Est modus in rebus
“There is a measure in things.”
Horace, Satires 1.1.106
What does “Est modus in rebus” mean?
Est modus in rebus translates as “There is a measure in things.”
Everything has its proper limits; avoid going too far in either direction.
“Est modus in rebus” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Est | there is | third person singular present indicative active of sum, “I am”; here it means “exists, there is” |
| modus | a measure, a limit | nominative singular masculine of modus, “measure, limit, due proportion”; the subject of est |
| in | in | preposition taking the ablative here, “in, within” |
| rebus | things | ablative plural of res, “thing, matter, affair”; the ablative follows in |
How to pronounce “Est modus in rebus”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no v. Stress the first syllable of modus and of rebus.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “there is a measure in things”. It comes from the Satires of the Roman poet Horace, from the first poem of Book 1, which is about greed and discontent.
Horace ends that passage by saying there are fixed boundaries, and that what is right cannot exist on either side of them. The point is moderation: neither too much nor too little.
The phrase is often quoted alone, as a short statement of the golden mean. It is also a favourite in discussions of balance, restraint and self-control.
How to use “Est modus in rebus”
A good fit for a tattoo, desk motto or card message about balance and moderation, or for an essay on temperance or the golden mean. It suits someone who wants a reminder to avoid extremes, not just to hold back.
- Latin
- Est modus in rebus
- English
- There is a measure in things.
- Source
- Horace, Satires 1.1.106
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Self-control
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “there is a way in things”. In this line modus means “measure, limit”, not “method”.
- It is not about doing things by halves. Horace means finding the right proportion, which can lie anywhere between two extremes.
- The words are often cut from Horace’s longer thought, which continues with fixed boundaries (certi fines). Quoting only the first part is fine, but it is part of a larger sentence.
- Rebus is ablative plural, so do not change it to res or rem without changing the meaning and the grammar.
Questions about “Est modus in rebus”
What does “Est modus in rebus” mean literally?
“There is a measure in things.” Modus means “measure, limit, due proportion”, and rebus is “things”.
Who said “Est modus in rebus”?
The Roman poet Horace, in his Satires, Book 1, poem 1, around line 106.
How do you pronounce “Est modus in rebus”?
In classical Latin: est MOH-doos in REH-boos. The church pronunciation sounds the same.
Is “Est modus in rebus” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is the genuine line from Horace, grammatically sound, and short enough to tattoo well.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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