Virgil - Felix Qui Potuit Rerum Cognoscere Causas

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Virgil - Felix Qui Potuit Rerum Cognoscere Causas

Virgil - Felix Qui Potuit Rerum Cognoscere Causas

Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas - Wikipedia


“Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas” is verse 490 of Book 2 of the "Georgics" (29 BC), by the Latin poet Virgil (70 - 19 BC). It is literally translated as: “Fortunate, who was able to know the causes of things”. ] Virgil may have had in mind the Roman philosopher Lucretius, of the Epicurean school.

Uses[edit]

300px-Inscription_in_the_Catacombs_of_Paris.jpg
The verse on display in the Catacombs of Paris

This sentence is often written with a present tense instead of the past tense: “Felix, qui potest rerum cognoscere causas” (“Fortunate is he, who is able to know the causes of things”). Translators have also often added the adjective "hid" or "hidden" to qualify the causes.

The latter half of the phrase, "rerum cognoscere causas", is the motto of the London School of Economics, the University of Sheffield, Bruce Hall (residential college of the Australian National University), Humberside Collegiate, the University of Guelph, Hill Park Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, the IVDI lecture hall of the University of Debrecen, the Science National Honor Society, the Royal Military College of Science,[2] the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel and the Romanian National Defense College [ro].[3]

Comments 3

September 18, 2021 at 8:39 AM
Author

So I like this one almost literally but in present tense:

Happy is he who is able to know the causes of things,

And all fear, and inexorable fate, he tramples underfoot, along with the roar of greedy hell.

So in this brief verse you've got a great summary of the Epicurean worldview:

  1. Pleasure/happiness
  2. Brought about by Knowledge of Nature
  3. Rejecting fear
  4. Rejecting fate
  5. And rejecting - violently! - the threats of religion, including fear of death.

For me this one is probably more complete and clear as a summary of the most important elements of Epicurean philosophy than is the Tetrapharmakon.

And better yet than the Tetrapharmakon? It's in LATIN and therefore easier for more modern westerners to memorize and see the meaning! ;)

Unfortunately for me when I look at many of the remaining texts it's still "Greek to me." But when I look at these Latin words I can almost imagine Lucretius / Virgil saying them, and me be actually able to understand him as he's saying it. - The only words being really foreign probably the metus and strepitum.
September 18, 2021 at 8:28 AM
Author

From Nodictionaries.com:

https://nodictionaries.com/vergil/georgic-2/475-540

felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas
felix, felicis (gen.), felicior -or -us, felicissimus -a -umhappy; blessed; fertile; favorable; lucky; successful, fruitful
cognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitusbecome acquainted with/aware of; recognize; learn, find to be; inquire/examine
causa, causae Fcause/reason/motive; origin, source, derivation; responsibility/blame; symptom
atque metus omnis et inexorabile fatum
atqueand, as well/soon as; together with; and moreover/even; and too/also/now; yet
metus, metus Mfear, anxiety; dread, awe; object of awe/dread
inexorabilis, inexorabilis, inexorabileinexorable, relentless
fatum, fati Nutterance, oracle; fate, destiny; natural term of life; doom, death, calamity
subiecit pedibus strepitumque Acherontis auari:
subjicio, subjicere, subjeci, subjectusthrow under, place under; make subject; expose
pes, pedis Mfoot
strepo, strepere, strepui, strepitusmake a loud noise; shout confusedly; resound
avarus, avara -um, avarior -or -us, avarissimus -a -umavaricious, greedy; stingy, miserly, mean; covetous, hungry for
fortunatus et ille deos qui nouit agrestis
fortuno, fortunare, fortunavi, fortunatusmake happy, bless, prosper
nosco, noscere, novi, notusget to know; learn, find out; become cognizant of/acquainted/familiar with
agrestis, agrestis, agresterustic, inhabiting countryside; rude, wild, savage; of/passing through fields
Panaque Siluanumque senem Nymphasque sorores.
Pan, Panos/is MPan; Greek god of shepherds
silvanus, silvani Mgods associated with forest and uncultivated land
senex, senis (gen.), senior -or -us, -aged, old
nymphe, nymphes Fnymph; water; bride; young maiden
soror, sororis Fsister
September 18, 2021 at 7:50 AM

Here's a link to the English translation at the Perseus Digital Library:

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?do…%3A1999.02.0058

"Happy, who had the skill to understand
Nature's hid causes, and beneath his feet
All terrors cast, and death's relentless doom,
And the loud roar of greedy Acheron."

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