Latin quote · Mortality
Heu, eheu! Utres inflati ambulamus. Nos non pluris sumus quam bullae
“Alas, alas! We walk around like blown-up wineskins. We are worth no more than bubbles.”
Petronius, Satyricon 42
Translation
What does “Heu, eheu! Utres inflati ambulamus. Nos non pluris sumus quam bullae” mean?
Heu, eheu! Utres inflati ambulamus. Nos non pluris sumus quam bullae translates as “Alas, alas! We walk around like blown-up wineskins. We are worth no more than bubbles.”
Human beings are puffed up with self-importance, yet are as fragile and fleeting as bubbles. The image is a blunt, earthy memento mori.
Origin
The story behind it
The words are spoken by the freedman Seleucus at Trimalchio’s dinner party in Petronius’ Satyricon (chapter 42), as he grumbles about a friend’s funeral.
When to use it
How to use “Heu, eheu! Utres inflati ambulamus. Nos non pluris sumus quam bullae”
A darkly humorous line for a literature class on Roman satire.
- Latin
- Heu, eheu! Utres inflati ambulamus. Nos non pluris sumus quam bullae
- English
- Alas, alas! We walk around like blown-up wineskins. We are worth no more than bubbles.
- Source
- Petronius, Satyricon 42
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Mortality
Keep reading
Related Latin quotes
Cor boni consilii statue tecum, non est enim tibi aliud pluris illo
Establish within yourself a heart of good counsel, for nothing is worth more to you than that.
Meaning & origin →
Oculi plus vident quam oculus
Several eyes see more than one eye.
Meaning & origin →
Latet enim veritas, sed nihil pretiosius veritate
Truth lies hidden, but nothing is more precious than truth.
Meaning & origin →
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.