Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere
“And yet you usually sit on two chairs.”
Macrobius, Saturnalia 2.3
What does “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere” mean?
Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere translates as “And yet you usually sit on two chairs.”
A jab at someone who tries to be on both sides at once. It mocks political fence-sitting.
“Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Atqui | and yet, but all the same | a conjunction (adversative) that introduces a retort or objection |
| soles | you are accustomed to, you usually | 2nd person singular present indicative active of soleo, “I am accustomed” (a semi-deponent verb, active in the present) |
| duabus | on two | dative or ablative feminine plural of duo, “two”; here ablative, agreeing with sellis |
| sellis | chairs, seats | ablative plural of sella, “chair, seat”; ablative of place, “on two chairs” |
| sedere | to sit | present infinitive of sedeo, “I sit”; completes soles, “you are accustomed to sit” |
How to pronounce “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere”
The two differ only in soles, where classical has a long “ay” sound and church Latin a short “eh”. The qu in atqui is a “kw” sound in both. Stress falls on the first syllable of atqui and soles, the third of duabus, the first of sellis and the second of sedere.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “And yet you are accustomed to sit on two chairs”. It is a short, sharp retort, the kind of quick answer that ancient writers loved to record.
It comes from Macrobius, who wrote the Saturnalia around the early 5th century AD. In book 2 he collects witty sayings, and he tells this one about a clash between the knight and mime-writer Decimus Laberius and the orator Cicero.
In Macrobius’s story Cicero, a politician who had been shifting between sides in the civil war, was asked to make room for Laberius at a gathering, and Laberius replied with this jab. The anecdote comes from a source written centuries after the event, so treat the exact scene with some caution.
The image of sitting on two chairs, meaning trying to please both sides, has lived on in many languages. Today the line is used to mock politicians or anyone who will not commit.
How to use “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere”
A cutting caption for a political cartoon, a pointed comment on a politician who changes sides, or a witty line in an essay about fence-sitting and divided loyalties. It is less suited to a tattoo, since the meaning is a taunt rather than a personal motto.
- Latin
- Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere
- English
- And yet you usually sit on two chairs.
- Source
- Macrobius, Saturnalia 2.3
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Politics
Common mistakes
- Atqui is not the same as atque. Atqui means “and yet, but still”, while atque means simply “and”.
- Soles means “you are accustomed to”. It is a habit, not a single act, so “you sit on two chairs once” misses the point.
- The line is spoken to one person. To address several people you would need the plural form soletis.
- It is a retort recorded by Macrobius, not a saying of Cicero. Cicero was the target, not the speaker.
Questions about “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere”
What does “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere” mean literally?
“And yet you are accustomed to sit on two chairs.” The point is that you habitually try to be on both sides at once.
Who said “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere”?
According to Macrobius (Saturnalia 2.3), it was the mime-writer Laberius, aimed at Cicero. It is a reported anecdote, not a firsthand record.
How do you pronounce “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere”?
In classical Latin: AHT-kwee SOH-lays doo-AH-boos SEL-lees seh-DEH-reh. Church Latin differs only in soles, which becomes SOH-lehs.
Is “Atqui soles duabus sellis sedere” good for a tattoo?
The Latin is correct, but the meaning is a jibe at a fence-sitter, not a personal motto. It suits a caption or political joke better than a tattoo.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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