Latin Proverbs: Dum

Hoping to inspire Hector Tapia to love Latin "dum" clauses, here is a list of proverbs that open with a "dum" clause. I'm not going to translate the Latin, but I have provided a bit of commentary to help with the meaning (I hope). If you have questions, comment at the blog or find me at Twitter @OnlineCrsLady. Or email me, laurakgibbs@gmail.com.

Dum canis os rodit, socium quem diligit odit.
The idea is that dogs might be friends, but that doesn't mean one will share the bone he finds with another.

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Dum fugans canis mingit, fugiens lepus evadit.
Pay attention to the different Latin verbs here: "fugans" means "making someone run away, chasing," while "fugiens" means "running away, being chased."

Dum feles dormit, saliunt mures.
Dum feles dormit, mus gaudet et exsilit antro.
Compare the English saying, "When the cat's away, the mice will play."

Dum stertit cattus, numquam sibi currit in os mus.
The mice may come out when the cat is sleeping, but they are not just going to run right into the cat's mouth! The cat is going to have to do some work in order to catch the mice.

Dum pastores odia exercent, lupus intrat ovile.
The idea is that the wolf takes advantage of the shepherds being distracted.

Dum abbas apponit tesseras, ludunt monachi.
The idea in this medieval proverb is that the abbot is responsible for what goes on in the monastery.

Dum vito fumum, flammam in ipsam decido.
Compare the English saying, "Out of the frying pan, into the fire."

Dum aetatis ver agitur, consule brumae.
The phrase "aetatis ver agitur" means while you are in the spring of your life, "aetatis ver," as opposed to the winter of your life that is still to come.

Dum ferrum candet, cudendum est.
Compare the English saying, "Strike while the iron is hot" (because if you bang on the iron while it's cold, you'll accomplish nothing).

Dum loquor, hora fugit.
Dum loquimur, tempus fugit.
These two sayings have the same meaning, but with different subjects (first person singular and plural), while "tempus" and "hora" are both ways to refer to "time" in Latin.

Dum spiro, spero.
Dum spiramus, speramus.
This is another pair of proverbs that mean the same thing, using first person singular or plural.

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Dum vita est, spes est.
Dum vivis, sperare decet.
Dum vivo, spero.
These three proverbs express in different ways the same meaning as the English saying, "Where there's life, there's hope."

Dum vivo, prosum.
The implied idea is that "prosum (aliis)," "I help (others)."

Dum potes, vive!
The idea with the imperative "vive" here is "live (life to the fullest)" while you are able.

Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes.
Note the subjunctive here: "operemur," and it's a deponent verb that takes the accusative, i.e. "let us do good."

Dum vivimus, discamus.
Note the subjunctive here, "discamus," "let us learn." Compare the English saying, "Live and learn."