Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri
“Take it at once; the chance of gain is brief.”
Latin proverb
What does “Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri” mean?
Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri translates as “Take it at once; the chance of gain is brief.”
Opportunities do not wait. When a good chance appears, act before it passes.
“Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Accipe | take! | a command (imperative) of accipio, “I take, I receive”; addressed to one person |
| quam | as (soon) as | adverb; with the superlative primum it forms the idiom quam primum, “as soon as possible” |
| primum | soonest, first | adverb from primus, “first”; quam primum means “at the earliest moment” |
| brevis | short, brief | adjective from brevis, brevis, brevis; nominative singular feminine, agreeing with occasio |
| est | is | third person singular present indicative of sum, “I am” |
| occasio | the chance, the opportunity | nominative singular feminine of occasio, “opportunity”; the subject of the clause |
| lucri | of gain, of profit | genitive singular neuter of lucrum, “gain, profit”; depends on occasio |
How to pronounce “Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri”
The differences are the c in accipe (k versus ch), the v in brevis (w versus v), and a softer s-sound in occasio in the church style. The stress is the same in both: acCIpe, PRImum, BREvis, ocCAsio, LUcri.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “take (it) as soon as possible; short is the opportunity of gain”. The idiom quam primum is the heart of the first half: act at the earliest moment.
It is a proverb in verse form, and it is not securely tied to any one author or work. Treat it as anonymous Latin wisdom rather than a quotation from a named writer.
The thought is an old one: Greek and Roman writers often pictured opportunity as fleeting, something you must seize when it passes. Today the line suits business and investing, where timing decides who profits.
How to use “Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri”
A fitting line for a sales team board, an investor’s notebook or a start-up wall, anywhere the point is to act while a window is open. It also works as a short motto for a speech on seizing chances.
- Latin
- Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri
- English
- Take it at once; the chance of gain is brief.
- Source
- Latin proverb
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Opportunity
Common mistakes
- Do not read quam primum as “which first”. It is a fixed idiom meaning “as soon as possible”.
- Lucri is the genitive of lucrum (“of gain”), not a plural or a separate subject. It depends on occasio.
- Accipe is a singular command. To address several people, the plural form is accipite.
- It is not a known quotation from Horace, Ovid or any other named author, so avoid attributing it to one.
Questions about “Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri”
What does “Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri” mean literally?
“Take (it) as soon as possible; the opportunity of gain is short.” In plain English: grab the chance now, because it will not last.
Who said “Accipe quam primum, brevis est occasio lucri”?
No author is securely documented. It circulates as a Latin proverb in verse, so it is best credited simply as a proverb.
How do you pronounce “Accipe quam primum”?
In Classical Latin: ak-KEE-peh kwahm PREE-moom. In Church Latin the c in accipe becomes ch: ak-CHEE-peh kwahm PREE-moom.
Is “Accipe quam primum” good Latin for a tattoo or motto?
The grammar is sound, and quam primum is a genuine idiom. Remember that accipe is addressed to one person. Without the second half the shorter phrase loses the reason behind the urgency.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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