Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace
“Listen, look and keep quiet if you want to live in peace.”
Medieval Latin proverb
What does “Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace” mean?
Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace translates as “Listen, look and keep quiet if you want to live in peace.”
Observe more and speak less – a recipe for a calm life.
“Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Audi | listen! | a command (imperative) of audio, “I hear, I listen”; addressed to one person |
| vide | look! see! | a command (imperative) of video, “I see”; addressed to one person |
| tace | be quiet! keep silent! | a command (imperative) of taceo, “I am silent”; addressed to one person |
| si | if | conjunction introducing the condition |
| vis | you want | 2nd person singular present indicative of volo, “I want, I wish”; an irregular verb |
| vivere | to live | present infinitive of vivo, “I live”; completes vis, as in “you want to live” |
| in pace | in peace | ablative singular of pax, “peace”, after the preposition in, here meaning “in” a state |
How to pronounce “Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace”
The main differences are v (w in Classical, v in Church) and c before e in pace (k in Classical, ch in Church). In Classical Latin, vivere is stressed on the first syllable and pace on the first as well.
The story behind it
Word for word the line gives three commands: listen, look, be quiet. The condition follows: if you want to live in peace. It reads as a short rule for getting through life without trouble.
It is a medieval Latin proverb, not a line from a named author, so it cannot be tied to one person or one text. It belongs to the many short rhyming-style sayings of the period, which were easy to remember and repeat.
Sayings like this were often put on walls, beams, doorways and inns, where they could be read by everyone who passed. Today it is quoted online as a warning to observe more and say less.
How to use “Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace”
A fitting tattoo or desk motto for a person who values a quiet, watchful way of life. It also works on a card for someone starting a new job or entering a tense situation, or as a caption for a calm photograph.
- Latin
- Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace
- English
- Listen, look and keep quiet if you want to live in peace.
- Source
- Medieval Latin proverb
- Era
- Middle Ages
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- It is not an ancient Roman saying and is not by Cicero or Seneca; it is a medieval proverb of unknown authorship.
- The three verbs are commands to one person. For a group you would need audite, videte, tacete.
- Do not shorten it to “Audi, vide, tace” and assume the full meaning; the peace clause is the point of the proverb.
- Vis (“you want”) is easy to confuse with vis meaning “force, strength”; here it is the verb volo.
Questions about “Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace”
What does “Audi, vide, tace” mean literally?
“Listen, see, be quiet.” The full proverb adds “if you want to live in peace”.
Who said “Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace”?
No known author. It is a medieval Latin proverb, often found carved or painted in houses and inns.
How do you pronounce “Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace”?
In Classical Latin: OW-dee WEE-deh TAH-keh see wees WEE-weh-reh in PAH-keh. In Church Latin, v is v and c before e is ch.
Is “Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is correct and it is a genuine medieval proverb. It addresses one person, so keep the singular commands.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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