Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes
“I have done what I could; let those who can do better.”
Latin saying
What does “Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes” mean?
Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes translates as “I have done what I could; let those who can do better.”
Give your best and let others improve on it.
“Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Feci | I have done | first person singular perfect active indicative of facio, “I do, I make” |
| quod | what | relative pronoun (neuter singular, accusative), object of feci: “that which” |
| potui | I was able | first person singular perfect active indicative of possum, “I am able, I can” |
| faciant | let them do | third person plural present active subjunctive of facio; a command or wish (jussive subjunctive) |
| meliora | better things | comparative adjective (neuter plural, accusative) from bonus, “good”; object of faciant |
| potentes | those who are able | present participle of possum used as a noun (masculine plural, nominative): “the powerful, those who can” |
How to pronounce “Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes”
The differences are in feci and faciant (hard k versus ch) and in the final -es of potentes (ace versus ess/ehs). In both systems the stress falls on FE-, PO-, FA-, -O- and -TEN-.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “I did what I was able to; let those who are able do better things.” The verb potui is a past tense (“I was able”), which English smooths into “could”. It is a modest farewell: the speaker has given what he had and leaves the rest to others.
The saying is traditionally linked to the formula Roman consuls used when handing over office at the end of their term. This is a tradition rather than a documented fact, and the exact origin of the verse is uncertain, so it is best described simply as a Latin saying.
Today it is often quoted by people stepping down from a role or finishing a difficult project. It works as a graceful way to accept the limits of one’s effort without false modesty or complaint.
How to use “Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes”
Fits a farewell message when you leave a job or post, a closing line in a speech or handover, or a tattoo and desk motto about doing your honest best and accepting your limits.
- Latin
- Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes
- English
- I have done what I could; let those who can do better.
- Source
- Latin saying
- Era
- Traditional
- Theme
- Effort
Common mistakes
- It is not a boast or a challenge: the tone is humble, an invitation to others to improve on the work.
- Faciant is a subjunctive wish or command (“let them do”), not a plain statement (“they do”).
- Potentes here means “those who are able”, not necessarily “the powerful”, although the word can also mean that.
- Do not attribute it to a famous Roman author: the source is traditional and uncertain.
Questions about “Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes”
What does “Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes” mean literally?
“I have done what I was able to; let those who are able do better things.” In natural English: I did my best, now let others do better.
Who said “Feci quod potui”?
There is no certain author. It is a traditional saying, linked by tradition to the words of Roman consuls leaving office, but that origin is uncertain.
How do you pronounce “Feci quod potui”?
In Classical Latin: FEH-kee kwod POH-too-ee. In Church Latin the first word is FEH-chee. The stress is on FE- and PO-.
Is “Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes” good Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound and the sentence is a recognised traditional saying. Copy it exactly, including the comma and the subjunctive faciant.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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