Animis opibusque parati
“Prepared in mind and resources.”
Motto of South Carolina (after Virgil, Aeneid 2.799)
What does “Animis opibusque parati” mean?
Animis opibusque parati translates as “Prepared in mind and resources.”
Ready in spirit and in means – prepared for whatever comes.
“Animis opibusque parati” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Animis | in minds, in spirits | ablative plural (ablative of respect) of animus, “mind, spirit, courage”; says in what way they are ready |
| opibusque | and in resources | ablative plural of ops, “resources, means, wealth”, plus the attached -que, “and”; the same ablative of respect |
| parati | prepared, ready | nominative masculine plural of the perfect participle (passive) of paro, “I prepare”; here it works as an adjective |
How to pronounce “Animis opibusque parati”
The two differ only slightly: the i in opibus is short “ih” in Classical and closer to “ee” in Church Latin. Stress falls on the first syllable of animis, the third from the end of opibusque (the -que pulls the stress forward) and the middle syllable of parati.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “ready in minds and in resources”. The adjective parati is masculine plural, so it speaks of a group of people who are prepared both in spirit and in material means.
The wording echoes a line of Virgil’s Aeneid (2.799), where the phrase describes men ready for whatever lies ahead. The state of South Carolina adopted it, in the form Animis opibusque parati, as one of its two official mottos.
South Carolina’s other motto is Dum spiro spero, “While I breathe, I hope”. Together the two pair courage and preparation with hope, which is why this one is often read as a call to be ready for any challenge.
How to use “Animis opibusque parati”
It suits a personal or team motto, a graduation or new-job card, a tattoo about being ready for whatever comes, or a nod to South Carolina. It speaks to a group, so for a single person the ending needs changing.
- Latin
- Animis opibusque parati
- English
- Prepared in mind and resources.
- Source
- Motto of South Carolina (after Virgil, Aeneid 2.799)
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Readiness
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “prepared in body”. The two things named are animus (mind, spirit) and ops (means, resources).
- Parati is masculine plural. For one man use paratus, for one woman parata, for a mixed or unspecified group parati still works.
- The -que in opibusque means “and”. Writing it as a separate word or dropping it changes the grammar.
- It is not a quotation from Virgil as it stands. It is a motto built from Virgil’s wording, so do not credit it simply to Virgil.
Questions about “Animis opibusque parati”
What does “Animis opibusque parati” mean literally?
“Prepared in minds and in resources”, meaning ready in spirit and in means.
Where does “Animis opibusque parati” come from?
It is a state motto of South Carolina. Its wording echoes a phrase in Virgil’s Aeneid, around 2.799.
How do you pronounce “Animis opibusque parati”?
Classical: AH-nee-mees oh-pih-BOOS-kweh pah-RAH-tee. Church Latin only changes the i in opibus to an “ee” sound.
Is “Animis opibusque parati” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is correct for a plural subject. For one person, change parati to paratus (man) or parata (woman).
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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