Talk:Sic transit gloria mundi

This phrase is also in War and Peace, when Pierre experiences the initiation ceremony for the Freemasons.

Not sure how best to deal with this

this was in the beginning of the Modern Usage section:

• Henrik Ibsen Peer Gynt Act 5 Scene 8:

PEER:

   "Lykke på rejsen; og hils fra mig.
   Kan jeg rive mig løs, går jeg samme vej.
   Jeg skriver en farce, både gal og grundig:
   den skal hedde: "Sic transit gloria mundi."

I suggest translating it then if it's that important, state that it has been used in this context. We don't need a four line quotation. Arthurian Legend (talk) 04:10, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

Ancient use correct?

Recalling from my latin lessons in secondary school, the phrase whispered by the slave accompanying the general on triumph was "Memento mori", rather than "Sic transit gloria Mundi". This also agrees better with the article on the latter: Memento mori. Unfortunately, I cannot provide references compelling enough to warrant a change.

 Jules Kerssemakers, 2 December 2008

I have removed the paragraph in question, as it has been sitting unreferenced for some time. If someone has a reference, feel free to add it back; I have copied it below. Lesgles (talk) 08:24, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

In ancient Rome, the phrase is said to have been used on the occasions when a Roman general returning from a victorious campaign with his conquered foe in chains before him, his children attired in white riding on white horses, his chariot pulled by white stallions, passing the Via Appia, through the Forum Romanum, past the Colosseum, was parading through the streets of Rome during the victory celebration known as a triumph. Standing behind the victorious general was a slave, and he had the task of reminding the general that, though all the glory of Rome was at his feet, that just as certainly all glory was fleeting. The servant reminded him of this by whispering in his ear, while holding a golden olive branch above his head, that sic transit gloria mundi that all glory is fleeting.

I believe that this quote is from the movie "Patton." At the very end, after Patton's eventual accidental death is implied, George C. Scott does a voiceover of this story. From there it has passed to general usage. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.16.220.121 (talk) 03:14, 2 August 2011 (UTC)

Papal use

When did this start? If it did indeed come from Thomas à Kempis, then the papal use originated no earlier than the 15th century, which is an important note about its part in a ritual that's almost two thousand years old.--Prosfilaes (talk) 16:24, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

Why the redirect?

"That's the way the cookie crumbles" redirects to this page. Why? 66.65.140.115 (talk) 03:15, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

Phrase spoken when someone passes away?

I'm sure I had read — not too long ago, as a matter of fact — that this phrase was often used in connection with the death of a famous or great person. (In fact, I thought it was here on WP that I read it -- I came here to check it again, but I guess I was barking up the wrong tree!) Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about? Captain Quirk (talk) 22:36, 3 November 2010 (UTC)

Hi Captain; you are not wrong-it IS used in this context, as in the sense of "even the greatest/most important life ends in the same way as everyone else's" or "we all go the same way" A similar (ish) thought is "all political lives... end in failure" Enoch Powell ref wikiquotes. I would even go so far as to consider using it in a 'pride comes before a fall' sense (or warning!) Hope this note will help you feel you are not alone..... Flekkygirl 5Flekkygirl5 (talk) 15:02, 8 November 2010 (UTC)

Thank you, Flekkygirl5! (Says Captain Quirk sheepishly almost 11 years later! [Sorry -- I guess I didn't click "Watch this page" and was never notified of your comment! I just happened to come back here this evening and saw your reply.]) Captain Quirk (talk) 06:24, 14 September 2021 (UTC)

Berlusconi, Khadafi

According to this article (sorry, it's in Portuguese), upon learning of the death of Khadafi, Berlusconi said "Sic transit gloria mundi." Seems relevant enough to include on this page. See the last paragraph of the article.... --72.47.85.22 (talk) 04:37, 25 October 2011 (UTC)

Something wrong with date here

There seemed to be something basically wrong with the explanation(s) of the origin of this phrase. If it was used at the coronation of Alexander V in 1409, then it didn't originate in a literary work nine years later. So I deleted the phrase about the work and moved it to the end of the following paragraph. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Roy McCoy (talk • contribs) 21:02, 31 October 2014 (UTC)

Astoundingly bad article

I appreciate the translation as "Thus passes the glory of the world."

I do not appreciate that none of the many distinct meanings of the English verb "to pass" have been disambiguated in the article, leaving readers just as confused as they were before reading the above quote.