Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem
“I would rather have good sense without eloquence than folly that talks a lot.”
Cicero, De Oratore 3.142
What does “Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem” mean?
Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem translates as “I would rather have good sense without eloquence than folly that talks a lot.”
Sound judgment matters more than a smooth tongue; clever talk cannot make up for a lack of sense.
“Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Malim | I would prefer | first person singular present subjunctive of malo, “to prefer, to want more” (a potential or polite wish: “I would rather”) |
| equidem | indeed, for my part | adverb emphasizing the speaker’s own view; common in the first person |
| indisertam | not eloquent, lacking fluency | accusative singular feminine of indisertus, “not eloquent”; agrees with prudentiam |
| prudentiam | good sense, practical wisdom | accusative singular feminine of prudentia, “prudence, practical judgment”; object of malim |
| quam | than | conjunction used after malim to compare: “rather … than” |
| stultitiam | folly, foolishness | accusative singular feminine of stultitia, “foolishness”; the second thing being compared |
| loquacem | talkative, chattering | accusative singular feminine of loquax, “talkative”; agrees with stultitiam |
How to pronounce “Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem”
The main differences are the c in prudentiam and stultitiam (a hard t plus y-sound in Classical, “ts” in Church) and the c in loquacem (k in Classical, ch in Church). Church Latin also tends to give the i in equidem and indisertam a longer “ee” sound.
The story behind it
Word for word the sentence reads “I would indeed prefer wisdom without eloquence to talkative folly”. It is a clear statement of priorities: judgment first, polish second.
It comes from Cicero’s De Oratore (“On the Orator”), a dialogue from 55 BC about what makes a truly great speaker. In it Cicero argues that eloquence and wisdom belong together, and the line puts the case for which of the two matters more if one has to choose.
The thought still resonates today for anyone who has watched a confident talker say very little. As a standalone motto it is a favorite for students, speakers and writers who value substance over style.
How to use “Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem”
A good motto for a writer, debater or teacher, or a pointed line in an essay about rhetoric and substance. As a tattoo or print it suits someone who prefers quiet good judgment to showy talk.
- Latin
- Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem
- English
- I would rather have good sense without eloquence than folly that talks a lot.
- Source
- Cicero, De Oratore 3.142
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- It does not say that eloquence is bad. Cicero’s whole book argues that the ideal speaker has both; this line only says which one he would pick if forced to choose.
- Malim is not “I want”. It is a form of malo (“to prefer”), and the “rather than” idea is built in, so the sentence does not need an extra word for “rather”.
- Indisertam, prudentiam, stultitiam and loquacem are all feminine accusative endings. Changing the nouns to another gender or number means changing every ending to match.
- Some online versions drop equidem or alter the word order, so check any quote you copy against Cicero’s text.
Questions about “Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem”
What does “Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem” mean literally?
“I would indeed prefer unspeaking (not eloquent) good sense to talkative folly.” In smoother English: I would rather have wisdom without eloquence than foolishness that talks a lot.
Who said “Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem”?
It comes from Cicero’s dialogue De Oratore, book 3, section 142. Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer and the best-known orator of his age.
How do you pronounce “Malim equidem indisertam prudentiam quam stultitiam loquacem”?
In Classical Latin: MAH-lim EH-kwih-dem in-dih-SEHR-tahm proo-DEN-tee-ahm kwahm stool-TIH-tee-ahm loh-KWAH-kem. Church Latin softens the c in loquacem to “ch” and the ti in prudentiam and stultitiam to “tsee”.
Does Cicero really mean that eloquence does not matter?
No. In De Oratore he argues that the ideal orator needs both wisdom and eloquence. The line only ranks them: if he had to choose, he would pick good sense over mere talk.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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