tantum religio potuit suadere malorum

Latin

Etymology

Literally "To such heights of evil has religion been able to drive men.". From Lucretius' De Rerum Natura, Book I, 101.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈtan.tum reːˈli.ɡi.oː ˈpo.tu.it su̯aːˈdeː.re maˈloː.rum/, [ˈt̪än̪t̪ʊ̃ˑ reːˈlʲɪɡioː ˈpɔt̪uɪt̪ s̠u̯äːˈd̪eːrɛ mäˈɫ̪oːrʊ̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈtan.tum reˈli.d͡ʒi.o ˈpo.tu.it swaˈde.re maˈlo.rum/, [ˈt̪än̪t̪um reˈliːd͡ʒio ˈpɔːt̪uit̪ swäˈd̪ɛːre mäˈlɔːrum]

Proverb

tantum rēligiō potuit suādēre malōrum

1. The practice of religion leads people to practise evil.
   • c. 99 BCE – 55 BCE, Lucretius, De rerum natura 1.101:

     Tantum rēligiō potuit suādēre malōrum.

     So potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds.