Multa petentibus desunt multa
“Those who seek much lack much.”
Horace, Odes 3.16.42-43
What does “Multa petentibus desunt multa” mean?
Multa petentibus desunt multa translates as “Those who seek much lack much.”
Endless wanting brings endless lack. Contentment is the real wealth.
“Multa petentibus desunt multa” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Multa | many things, much | neuter plural accusative of multus, “much, many”; object of petentibus, “those seeking many things” |
| petentibus | to those seeking | dative plural (masculine) of the present participle of peto, “I seek, I ask for”; “to those who seek” |
| desunt | are lacking | third person plural present indicative active of desum, “I am missing, I am lacking”; takes a dative of the person who lacks |
| multa | many things, much | neuter plural nominative of multus, “much, many”; the subject of desunt |
How to pronounce “Multa petentibus desunt multa”
The two pronunciations differ only in the i of petentibus (short i in Classical, ee in Church). Stress falls on the first syllable of multa and desunt, and on the second syllable of petentibus.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “many things are lacking to those seeking many things”. The idea is simple: the more you chase, the more you find yourself without.
It comes from Horace, Odes 3.16, the Roman poet’s meditation on wealth and contentment. There he argues that a modest life with enough is better than piling up riches and still wanting more, and the poem ends on a call to live with what one has.
Because the line is compact and balanced, with multa at the start and again at the end, it has been quoted ever since as a short warning against greed and constant wanting.
How to use “Multa petentibus desunt multa”
A good fit for a minimalist blog, a budgeting or saving journal, a speech or essay on consumerism, or a desk motto reminding you to value what you already have. It also works as a caption for a decluttering or simple-living post.
- Latin
- Multa petentibus desunt multa
- English
- Those who seek much lack much.
- Source
- Horace, Odes 3.16.42-43
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Money
Common mistakes
- It does not say that wealthy people are unhappy. It says that people who keep reaching for more will always feel a lack.
- Both multa are neuter plural but have different jobs: the first is the object of petentibus, the second is the subject of desunt. Do not change one without the other.
- petentibus is a plural participle (dative), so it is not a verb meaning “they seek”. To say “those who seek” about one person you would need petenti.
- The line is often quoted without its source. It is Horace, Odes 3.16, not a proverb of unknown origin.
Questions about “Multa petentibus desunt multa”
What does “Multa petentibus desunt multa” mean literally?
“Many things are lacking to those seeking many things.” In natural English: those who seek much lack much.
Who said “Multa petentibus desunt multa”?
The Roman poet Horace, in his Odes, book 3, poem 16 (lines 42-43).
How do you pronounce “Multa petentibus desunt multa”?
In Classical Latin: MOOL-tah peh-TEN-tih-boos DEH-soont MOOL-tah. In Church Latin the only change is petentibus, said peh-TEN-tee-boos.
Is “Multa petentibus desunt multa” good Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is genuine classical Latin from Horace and correct as written. Keep the wording exactly as it is, since changing the endings would break the grammar.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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