Recte facti fecisse merces est
“The reward of a good deed is to have done it.”
Seneca, Epistulae morales 81.19
What does “Recte facti fecisse merces est” mean?
Recte facti fecisse merces est translates as “The reward of a good deed is to have done it.”
Do good for its own sake, not for thanks or payment. The satisfaction is the reward.
“Recte facti fecisse merces est” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Recte | rightly, well | adverb (from rectus, “right, straight”); here it describes the deed as properly done |
| facti | of a deed done | genitive singular neuter of the perfect passive participle of facio, “I do, I make”; used as a noun, “of a thing done” |
| fecisse | to have done | perfect active infinitive of facio, “I do, I make” |
| merces | reward, payment | nominative singular feminine of merces (genitive mercedis), “wages, reward”; the subject of the sentence |
| est | is | third person singular present of sum, “I am” |
How to pronounce “Recte facti fecisse merces est”
The two systems differ only in the c of fecisse and merces, which is a hard k in Classical Latin and ch in Church Latin. Stress falls on the first syllable of recte and facti, the second of fecisse and the first of merces.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “of a thing rightly done, to have done is the reward”. The Latin is compact: facti and fecisse both come from facio, so the sentence plays on the doer and the deed.
It comes from Seneca’s Epistulae morales, the letters he wrote to his friend Lucilius late in life. In letter 81 he discusses benefits, gratitude and ingratitude, and argues that a good deed carries its own return, whether or not anyone thanks you.
This fits Stoic teaching that virtue is its own reward. The line is still quoted today as a short answer to the question of whether kindness needs recognition.
How to use “Recte facti fecisse merces est”
It suits a tattoo or desk motto about acting well without seeking praise, a card for someone who helps others quietly, or a line in an essay on ethics, volunteering or Stoicism.
- Latin
- Recte facti fecisse merces est
- English
- The reward of a good deed is to have done it.
- Source
- Seneca, Epistulae morales 81.19
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Virtue
Common mistakes
- Do not read facti as “the doer”. It means “of a deed done”, not a person.
- The word order is poetic and flexible, so do not translate it strictly in sequence. Merces is the subject and fecisse is what the reward consists in.
- Merces here is “reward”, not “merchandise”. It is related to English “mercenary” but not the same word as merx, “goods”.
Questions about “Recte facti fecisse merces est”
What does “Recte facti fecisse merces est” mean literally?
Roughly “of a thing rightly done, to have done is the reward”. In plain English: the reward of a good deed is having done it.
Who said “Recte facti fecisse merces est”?
Seneca the Younger, in Epistulae morales 81.19, a letter to his friend Lucilius about gratitude and benefits.
How do you pronounce “Recte facti fecisse merces est”?
Classically: REK-teh FAK-tee feh-KIS-seh MER-kayss est. In Church Latin the c in fecisse and merces becomes ch.
Is “Recte facti fecisse merces est” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is Seneca’s own wording. Keep it as a whole, since changing any word would break the grammar.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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