Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus
“Chance is powerful everywhere; always keep your hook hanging.”
Ovid, Ars amatoria 3.425
What does “Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus” mean?
Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus translates as “Chance is powerful everywhere; always keep your hook hanging.”
Stay ready. Opportunity comes when you least expect it.
“Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Casus | chance, accident, fortune | nominative singular masculine (nominative case) of casus, “a fall, chance”; the subject of the first clause |
| ubique | everywhere | adverb |
| valet | is powerful, has force | 3rd person singular present indicative active of valeo, “I am strong, I have power” |
| semper | always | adverb |
| tibi | for you | dative singular (dative case) of tu, “you”; here the person for whom the hook hangs |
| pendeat | let it hang | 3rd person singular present subjunctive active of pendeo, “I hang”; the subjunctive expresses a wish or command, “let it hang” |
| hamus | hook, fishing hook | nominative singular masculine (nominative case) of hamus, “hook”; the subject of pendeat |
How to pronounce “Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus”
The main differences are the s between vowels in casus (a plain s in Classical, closer to z in Church), the w sound of v in valet (Classical) versus a v sound (Church), the vowel i in tibi, and the h in hamus, which is pronounced in Classical but usually dropped in Church.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says that chance has power everywhere, so let your hook always hang for you. The image is that of an angler who leaves a baited line in the water and lets luck bring the fish.
The line comes from Ovid’s Ars amatoria (The Art of Love), book 3, line 425. Ovid, a Roman poet of the late first century BC and early first century AD, wrote this poem as a tongue-in-cheek guide to love and flirtation. In book 3 he addresses women, and the hook is the lure that attracts a lover.
Read outside its original setting, the line has become a general motto about readiness. It tells you not to count on a single moment, because opportunity can turn up where you least expect it, and a prepared person is the one who can seize it.
How to use “Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus”
It suits a card for someone starting a job search, a new venture or a new relationship, a motto for a desk or a studio, or a tattoo about staying open to luck. It also works as a caption for a fishing photo, where the pun on the hook is intended.
- Latin
- Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus
- English
- Chance is powerful everywhere; always keep your hook hanging.
- Source
- Ovid, Ars amatoria 3.425
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Fate
Common mistakes
- Hamus is the fishing hook, not a general word for bait or luck. Do not translate it as “bait” or “net”.
- Pendeat is a subjunctive, so it is a wish or command (“let it hang”), not a plain statement that the hook hangs.
- The line is often shortened to “Casus ubique valet”. That is fine, but the second half is the advice to be prepared and should not be lost in the meaning.
- It is not a promise that luck will favor you. It says chance is powerful and tells you to be ready for it.
Questions about “Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus”
What does “Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus” mean?
“Chance is powerful everywhere; always keep your hook hanging.” It advises you to stay ready, because opportunity can come at any moment.
Who said “Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus”?
The Roman poet Ovid, in his Ars amatoria (The Art of Love), book 3, line 425.
How do you pronounce “Casus ubique valet”?
In Classical Latin: KAH-soos oo-BEE-kweh WAH-let. In Church Latin: KAH-zoos oo-BEE-kweh VAH-let.
Is “Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is Ovid’s own wording, including the verse’s word order and the subjunctive pendeat. Keep the semicolon and spelling exactly as written, and do not change tibi or pendeat to suit another person or number.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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