Latin quote · Self-control

Vincit qui se vincit

“He conquers who conquers himself.”

Latin motto (after Publilius Syrus)

Translation

What does “Vincit qui se vincit” mean?

Vincit qui se vincit translates as “He conquers who conquers himself.”

The greatest victory is over your own weaknesses.

Word by word

“Vincit qui se vincit” word by word

Latin	English	Grammar
Vincit	conquers, wins	3rd person singular present active indicative of vinco, “I conquer, I win”
qui	who, the one who	nominative singular masculine relative pronoun; subject of the second verb, with the sense “whoever”
se	himself	accusative singular reflexive pronoun (the same form for him, her, itself and themselves); direct object of vincit
vincit	conquers	3rd person singular present active indicative of vinco; the same verb again, now inside the relative clause

Pronunciation

How to pronounce “Vincit qui se vincit”

Classical LatinWIN-kit kwee seh WIN-kit

Church LatinVEEN-chit kwee seh VEEN-chit

The difference is in the opening consonant: Classical has a hard c (k), Church Latin has ch, and the first vowel is short in Classical (win) but closer to “veen” in the Italianate style. Stress falls on the first syllable of vincit both times.

Origin & context

The story behind it

Word for word the line says “he conquers who conquers himself”. It is a short motto built on a play on the verb vincere, which appears twice and ties victory in the outer world to victory over oneself.

It echoes a maxim of Publilius Syrus, a Roman writer of short moral sayings in the first century BC, usually given as “he conquers twice who conquers himself in victory”. The version above is a later, shorter Latin motto based on that thought, not a line Publilius wrote in this form.

The idea of mastering yourself before mastering others runs through ancient philosophy, especially Stoic and Socratic thought. Today the line is used as a personal motto, in sport and in coaching, and in school and club mottos.

When to use it

How to use “Vincit qui se vincit”

Suits a tattoo, a desk motto or a gift for someone working on discipline, recovery, training or a hard habit. It also fits an essay or speech on self-control, willpower or inner strength.

Latin: Vincit qui se vincit
English: He conquers who conquers himself.
Source: Latin motto (after Publilius Syrus)
Era: Antiquity (motto)
Theme: Self-control

Good to know

Common mistakes

It is often credited directly to Publilius Syrus. The closest ancient source is his maxim about conquering twice, and this exact wording is a later motto.
The second “vincit” is not a repeat by accident. Both verbs are needed: the first belongs to the whoever-clause’s result, the second to “qui”.
Do not change “se” to “me” or “te” without rewriting the verb: for “I conquer who conquer myself” you need different endings, not just a swapped pronoun.
The pronunciation of the c differs: “k” in Classical Latin, “ch” in Church Latin, so choose one style and stay with it, especially for spoken use.

FAQ

Questions about “Vincit qui se vincit”

What does “Vincit qui se vincit” mean literally?

“He conquers who conquers himself.” The pronoun “se” is reflexive and means “himself”, “herself” or “oneself”, so it applies to anyone.

Who said “Vincit qui se vincit”?

It is a Latin motto that echoes a maxim of Publilius Syrus about conquering twice by conquering oneself in victory. It is not a verbatim line from him.

How do you pronounce “Vincit qui se vincit”?

Classically it is WIN-kit kwee seh WIN-kit. In Church Latin it is VEEN-chit kwee seh VEEN-chit.

Is “Vincit qui se vincit” correct Latin for a tattoo?

Yes. The grammar is sound, and “se” works for any gender, so no changes are needed for a woman or a group.

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