Definition
Ne quid nimis is a Latin proverb meaning “let nothing be too much” or “nothing in excess.” It is used to advise moderation in any activity or pursuit.
Etymology and Grammar
- ne – negative particle used with the subjunctive to express a prohibition or wish (“let … not”).
- quid – neuter singular of quis, functioning here as an indefinite pronoun meaning “anything” or “nothing.”
- nimis – an adverb meaning “excessively, too much.”
The phrase literally translates as “let nothing be excessive.”
Historical Usage
The expression appears in collections of Latin proverbs, for example in Erasmus’s Adagia (Book V, No. 99), where it is cited as a counsel for temperance. It is also found in medieval scholastic texts as a maxim for ethical conduct, and has been used as a motto by various institutions seeking to emphasize balance.
Modern Reception
The proverb continues to be quoted in discussions of ethics, philosophy, and lifestyle, often rendered into English as “nothing in excess” or “moderation in all things.”
References
- Lewis, Charlton T., & Short, Charles. A Latin Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 1879. (entries for ne, quid, nimis).
- Erasmus, Desiderius. Adagia (Proverbial Collection). Amsterdam, 1500s. (Book V, No. 99).
- Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1992.
Related Concepts
- Temperantia – the virtue of moderation in classical philosophy.
- Memento mori – another Latin maxim emphasizing the limits of human life.
Note: The phrase is a well‑attested Latin proverb and is recognized in standard classical reference works.
