Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt
“For not so many people wish to be endowed with virtue itself as wish to seem so.”
Cicero, De Amicitia
What does “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt” mean?
Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt translates as “For not so many people wish to be endowed with virtue itself as wish to seem so.”
Many people care more about appearing virtuous than about being virtuous. Cicero’s observation anticipates modern talk of virtue signaling.
“Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi …” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Virtute | with virtue | ablative singular of virtus, “virtue”; it depends on praediti, “endowed with virtue” |
| enim | for | a conjunction that gives the reason; it sits second in its clause, which is normal in Latin |
| ipsa | itself | ablative singular feminine of ipse, “itself”; agrees with virtute and stresses real virtue as opposed to its appearance |
| non tam | not so | adverbs; non tam multi means “not so many”, setting up the comparison with quam |
| multi | many | nominative plural masculine of multus; here “many people”, the subject of volunt |
| praediti | endowed | nominative plural masculine, perfect passive participle of praedo, “to endow”; in practice an adjective, “gifted with”, taking the ablative |
| esse | to be | present infinitive of sum, “I am” |
| quam | as | a conjunction that completes the comparison: not so many want X as want Y |
| videri | to seem | present passive infinitive of video, “I see”; in the passive it means “to be seen” and so “to seem” |
| volunt | they wish | third person plural present indicative active of volo, “I wish”; its subject is multi, and it governs both infinitives, esse and videri |
How to pronounce “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi …”
The main differences are v (w in Classical, v in Church), ae in praediti (eye in Classical, eh in Church) and the i in praediti and videri (short in Classical, so a shorter vowel; long ee in Church).
The story behind it
Word for word the sentence says that not so many wish to be endowed with virtue itself as wish to seem so. Cicero sets being good against looking good and says most people prefer the second.
It comes from De Amicitia (On Friendship), written in 44 BC, the year Caesar was killed. Cicero presents it as a conversation in which the statesman Laelius talks about his friend Scipio and what makes friendship last. The line belongs to a passage that warns against flatterers and false friends.
The idea fits the modern phrase “virtue signaling”, though Cicero is making a point about human nature and friendship, not about public posturing as such. That makes it a popular quote in essays on authenticity and reputation.
How to use “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi …”
Good for an essay on authenticity, reputation or virtue signaling, or in a speech about the gap between image and character. It also suits a caption or personal motto for someone who values substance over show.
- Latin
- Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt
- English
- For not so many people wish to be endowed with virtue itself as wish to seem so.
- Source
- Cicero, De Amicitia
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Virtue
Common mistakes
- The Latin is not a modern translation of “virtue signaling”. Cicero speaks of wanting to seem virtuous, not of broadcasting it to others.
- Do not read non tam multi as “not many”. It means “not so many”, and the comparison with quam is the whole point.
- The long line is often cut to “Virtute ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt”, dropping enim. That changes the grammar of the sentence slightly, since enim links it to what came before.
- Virtute is ablative, not the nominative virtus, because it depends on praediti. Keep the ending if you reuse the phrase.
Questions about “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi …”
What does “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt” mean?
It means that not so many people wish to be endowed with virtue itself as wish to seem so. In short, people would rather look virtuous than be virtuous.
Who said “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt”?
Cicero, in De Amicitia (On Friendship), written in 44 BC. It comes from a passage warning against flatterers.
Is this quote about virtue signaling?
Not in the modern sense, but the thought is close. Cicero describes the human wish to seem virtuous, which today we might call virtue signaling.
How do you pronounce “Virtute enim ipsa”?
In Classical Latin: wir-TOO-teh EH-noom IP-sah. In Church Latin the v is a normal v, so vir-TOO-teh.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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