You can talk like Jerry Brown

Oct. 18, 2012

By John Seiler

Jerry Brown has been elected governor twice, attorney general twice, mayor of Oakland twice and secretary of state once. A big factor is his use of Latin phrases. As you may have noticed, he likes to show off the classical education the Jesuits gave him in the 1950s. He wants to make sure you know that he didn’t attend some dumbed-down public school like you attended. (And I certainly did.)

But now, you too can talk like Jerry Brown. You can be haughty and drop phrases that will have people thinking, “What a genius!” Or, perhaps, “What an arrogant fool.”

No matter. Soon you will be prospering as never before, on your way to fame, fortune and high political office.

And it’s free.

Just click on Wikipedia’s handy list of Latin phrases.

For example, instead of saying, “2012 was a hideous year for me.” You can say, “2012 was my annus horribilis.

Instead of “Let’s party!” say, Carpe noctem!

For “Don’t bug me with trivia,” say, De minimis non curat praetor (little things don’t concern the leader).

For “He’s nuts!,” use, Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit (There has been no great wisdom without an element of madness.)

And so on. Have fun and annoy people. Then become governor.