What does “Homo Sum . . .” mean?

"Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto" is a Latin phrase by the Roman playwright Terence (Publius Terentius Afer), who lived around 185 to 159 BC. It means, "I am a human, (and) nothing human is alien to me", and conveys the idea that humans should be able to understand and empathise with all aspects of humanity. Terence’s biography and his humanist ideas were written by scholars of long ago who lived many years after him and could not access reliable facts about his life. Nonetheless, it is believed that he was born in Carthage, Tunisia and brought to Rome as an enslaved person around the age of 25. His intelligence and aptitude deeply impressed his master (Terentius Lucanus), who gave him education and freedom.

Trance ultimately secured a place as a famous author and produced several brilliant comedies around 160s BC, including his masterpiece, The Brothers and The Self-Tormentor, which includes the “homo sum” phrase.

The phrase “I am human, (and) nothing human is alien to me” has been interpreted and translated in several ways. Harry Jocelyn (Australian Latinist and classical scholar - 1933–2000) explained that some, like Michel de Montaigne (Renaissance philosopher), saw it as a man’s confession of emotional and spiritual weakness. Others, like John of Salisbury (1120-1180, English philosopher and bishop of Chartres), perceived it as an expression of Christian charity (unselfish love of one’s fellow human). Others have seen it as a refutation of intolerance and narrow-mindedness. Yet, others say it had to do with having a humanitarian attitude (i.e., being concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare).

For most, this phrase has been interpreted as a reminder to embrace empathy and understanding for others, regardless of their differences. It emphasises that we (humans) should be able to understand and empathise with all aspects of our humanity, and human experience (both positive and negative) should not seem strange to us. It can also be seen as a reminder that while people are all unique, they share many qualities.

Moreover, it could mean we should try to understand other people’s motives and behaviours, even when they differ significantly, as observing people closely could help us understand how to improve. Another interpretation is that we should show empathy to each other and try to understand ideas and lifestyles that are different from ours. We are all part of the arc of humanity, and our similarities are often much greater and more significant than our differences. Nonetheless, it’s all our differences and similarities that make us human.

To me, Trance’s quote encourages us to cultivate understanding and compassion for each other, regardless of our differences. It reminds us to take empathy to our hearts and strive for greater compassion and comprehension.

Vitruvian Man

The Vitruvian Man drawing (1490) by the Renaissance artist and engineer Leonardo da Vinci depicts a nude male figure with arms and legs in two positions so that the hands and feet touch the perimeters of a square and a circle. It is one of Leonardo’s best works and has become an iconic image, often used in arts and sciences. The drawing was partly influenced by the proportional theories of the Roman architect Vitruvius, who, in his treatise De Architectura (1st-century BCE), proposed that a human figure perfectly fit inside a circle and a square with arms and legs extended, his fingers and toes would touch the circumference of a circle, and his navel lay at the centre. He also observed that the human figure is comparable to a perfect square.