Pati necesse est multa mortales mala
“Mortals must endure many evils.”
Latin verse saying
What does “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala” mean?
Pati necesse est multa mortales mala translates as “Mortals must endure many evils.”
Suffering is part of human life. Accepting that makes it easier to bear.
“Pati necesse est multa mortales mala” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Pati | to suffer, to endure | present infinitive (deponent) of patior, “I suffer”: passive form, active meaning |
| necesse | necessary, unavoidable | indeclinable adjective; with est it means “it is necessary” |
| est | is | 3rd person singular present indicative of sum, “I am” |
| multa | many things | neuter plural accusative of multus, “much, many”; object of pati |
| mortales | mortals | masculine plural nominative of mortalis, “mortal”; the people who must suffer |
| mala | evils, troubles | neuter plural accusative of malum, “an evil, a trouble”; object of pati, in the same case as multa |
How to pronounce “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala”
The only difference is the c in necesse: hard (k) in Classical, soft (ch) in Church Latin. Stress falls on the second syllable of necesse and mortales, and on the first syllable of pati, multa and mala.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “to suffer, necessary is, many, mortals, evils”. The Latin word order is flexible, so the grammar rather than the sequence tells you that mortals must endure many evils. Putting “mortals” and “evils” at the end gives the line a rhythm that is easy to remember.
The author is unknown. The line is traditionally cited as a verse saying, and it is best treated as anonymous traditional wisdom, not as a quote from a named writer.
The thought matches the Stoic habit of accepting what cannot be avoided, but the line is not a Stoic text. Today it is quoted as a short, sober reminder that hardship comes to everyone, and that this shared fate is easier to bear once it is accepted.
How to use “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala”
It suits a tattoo, a desk motto or a card for someone going through a hard time, since it speaks of hardship as shared and normal. It also fits an essay on resilience, suffering or acceptance.
- Latin
- Pati necesse est multa mortales mala
- English
- Mortals must endure many evils.
- Source
- Latin verse saying
- Era
- Traditional
- Theme
- Patience
Common mistakes
- It does not mean that suffering is good, only that it cannot be avoided. The key word is necesse, “necessary, unavoidable”.
- Mala is “evils” or “troubles” (neuter plural of malum), not “bad people”. Do not confuse it with the feminine singular mala, “bad”.
- Do not attribute it to Seneca, Cicero or any other named author. The source is a traditional verse saying and the author is unknown.
- Changing mortales (for example to mortalis, “a mortal”) means you must also adjust the infinitive construction. Do not alter the words without checking the grammar.
Questions about “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala”
What does “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala” mean literally?
Roughly “to suffer is necessary, many evils, for mortals”. In natural English: mortals must endure many evils.
Who said “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala”?
The author is unknown. It is a traditional Latin verse saying, so it is best cited as anonymous, not credited to a famous writer.
How do you pronounce “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala”?
Classically: PAH-tee neh-keh-SEH-teh est MOOL-tah mor-TAH-lehs MAH-lah. In Church Latin the c of necesse becomes ch.
Is “Pati necesse est multa mortales mala” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound as written. Keep the words unchanged, since altering mortales or mala changes the construction.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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