Expert: Maria - 10/31/2009

Question
How do you say this Latin phrase in English?

Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam


Answer
Hello,

“Furthermore, I think that Carthage must be destroyed" is the translation of the phrase “Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam”, attributed to the Roman statesman Cato the Elder who was bent on destroying Carthage, and then is said to always end his speeches in the Roman  senate  with such a sentence  just to point out how Carthage was dangerous to Rome, although the Romans had already twice defeated the Carthaginians in the First Punic War (264 to 241 BC) and in the Second  Punic War (218 to 202 BC).

The Third Punic War broke out  just in 149 BC, the year of Cato's death, and ended with a strong destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.

Best regards,
Maria
________________________________________

Note that:
-CETERUM = furthermore
-CENSEO = I think
-CARTHAGINEM = that Carthage
-ESSE DELENDAM = must be destroyed