Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem
“Remember to keep a calm mind in difficult times.”
Horace, Odes 2.3.1–2
What does “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem” mean?
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem translates as “Remember to keep a calm mind in difficult times.”
Stay level-headed when things get hard – and, Horace adds, don’t get carried away when things go well.
“Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Aequam | even, level, calm | accusative singular feminine of aequus, “level, even”; agrees with mentem, though separated from it by several words |
| memento | remember! | a command (imperative) of meminisse, “to remember”; addressed to one person, here Dellius. To a group: mementote |
| rebus | in situations, in circumstances | ablative plural of res, “thing, matter, circumstance”; used with in |
| in | in | preposition taking the ablative here, meaning “in” or “amid” |
| arduis | difficult, steep | ablative plural feminine of arduus, “steep, hard”; agrees with rebus |
| servare | to keep, to preserve | present infinitive of servo, “I keep, I guard”; depends on memento |
| mentem | mind | accusative singular of mens, “mind”; object of servare |
How to pronounce “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem”
The main differences are ae (eye in Classical, eh in Church) and v (w in Classical, v in Church). Stress falls on the first syllable of aequam, the second of memento, the first of rebus and arduis, and the second of servare.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “remember to keep an even mind in steep, hard circumstances”. It is the opening of Horace’s ode 2.3, addressed to his friend Dellius.
Horace (65–8 BC) wrote his Odes in the age of Augustus. The poem goes on to say that Dellius should also keep a restrained mind in good fortune, since death comes to everyone either way.
The thought of staying steady in good times and bad is close to Stoic and Epicurean ideas of balance, and the line is often quoted on its own. The short form “aequam servare mentem” is a later abbreviation of the opening.
How to use “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem”
Suits a tattoo, desk motto or card for someone facing a stressful period, an exam, an illness or a big change. It also works in an essay on resilience or self-control, where you can recall that Horace applies it to good times as well.
- Latin
- Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem
- English
- Remember to keep a calm mind in difficult times.
- Source
- Horace, Odes 2.3.1–2
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Resilience
Common mistakes
- The quote does not stop at hard times. Horace’s next words ask for the same calm in prosperity, so the full thought is about balance, not only endurance.
- Aequam mentem is not “equal mind” in the sense of fairness. Aequus here means level, even or calm.
- Do not split or reorder it carelessly. Aequam must stay feminine accusative to match mentem, so changing the noun means changing the ending.
- Speaking to more than one person requires mementote instead of memento.
Questions about “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem”
What does “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem” mean literally?
Literally, “Remember to keep an even mind in steep (difficult) circumstances.” The usual English is “Remember to keep a calm mind in difficult times.”
Who said “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem”?
The Roman poet Horace, in Odes 2.3.1–2, addressed to his friend Dellius.
How do you pronounce “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem”?
In Classical Latin: EYE-kwahm meh-MEN-toh REH-bus in AR-doo-ees ser-WAH-reh MEN-tem. The Church pronunciation is EH-kwahm meh-MEN-toh REH-boos in AR-doo-ees sehr-VAH-reh MEN-tem.
Is “Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem” good Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is genuine Horace and grammatically correct as written. The word order is poetic, so copy it exactly, and note that it is addressed to one person.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
Related Latin quotes
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.