Extremis malis extrema remedia
“Extreme remedies for extreme ills.”
Latin proverb
What does “Extremis malis extrema remedia” mean?
Extremis malis extrema remedia translates as “Extreme remedies for extreme ills.”
Desperate situations call for drastic measures.
“Extremis malis extrema remedia” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Extremis | for extreme | dative plural (neuter or masculine) of extremus, “outermost, extreme”; it agrees with malis |
| malis | ills, evils | dative plural of malum, “an evil, a misfortune, a sickness”; the dative says what the remedies are for |
| extrema | extreme | nominative plural neuter of extremus, “extreme”; it agrees with remedia |
| remedia | remedies | nominative plural of remedium, “a cure, a remedy”; the subject of the saying, with “are” left out |
How to pronounce “Extremis malis extrema remedia”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no v. The stress falls on the second syllable of extremis and extrema, the first of malis, and the second of remedia.
The story behind it
Word for word the saying reads “for extreme ills, extreme remedies”. There is no verb: Latin proverbs often leave out “are” and set the two halves side by side, so the repeated extrem- sound drives the point home.
Its exact origin is unknown. It is usually labelled a Latin proverb, and the idea matches the old Hippocratic medical teaching that extreme diseases call for extreme treatments.
Today it is used well beyond medicine, for any crisis where ordinary measures have failed and a drastic step seems justified. The English proverb “desperate times call for desperate measures” says much the same.
How to use “Extremis malis extrema remedia”
It suits a tattoo or motto about getting through a hard stretch by taking bold action, a card for someone facing a tough decision, or an essay or speech on crisis and risk. Remember it is a statement about drastic measures, not a general slogan for toughness.
- Latin
- Extremis malis extrema remedia
- English
- Extreme remedies for extreme ills.
- Source
- Latin proverb
- Era
- Middle Ages
- Theme
- Resilience
Common mistakes
- The proverb is not a quote from Hippocrates, and it is not a classical Latin line. It is an anonymous saying that echoes his idea.
- Extremis malis is dative plural (“for extreme ills”), not “extreme evils” as a subject. Reordering the words or changing the endings can break the grammar.
- It is sometimes read as saying extreme action is always right. It only says extreme problems call for extreme answers, and it does not say when a problem truly is extreme.
Questions about “Extremis malis extrema remedia”
What does “Extremis malis extrema remedia” mean literally?
“For extreme ills, extreme remedies.” The verb is left out, as is common in Latin proverbs.
Who said “Extremis malis extrema remedia”?
No known author. It is a Latin proverb of unknown origin, close in spirit to the Hippocratic idea that extreme diseases need extreme treatment.
How do you pronounce “Extremis malis extrema remedia”?
Classical and Church Latin sound alike here: eks-TREH-mees MAH-lees eks-TREH-mah reh-MEH-dee-ah.
Is “Extremis malis extrema remedia” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound: extremis and malis are datives, extrema and remedia are nominatives. Keep the word order and endings exactly as written.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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