Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat
“Sometimes the public sees rightly; at other times it errs.”
Horace, Epistles 2.1.63
What does “Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat” mean?
Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat translates as “Sometimes the public sees rightly; at other times it errs.”
Popular opinion is sometimes right and sometimes wrong – judge each case on its merits.
“Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Interdum | sometimes, now and then | adverb; it modifies both verbs in the line |
| vulgus | the public, the crowd, the common people | nominative singular, neuter, subject of videt and peccat; vulgus, vulgi is neuter, though it is sometimes found as masculine |
| rectum | what is right, rightly | accusative singular, neuter, of rectus, “straight, right”; used as a noun, the direct object of videt |
| videt | sees | third person singular present active indicative of video, “I see” |
| est ubi | there are times when, at other times | a fixed idiom: est, “there is”, plus ubi, “where, when”; literally “there is a time when” |
| peccat | errs, goes wrong | third person singular present active indicative of pecco, “I err, I make a mistake”; the subject vulgus is understood from the first half |
How to pronounce “Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat”
The two systems differ only in the v of vulgus and videt: w in Classical, v in Church Latin. Stress falls on the first syllable of interdum, vulgus and peccat, and on the second of videt.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “Sometimes the crowd sees what is right; there is a place where it goes wrong.” The idiom est ubi, literally “there is where”, means “there are times when”, so the sense is that the public is right at times and wrong at others.
It comes from Horace’s Epistle to Augustus (Epistles 2.1), a long poem on literature addressed to the emperor. Horace is discussing how the Roman public judges poets, praising old authors and criticizing new ones. Here he concedes that popular taste is not always foolish.
Today the line is quoted when someone wants a balanced view of public opinion: neither to scorn the crowd nor to follow it blindly.
How to use “Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat”
Suits an essay or speech on public opinion, taste or the wisdom of crowds, or a desk motto reminding you to judge each case on its merits. As a tattoo it fits someone who wants a sceptical but fair attitude to popular views.
- Latin
- Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat
- English
- Sometimes the public sees rightly; at other times it errs.
- Source
- Horace, Epistles 2.1.63
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- It does not say the crowd is usually right. The point is that it is right only sometimes and wrong at other times.
- Est ubi is an idiom meaning “there are times when”. Reading it as “he is where” or “it is where” gives a wrong sense.
- It is often quoted without its source. It is Horace, not a medieval proverb or a modern saying.
Questions about “Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat”
What does “Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat” mean?
“Sometimes the public sees rightly; at other times it errs.” Popular opinion is neither always right nor always wrong.
Who said “Interdum vulgus rectum videt”?
The Roman poet Horace, in his Epistle to Augustus (Epistles 2.1.63), written in the first century BC.
What does “est ubi” mean in Latin?
It is an idiom meaning “there are times when”, literally “there is where”. It sets the second half of the line against the first.
How do you pronounce “Interdum vulgus rectum videt”?
Classical: IN-ter-doom WOOL-goos REK-toom WEE-det. In Church Latin the v sounds like English v: VOOL-goos, VEE-det.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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