Ūna salūs victīs nūllam spērāre salūtem
“The one hope of the defeated is to hope for none”
VNA · SALVS · VICTIS · NVLLAM · SPERARE · SALVTEM
Vergil, Aeneid 2.354
Aeneas to his comrades on the night Troy falls.
Word by word
- Ūnaūnus -aonesg. nom. f.
- salūssalūs -tis f.health, safetysg. nom.
- victīsvincō -ereconquerpl. dat. perf. pass. ptcp.
- nūllamnūllus -anot any, no onesg. acc. f.
- spērārespērō -āreto hope2nd sg. pres. pass. ind.
- salūtemsalūs -tis f.health, safetysg. acc.
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.
Quick answers
- What does “Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem” mean?
- “Ūna salūs victīs nūllam spērāre salūtem” means “The one hope of the defeated is to hope for none”. Aeneas to his comrades on the night Troy falls.
- Who said “Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem”?
- Vergil, Aeneid 2.354.
Related sayings
- Fortēs fortūna iuvatFortune helps the brave
- Audentēs fortūna iuvatFortune helps those who dare
- Per aspera ad astraThrough hardships to the stars
- Nīl dēspērandumNever despair
- Forsan et haec ōlim meminisse iuvābitPerhaps one day it will be a joy to remember even this
- Possunt, quia posse videnturThey can because they think they can