has been a bit off). So:

γνῶθι σεαυτόν - Know thyself
μηδὲν ἄγαν - Nothing in excess

Both from the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Sometimes phrases will stay in use for thousands of years, helps to know where they came from.

 

[Dango]

I take Latin in school, that's really it.

 

[Beliyal]

I had Latin in high school for two years, and will have a bit specialized Latin next two semesters in college (I study archaeology). I really love classical languages, my great wish is to learn ancient Greek and some other totally useless languages such as Sumerian or Akkadian (yeah, supreme uselessness, but hey, there are worse things in life), even Sanskrit and Hebrew. I love strange languages D: Doubt I'll ever get a chance to learn some of those hough.