# Can Someone Translate This Into Latin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746 "2006-04-15T02:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/1 "2006-04-15T02:30:44Z")
I’ve tried the various English-To-Latin dictionaries online, but I haven’t gotten good results. I’m wanting to translate the phrase, “Always Forward, Never Backward.” Can anyone translate this for me? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/2 "2006-04-15T04:58:49Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > I’ve tried the various English-To-Latin dictionaries online, but I haven’t gotten good results. > > I’m wanting to translate the phrase, “Always Forward, Never Backward.” > > Can anyone translate this for me? Thanks in advance. How about “Progressus semper, recessus numquam.” That would mean, essentially, “Advance always, retreat never.” ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/3 "2006-04-15T08:34:28Z")
Can you give us any context? For instance, if it were for the military, it might be better to say, “Semper aggressus, numquam recessus.” ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/4 "2006-04-15T15:19:30Z")
It was from something Hubby’s boss asked him. He said every good manager has a personal motto, and ask Hubby what his was. Hubby replied that it was “always forward, never backward.” I had an idea of making him a sign with that on it as a little gift. I guess that it might be more clear to put it as “Always progress, never regress.” It’s not the concept of retreat, but the idea of being mired down in an idea which didn’t work, and trying to go back and fix it instead of using the time to try something else. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/5 "2006-04-15T15:26:37Z")
“Status numquan”? (I don’t know Latin.) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/6 "2006-04-15T16:06:55Z")
Alternatively, (although it is in Italian, not Latin), when they forced me out of the cubicle bullpen and into an office, I placed the following over my door: _LASCIATE OGNI SPERANZA VOI CH’ENTERATE._ ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/7 "2006-04-15T16:12:32Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Alternatively, (although it is in Italian, not Latin), when they forced me out of the cubicle bullpen and into an office, I placed the following over my door: > _LASCIATE OGNI SPERANZA VOI CH’ENTERATE._ Just because my sig is in Latin doesn’t make me able to read it. 😉 Translation, _s’il vous plait?_ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/8 "2006-04-15T16:32:46Z")
Abandon all hope , you who enter. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-translate-this-into-latin/352746/9 "2006-04-15T21:37:10Z")
I think you want an idiomatic, not literal, translation, in which case you might try ‘Progressus non regressus’ or ‘Veniens non regrediens’ (‘Coming not going’).