Non omnis moriar
“I shall not wholly die.”
Horace, Odes 3.30.6
What does “Non omnis moriar” mean?
Non omnis moriar translates as “I shall not wholly die.”
Something of us – our work, our words, our influence – lives on after death.
“Non omnis moriar” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Non | not | negative adverb; negates the verb it stands near |
| omnis | all, the whole of me | nominative singular, masculine (agreeing with the unstated “I”), of omnis, “all, whole”; here “wholly”, the whole of me |
| moriar | I shall die | first person singular, future tense, indicative mood, of morior, “I die” (a deponent verb: passive form, active meaning) |
How to pronounce “Non omnis moriar”
The two differ only slightly: the final s and the vowels are the same, but classical gives short i in omnis as in “bit” while church Latin makes it more like “ee”. Stress falls on the first syllable of omnis and the first of moriar.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “not all I shall die”, which in English becomes “I shall not wholly die”. The Latin leaves out the word “I”, because the verb ending -ar already shows it.
It comes from Horace, Odes 3.30, the poem that closes his third book of Odes. He opens it by claiming he has built a monument more lasting than bronze (“exegi monumentum aere perennius”).
His point is that the best part of him, his poetry, will survive his death and keep his name alive for as long as Rome lasts. The phrase has since been quoted for any writer, artist or person who hopes to live on through their work.
How to use “Non omnis moriar”
A fitting tattoo, epitaph or dedication for writers, artists and anyone who wants to be remembered through their work. It also suits a farewell speech, a memorial card or an inscription on a book.
- Latin
- Non omnis moriar
- English
- I shall not wholly die.
- Source
- Horace, Odes 3.30.6
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Hope
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “I shall not die”. The word omnis (here “wholly”) matters: part of the speaker does die, and part lives on.
- The speaker is male in form here. A woman quoting herself would usually write Non tota moriar, using tota (“whole”) in the feminine; this is an adaptation, not Horace’s own text.
- It is not a promise of an afterlife in the Christian sense. Horace means fame through his poems, not a soul that lives on.
- Do not shorten it to “Non moriar”, which would mean “I shall not die”, a different claim.
Questions about “Non omnis moriar”
What does “Non omnis moriar” mean literally?
“Not all of me will die”, in smoother English “I shall not wholly die”.
Who said “Non omnis moriar”?
The Roman poet Horace, in Odes 3.30, the closing poem of his third book of Odes.
How do you pronounce “Non omnis moriar”?
In classical Latin: nohn OM-nis MOH-ree-ar. In church Latin the i of omnis sounds more like “ee”.
Is “Non omnis moriar” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is Horace’s own wording and correct Latin. A woman may prefer the adapted form “Non tota moriar”, but the original works for anyone.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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