I hope these haven't distracted you from other historical quests.
 
 
Thayne
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ne quid nimis
     nay kwid NIH-mihs
     meaning:  nothing in excess
 
This is a Roman saying advocating the middle ground in all things
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nunc est bibendum
     nuunk est bih-BEN-dum
     meaning: break out the champagne
 
Horace's call to merrymaking, literally "now it's time to drink," from
the Odes.
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nunc scripsi totum pro Christo da mihi potum
     nuunk SKRIH-psee TOH-tuum proh KRIH-stoh dah MIH-hee PAW-tuum
     meaning: Now I have written so much for Christ, give me a drink!
 
With this inscription, mon-copyists marked the end of a manuscript or,
perhaps the end of a day's work.
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plures crapula quam gladius
     PLOO-rays KRAH-puu-lah kwahm GLAH-dee-uus
     meaning: more people die partying than fighting wars
 
The Romans knew the toll taken by overindulgence:  This expression
translates literally as "drunkenness (kills) more than the sword."
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prosit
     PROH-siht
     meaning: l'chaim
 
A lating toast, literally "may it benefit you," but freely translated as
"to you", "your good fortune," "to life" and any of the multitude of
expressions we use to wish someone good health when we lift a glass of
wine, spirits or other beverage.
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quod cibus est aliis, aliis est venenuum
     kwawd KIH-buus est AH-lee-ees AH-lee-ees est weh-NAY-nuum
     meaning:  one man's meat is another man's poison
 
Literally, "What is food to some is poison to others."  What some can
drink safely to their good health, others cannot even touch.
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Saturnalia
     sah-tuur-NAH-lee-ah
     meaning: a real wingding
 
In English this word refers to "unrestrained revelry", but in Roman
times, this was week-long party begun in mid-December that involved
drinking, merrymaking and debauchery.
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semel insanivimus omnes
     SEH-mehl ihn-sah-NEE-wih-muus AWM-nays
     meaning:  We have all been mad at least once
 
A good point to keep in mind with someone who ahs committed an
anti-social act, DWI, drunken bout, etc. is that no one goes through
life without slippping now and then.
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si fecisti nega!
     see fay-KIH-stee NEH-gah
     meaning:  stonewall!!
 
Literally, "If you did it, deny it."  Advice commonly given by drinking
companions to conpatriots who are caught with alcohol on their breath.
"That's my story, and I'm sticking to it."
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video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor
     WIH-day-oh meh-lee-OH-rah praw-BOH-kweh day-teh-ree-OH-rah SEH-kwawr
     meaning:  even though I know better, I keep on doing the wrong thing
 
This is the uptimate explanation of recidivism for the drinker or
wrong-dooer.  It is taken from a line in Ovid's Metamorphoses,
literally, "I see the better way and approve it, but I follow the worse
way."
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vincit qui se vincit
     WIHN-kiht kwee say WIHN-kiht
     meaning: First we must learn to overcome our own bad habits
 
This advice, literally means "he conquers who conquors himself."  A heavy
drinker must first conquor his own bad habits before he can change the world.