LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Quis custōdiet ipsōs custōdēs?

“Who will guard the guards themselves?”

QVIS · CVSTODIET · IPSOS · CVSTODES

Classical: the author's own words

Juvenal, Satires 6.347–348

Juvenal means a husband who sets guards on his wife; it is now a question about power.

Word by word

  1. Quisquī -ae -odwho, which, whatpl. abl.
  2. custōdietcustōdiō -īreto monitor, supervise, guard3rd sg. fut. act. ind.
  3. ipsōsipse -sa -sumhim- her- itselfpl. acc. m.
  4. custōdēscustōs -dis m.guardianpl. 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.

Check this wordingOpen it in the reader

Quick answers

What does “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” mean?
“Quis custōdiet ipsōs custōdēs?” means “Who will guard the guards themselves?”. Juvenal means a husband who sets guards on his wife; it is now a question about power.
Who said “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”?
Juvenal, Satires 6.347–348.

Related sayings