Ars longa, vita brevis


Ars longa, vita brevis is a Latin translation of an aphorism coming originally from Greek.
The aphorism quotes the first two lines of the by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. The familiar Latin translation Ars longa, vita brevis reverses the order of the original lines, stressing the long-lasting impact of art over the brevity of life.

Translations

The original text, a standard Latin translation, and an English translation from the Greek follow.

Interpretation

The most common and significant caveat made regarding the saying is that "art" originally meant "technique, craft", not "fine art". Hippocrates was a physician who made this the opening statement in a medical text. The lines which follow: "The physician must not only be prepared to do what is right himself, but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals cooperate." Thus in plainer language "it takes a long time to acquire and perfect one's expertise and one has but a short time in which to do it". It can be interpreted as "while artists die and are forgotten, art lasts forever", but it may also refer to how time limits our accomplishments in life.

Similar sayings

The late-medieval author Chaucer observed "The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne". The first-century CE rabbi Tarfon is quoted as saying "The day is short, the labor vast, the workers are lazy, the reward great, the Master urgent."