LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Possunt, quia posse videntur

“They can because they think they can”

POSSVNT · QVIA · POSSE · VIDENTVR

Classical: the author's own words

Vergil, Aeneid 5.231

A crew in the boat race, rowing on belief.

Word by word

  1. Possuntpossum -ebe able3rd pl. pres. act. ind.
  2. quiaquiabecause
  3. possepossum -ebe ablepres. act. inf.
  4. videnturvideō -ēresee3rd pl. pres. pass. ind.

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.

Check this wordingOpen it in the reader

Quick answers

What does “Possunt, quia posse videntur” mean?
“Possunt, quia posse videntur” means “They can because they think they can”. A crew in the boat race, rowing on belief.
Who said “Possunt, quia posse videntur”?
Vergil, Aeneid 5.231.

Related sayings