Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors
“What the discordant harmony of things intends and can do.”
Horace, Epistles 1.12.19
What does “Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors” mean?
Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors translates as “What the discordant harmony of things intends and can do.”
Nature works through opposing forces held in balance; ‘concordia discors’ names any harmony made out of conflict.
“Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Quid | what | interrogative pronoun, accusative singular neuter; object of velit and possit, and the start of an indirect question |
| velit | it intends, it wishes | third person singular present subjunctive of volo, “I wish”; the subjunctive is normal in an indirect question |
| et | and | conjunction joining velit and possit |
| possit | it can | third person singular present subjunctive of possum, “I am able” |
| rerum | of things | genitive plural of res, “thing”; depends on concordia |
| concordia | harmony | nominative singular feminine of concordia, “agreement, harmony”; subject of velit and possit |
| discors | discordant | nominative singular feminine of the adjective discors, “disagreeing, clashing”; agrees with concordia |
How to pronounce “Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors”
The two systems differ only slightly: classical has a short i in quid and a hard k sound throughout, while church Latin often gives quid a longer ee. The stress falls on the first syllable of velit, possit, rerum and discors, and on the third syllable of concordia.
The story behind it
Word for word, the line is an indirect question: “what the discordant harmony of things wishes and is able to do”. It is not a complete sentence, because it depends on a verb in the lines before it.
It comes from Horace’s Epistles 1.12, a verse letter to his friend Iccius, who managed estates in Sicily. Horace teases him as a man who has turned to natural philosophy and wonders about the workings of the world, including how its clashing elements hold together.
The paradox of concordia discors, a harmony made out of conflict, has been a favourite of later writers on nature, music and politics, who borrow it to describe any balance achieved through opposition.
How to use “Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors”
It suits a caption or essay on nature, balance or the tension between opposites, and works well as a tattoo or print for anyone drawn to the idea that conflict can produce harmony. As a stand-alone motto it is usually shortened to “concordia discors”.
- Latin
- Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors
- English
- What the discordant harmony of things intends and can do.
- Source
- Horace, Epistles 1.12.19
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Nature
Common mistakes
- The line is a fragment of an indirect question, not a full statement, so it does not mean “harmony of things is discordant” as a claim about the world.
- Do not translate rerum as “of the world” or “of nature” without care: res is simply “things”, and the wider sense comes from context.
- Quid is “what”, not “why” or “who”, and velit comes from volo (“wish”), not from velle used as a noun.
- The popular short form “concordia discors” is not a separate Horatian phrase but the two words lifted from this line.
Questions about “Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors”
What does “Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors” mean literally?
“What the discordant harmony of things wishes and is able to do.” It is an indirect question describing someone who studies how nature’s opposing forces work together.
Who said “Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors”?
The Roman poet Horace, in his Epistles 1.12.19, in a verse letter to his friend Iccius.
What does “concordia discors” mean?
It means “discordant harmony” or “harmony from discord”: a balance formed out of opposing forces.
Is “Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors” good Latin for a tattoo?
The Latin is correct and comes straight from Horace, but it is a fragment of a longer sentence. Many people choose just “concordia discors”, which reads as a complete phrase.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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