Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem vocat
“Men’s deceit leads to ruin, and integrity leads to safety.”
Latin proverb
What does “Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem vocat” mean?
Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem vocat translates as “Men’s deceit leads to ruin, and integrity leads to safety.”
Dishonesty eventually destroys those who practice it, while integrity protects and preserves. The proverb argues that honesty is not only right but also safe.
“Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas …” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Fraus | deceit | nominative singular feminine of fraus, fraudis, “deceit, fraud”; the subject of the first clause |
| hominum | of men | genitive plural of homo, hominis, “human being, man”; shows whose deceit it is |
| ad | to, towards | preposition taking the accusative case |
| perniciem | ruin, destruction | accusative singular of pernicies, perniciei, “ruin, disaster”; the object of ad |
| et | and | conjunction joining the two clauses |
| integritas | integrity | nominative singular feminine of integritas, integritatis, “wholeness, honesty”; the subject of the second clause |
| ad | to, towards | preposition taking the accusative case; repeated from the first clause |
| salutem | safety, well-being | accusative singular of salus, salutis, “safety, health, welfare”; the object of ad |
| vocat | calls, leads | 3rd person singular present active indicative of voco, “I call”; one verb shared by both subjects, here “calls” in the sense of “leads” |
How to pronounce “Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas …”
The main differences are the c in perniciem (hard k in Classical, ch in Church), the v in vocat (w or v) and the h of hominum, usually dropped in Church Latin. Stress falls on the second-to-last syllable in perniciem and salutem, and on the first of fraus (one syllable), hominum and vocat.
The story behind it
Word for word the saying runs “the deceit of men calls to ruin, and integrity calls to safety”. The single verb vocat serves both halves, so the grammar itself sets the two paths side by side.
It is a proverb of uncertain origin, not a line from a known author, and it appears in collections of Latin sayings. Its balanced, parallel structure is typical of the moral maxims used for teaching and memorising in schools.
Today the thought suits discussions of ethics in business, law and public life: dishonesty may seem to pay in the short run, but it tends to end badly for the one who practises it.
How to use “Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas …”
A fitting motto for a business-ethics poster, a company or team value statement, or a classroom wall. It also works in an essay on honesty, trust or the cost of corruption.
- Latin
- Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem vocat
- English
- Men’s deceit leads to ruin, and integrity leads to safety.
- Source
- Latin proverb
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Integrity
Common mistakes
- The verb vocat literally means “calls”. “Leads” is a natural English rendering, but the Latin picture is of ruin and safety beckoning.
- Hominum is “of men” in a general sense, meaning people, not only males. Do not read it as a statement about one sex.
- Fraus is a feminine noun in the nominative, so do not change it to fraudem or fraudis unless the grammar of a new sentence requires it.
- Do not attach a famous name such as Cicero or Seneca to it. It is a proverb with no known author.
Questions about “Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas …”
What does “Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem vocat” mean literally?
Literally, “The deceit of men calls to ruin, and integrity calls to safety.” The one verb vocat, “calls”, serves both halves of the saying.
Who said “Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem vocat”?
No author is known. It is a Latin proverb recorded in collections of sayings, so it should not be credited to any particular writer.
How do you pronounce “Fraus hominum ad perniciem”?
In Classical Latin: frowss HOH-mih-noom ad per-NIH-kee-em. In Church Latin the c of perniciem becomes ch: per-NEE-chee-em.
Is “Fraus hominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem vocat” good for a tattoo?
The Latin is grammatically sound, but it is long and more of a sentence than a slogan. A short motto is easier to read and to fit on skin, so consider whether the full text suits you.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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