Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor
“I see the better and approve it, but I follow the worse.”
Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.20-21
What does “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor” mean?
Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor translates as “I see the better and approve it, but I follow the worse.”
We often know what is right and still do the wrong thing. It is the classic description of weakness of will.
“Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Video | I see | first person singular present active indicative of video, “to see” |
| meliora | the better things | accusative plural neuter of melior, “better”, comparative of bonus; used as a noun, “better things” |
| proboque | and I approve | probo, “to approve”: first person singular present active indicative; -que is “and” attached to the word |
| deteriora | the worse things | accusative plural neuter of deterior, “worse”, comparative adjective; used as a noun, “worse things” |
| sequor | I follow | first person singular present indicative of sequor, “to follow” (a deponent verb: passive form, active meaning) |
How to pronounce “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor”
The two differ only in the first syllable: classical video has a w sound (WIH-), church Latin has a v (VEE-). Stress falls on the first syllable of video and sequor, and on the -o- of meliora, proboque and deteriora.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “I see the better things and approve them, I follow the worse”. It comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (book 7, lines 20-21), a long poem of mythological transformations written in the early first century AD.
The speaker is Medea, a princess of Colchis. When Jason arrives to take the Golden Fleece, she falls in love with him. In her monologue she knows that helping him means betraying her father and her home, yet she cannot stop herself.
The line is often quoted as the classic statement of what Greek writers called akrasia, acting against your own better judgement. Readers have compared it to Paul’s words in Romans 7 about doing the evil he does not want to do.
How to use “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor”
It suits a tattoo or essay quote about inner conflict, temptation or self-knowledge, and works as a candid caption about habits you know you should break. It is a poor fit for a cheerful greeting card, since it voices defeat rather than resolve.
- Latin
- Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor
- English
- I see the better and approve it, but I follow the worse.
- Source
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.20-21
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Character
Common mistakes
- It is not Ovid’s own confession. The words belong to Medea, a character in the poem.
- The usual spelling is “proboque”: the -que means “and” and is attached to probo. Splitting it as “probo que” is wrong.
- Meliora and deteriora are neuter plurals meaning “better things” and “worse things”. They are not people, and the ending changes if you alter the sense.
- It is often shortened to “video meliora”, which loses the contrast and changes the meaning.
Questions about “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor”
What does “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor” mean?
“I see the better and approve it, but I follow the worse.” It describes knowing what is right while doing the opposite.
Who said “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor”?
It is from Ovid’s Metamorphoses 7.20-21, spoken by the character Medea as she struggles with her love for Jason.
How do you pronounce “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor”?
In classical Latin: WIH-deh-oh meh-lee-OH-rah proh-BOH-kweh deh-teh-ree-OH-rah SEH-kwor. In church Latin the first word starts with a v: VEE-deh-oh.
Is “Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor” good for a tattoo?
The Latin is correct and widely used. Keep -que attached to proboque and include the full line, since “video meliora” alone changes the meaning.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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