Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori is a line from the Roman lyrical poet Horace's Odes (iii 2.13). The line can be rendered in English as: "It is sweet and becoming to die for one's country," or: "It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country." In classical Latin it was pronounced, "dulcet decorumst pro patria mori," due to poetic elision and prodelision. Area under Roman control  Roman Republic  Roman Empire  Western Empire  Eastern Empire Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a city-state founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... // Lyric poetry is a form of poetry that does not attempt to tell a story, as do epic poetry and dramatic poetry, but is of a more personal nature instead. ... The poor poet A poet is a person who writes poetry. ... Horace, as imagined by Anton von Werner Quintus Horatius Flaccus, (December 8, 65 BC - November 27, 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Classical Latin is the language used by the principal exponents of that language in what is usually regarded as classical Latin literature. ... In music, see elision (music). ... Prodelision is a form of elision in which the latter word loses its first vowels. ...

The line has been a commonplace in modern times throughout Europe. It was quoted by Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat immediately before his beheading on Tower Hill, London in 1747. It was much quoted in reference to the British Empire in the 19th century, particularly during the Boer War. The last words of the early Zionist activist Joseph Trumpeldor before he died while defending a settlement in the Upper Galilee in 1920 are reported to have been "Never mind, it is good to die for our country."^{[citation needed]} Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat (c. ... Tower Hill is an elevated spot outside the Tower of London and just outside the limits of the City of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ... Year 1747 (MDCCXLVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Canada Cape Colony Orange Free State South African Republic Royal Dutch Navy (Evacuation of Paul Kruger only) Commanders Redvers Buller Herbert Kitchener Frederick Roberts Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Casualties 5000 - 6000 Battlefield casualties, 15,000... Joseph Trumpeldor in uniform c. ... Galilee (Arabic al-jaleel الجليل, Hebrew hagalil הגליל), meaning circuit, is a large area overlapping with much of the North District of Israel. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, sed dulcius pro patria vivere, et dulcissimum pro patria bibere. Ergo, bibamus pro salute patriae" (in English—it is sweet to die for the homeland, but it is sweeter to live for the homeland, and the sweetest to drink for it. Therefore, let us drink to the health of the homeland) was a frequent 19th century students' toast.

Uses in art and literature

Perhaps the most famous modern use of the phrase is as the title of a poem, "Dulce Et Decorum Est", written by British poet Wilfred Owen during World War I. In the poem, the phrase is described as "the old Lie." The poem was written by Owen in response to a poem written by Jessie Pope, a pro-war propagandist, entitled "Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori". The latter was about the glory of dying for one's country. Owen's poem is based on a gas attack during World War I and is one of his many anti-war poems that were not published until after the war had ended. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. ... Wilfred Edward Salter Owen, MC (March 18, 1893 – November 4, 1918) was an English poet and soldier, regarded by many as the leading poet of the First World War. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Jessie Pope was an English poet. ... This article is about the type of communication. ...

Its initial three words have appeared as a book title, written by John Nist.

British rock group Kasabian inserted the line at the end of their video for "Empire", after their lead singer is shot by an officers fire arm, in front of a firing squad for obvious mutiny. Kasabian are an English rock band from Blaby and Countesthorpe, formed by Tom Meighan (vocals), Sergio Pizzorno (guitar and vocals), Chris Edwards (bass) and Chris Karloff (guitar and keyboards), who met while attending Leysland High School and Countesthorpe Community College. ... Empire is a song by British rock band Kasabian, and is the lead track to their second album, Empire. ...

In a school essay German playwright Bertolt Brecht referred to the phrase as "Zweckpropaganda" (cheap propaganda for a specific cause).^{[citation needed]} This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

"Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori" is also the title of an unreleased Regina Spektor song, which includes the phrase in the second verse. Regina Spektor (Russian: ) (born February 18, 1980) is a Russian-born American singer-songwriter and pianist. ...

The film Johnny Got His Gun ends with this saying, along with casualty statistics since World War I. Johnny Got His Gun is an anti-war novel written in 1939 by American novelist and screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. ...

The band "Protest the Hero" use it in their song "Soft Targets Dig Softer Graves." Protest the Hero (abbreviated as PTH or simply Protest) is a Canadian punk/post-hardcore band with post-hardcore influences from Whitby, Ontario. ...

The 10,000 Maniacs song 'The Latin One' is, as unlikely as it first sounds, a dub version of the Owen poem. 10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, formed in 1981 and active with various line-ups since that time. ...

Use as a motto and inscription

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" is also the Portuguese Army University (Academia Militar) motto. [1] [2]

The phrase can be found at the front entrance to the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater at the Arlington National Cemetery The Arlington Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, near the center of the Cemetery, is the home of the Tomb of the Unknowns where Unknown American Servicemembers from World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam are interred. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...