Which had the fairer pretext for warfare, we may not know: each has high authority to support him; for, if the victor had the gods on his side, the vanquished had Cato.
Quis iustius induit arma
scire nefas: magno se iudice quisque tuetur;
Victrix causa deis placuit sed victa Catoni.
scire nefas: magno se iudice quisque tuetur;
Victrix causa deis placuit sed victa Catoni.
Original text (Latin)
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Notes from Wikiquote
Tho. Hobbes's translation | The side that won the Gods approved most,
But Cato better lik'd the side that lost. | Jane Wilson Joyce's translation | The conquering cause pleased the gods, but the conquered pleased Cato.