Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum
“Not everyone is allowed to go to Corinth.”
Latin proverb after a Greek saying; cf. Horace, Epistles 1.17.36
What does “Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum” mean?
Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum translates as “Not everyone is allowed to go to Corinth.”
Some privileges and pleasures are only within reach of a few, often because they cost too much.
“Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Non | not | negative adverb, used here to negate licet |
| licet | it is allowed | 3rd person singular present indicative active of liceo, “to be allowed”; an impersonal verb, so the subject is the infinitive phrase that follows |
| omnibus | to everyone | dative plural (masculine) of omnis, “all, every”; the dative marks the people who are or are not permitted |
| adire | to go to | present infinitive active of adeo, “I go to, approach” (ad + eo); the thing that is or is not allowed |
| Corinthum | Corinth | accusative singular of Corinthus, the city; accusative because it is the goal of adire, and city names need no preposition |
How to pronounce “Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum”
The main difference is licet: LIH-ket in Classical, LEE-chet in Church Latin. In Corinthum, th is a plain t in both systems. The stress falls on the second syllable of adire and Corinthum.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “it is not allowed for everyone to go to Corinth”. Corinth was a rich trading city on the isthmus between central Greece and the Peloponnese, and it was known for its luxuries and its expensive pleasures.
The saying is Latin for an older Greek proverb. Horace uses the same thought in his Epistles (1.17.36) as “non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum”, “it is not every man’s luck to get to Corinth”. The version given here is the shorter, more commonly quoted form, and Horace’s wording differs from it.
Today the line is used for anything that is open only to those with the money, status or luck to reach it, and it is often said with a touch of irony.
How to use “Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum”
It suits a caption about an exclusive or costly place, a wry comment on privilege in an essay or speech, or a tattoo or motto for someone who values knowing their limits and choosing their goals carefully.
- Latin
- Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum
- English
- Not everyone is allowed to go to Corinth.
- Source
- Latin proverb after a Greek saying; cf. Horace, Epistles 1.17.36
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Society
Common mistakes
- Corinth is not a mythical or symbolic place here. It is the real Greek city, famous for wealth and luxury.
- Do not mistake this form for Horace’s own words. Horace writes “non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum”, which means almost the same but is worded differently.
- The sentence is about being allowed or able to go, not about being forbidden by law. The “not everyone” is the point, so it is not “no one may go”.
- Corinthum ends in -um because it is accusative. Changing it to another case, or to a different city, needs the right ending.
Questions about “Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum”
What does “Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum” mean literally?
“It is not allowed for everyone to go to Corinth.” The sense is that only a few can afford or manage the trip and what Corinth offers.
Who said “Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum”?
No single author. It is a Latin proverb based on a Greek saying. Horace has a close relative in Epistles 1.17.36, but in different words.
How do you pronounce “Non licet omnibus adire Corinthum”?
In Classical Latin: nohn LIH-ket OM-nih-boos ah-DEE-reh koh-RIN-toom. In Church Latin, licet becomes LEE-chet.
Why Corinth?
Corinth was a wealthy port city with a reputation for luxury and costly pleasures, so it became shorthand for something desirable but hard to reach.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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