Aliis Prodesse
Si prodesse aliis studeas, tibi proderis ipsi;
At nisi ames alios, et te quoque nullus amabit.
Source: Marcus Antonius Muretus (1526-1585), Juvenilia. Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the adverbial use of et in this phrase: et te, "you too, you as well."
If you strive (si studeas) to benefit others (prodesse aliis), you will benefit yourself (proderis tibi ipsi) but if you do not love others (at nisi ames alios) no one will love (nullus amabit) you likewise (et te quoque).
The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. All the words in this poem are on that list:
alius -a -um: other, another
amo -āre: to love
at: but, but yet
et: and
ipse, ipsa, ipsum: him- her- itself
nisi/nī: if not, unless
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
prōsum -desse -fuī: be of use, do good, help (+ dat.)
quoque: also, too
sī: if
studeo -ēre -uī: be eager, be zealous, care for (+ dat.)
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
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