Expert: Maria - 10/8/2006

Question
Could you please tell me what the following phrase means in english?

quod licet Jovi non licet bovi  

Answer
Hello,

This Latin adage means literally :“ What is permitted to Jupiter is not permitted to the ox”, in the sense that what is allowed the gods, i.e. powerful men, is not permitted to all the others, i.e.  people, the man in the street.

Best,
Maria
_______________________________________________________
-QUOD = what
-LICET = is permitted
-IOVI (dative of IUPPITER ) = to Jupiter (The supreme god in classical mythology)
-NON= not
-LICET= is permitted
-BOVI (dative of BOS)  = to the ox