What does “Per aspera ad astra” mean?

“Per aspera ad astra” means “Through hardships to the stars”. Seneca's line is 'there is no easy way from the earth to the stars'; the compact form is modern.

Who said “Per aspera ad astra”?

It is not classical: later motto, after Seneca, Hercules Furens 437.

Per aspera ad astra

“Through hardships to the stars”

PER · ASPERA · AD · ASTRA

Later Latin: medieval or modern

later motto, after Seneca, Hercules Furens 437

nōn est ad astra mollis ē terrīs via

Seneca's line is 'there is no easy way from the earth to the stars'; the compact form is modern.

Word by word

Perperthrough (+acc.)
asperaasper -era -erumrough, uneven, coarsesg. nom. f.
adadto, up to, towards (+acc.)
astraastrum -ī n.star; constellationpl. nom.

Using it as a motto or tattoo

Latin endings carry gender and number, so a saying about one person may need changing for another. Check your own version, or have three new ones composed, on the motto desk.

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Quick answers

What does “Per aspera ad astra” mean?: “Per aspera ad astra” means “Through hardships to the stars”. Seneca's line is 'there is no easy way from the earth to the stars'; the compact form is modern.
Who said “Per aspera ad astra”?: It is not classical: later motto, after Seneca, Hercules Furens 437.

Related sayings

Sīc itur ad astraThus one goes to the stars
Forsan et haec ōlim meminisse iuvābitPerhaps one day it will be a joy to remember even this
Ūna salūs victīs nūllam spērāre salūtemThe one hope of the defeated is to hope for none