Expert: Maria - 4/17/2008

Question
Brevior saltare cum deformibus mulieribus est vita

Answer
Hello,

Such a Latin phrase which can be translated as “Life is too short to dance with ugly women” wishes it were a funny comment on the brevity of life and the necessity for men not to  waste it by dancing with ugly women!!

Anyway I have to tell you that  this sentence is not completely correct, and moreover  would sound quite strange to the  Romans,  and not so funny, indeed!

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that  the correct Latin sentence should have been as follows:
“Brevior est vita quam ut saltes cum deformibus mulieribus”.

But, as I’ve already said, it would have sounded absolutely odd in Roman times!