Let’s have another piece in our series Monthly Latin! Our fascination of this old language may very well keep it alive for centuries to come as there is no end to the wise and for ever applicable phrases in Latin.

And the next Latin phrase is just as eternal as any other - and very easy, although possibly painful, to relate to.

Ex nihilo nihil fit

The literal translation of this would be Out of nothing, nothing comes. And more freely, nothing comes from nothing. This philosophical term was first argued by the Greek philosopher Parmenides who was born around 515 B.C, and the actual quote a bit later by the Roman philosopher Lucretius who lived around 99-55 B.C.

And it is of course a reminder that you don’t get anything (worth while) for nothing, but  need to work (hard) in order to achieve something. A good example of this might be an athlete that trains years to get the body and the necessary skills and technique to break records. Or just us ordinary citizens who try to keep in shape, and find the time and wherewithal to make that happen. And just as good an example is of course any activity in any other field, and any other type or level of endeavor.

Getting something for nothing is a kind of illusion, very often linked to money. But you may have actually earned your good deal in other ways, and the deal is just a reminder that you have done well. For it is seldom money - or the apparent saving of it - that brings us the kind of fulfillment that a continuous dedication bearing the well-earned fruit of labor does. One plus one is two, even if it takes time to add up.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_comes_from_nothing