These thoughts were expressed early in thousands of inscriptions which have appeared on dials. They vary according to the philosophy of the builder or the patron; they allude to philosophical or religious questions, to the earth and the sun, to the day and the night; sometimes, but rarely, they take a hedonistic twist. Most of them are written in Latin, the language of serious people, of scientist, and of clerics.

In keeping with tradition, the quotations are given in the original Latin; the English translations which we give can be considered as most as a motto. The Choice will be governed by taste and surrounding; the text is usually shorter in Latin.

CAUTE CAVE MEDIO NE DESIT LUMINE LUMEN : Be careful that the light does not fail you during the day

SOLE ORIENTE FUGIUNT TENEBRAE : The shadows flee when the sun approaches

CUI DOMUS HUIC HORA : Each household should have the time

SI SOL DEFICIT, RESPICIT ME NEMO : Nobody looks at me when the sun is not there

MEAM VIDE UMBRAM, TUAM VIDEBIS VITAM  :  Look at my shadow, you will see your life

SOL IMMOBILIS TERRA VERSAT : The motion of the earth makes the sun rotate

ULTIMA LATET UT OBSERVENTUR OMNES : The last is hidden so that we have to watch them all

FESTINA LENTE : Make haste slowly

VIDI NIHIL PERMANERE SUB SOLE : I have seen nothing last forever under the sun

POST LABOREM REQUIES : Rest after work

AL'TERA PARS OTIO, PARS ISTA LABORI : Devote the other to leisure, devote this one to work

HORA FUGIT NE TARDES : Time flies, do not be late

UTERE NON REDITURA  : Use it, it won't come back

SERIUS EST QUAM COGITAS : It is later than you think

SIC VITA FLUIT, DUM STARE VIDETUR : Life goes and still it always looks the same

TEMPUS EDAX RERUM : Oh time, devourer of things

TEMPUS VOLAT, HORA FUGIT : Time flies, the hour escapes

TEMPUS BREVE EST : Time is short

SIT FAUSTA QUAE LABITUR : Let this hour be favourable

VIVERE MEMENTO : Do not forget to live

DONA PRAESENTIS RAPE LAETUS HORAE : Take quickly the gifts of the present hour

UTERE, NON NUMERA : Use them, don't count them

POST TENEBRAS SPERO LUCEM : Oh light, I hope for thee in this darkness

DUM TEMPUS HABEMUS OPEREMUR BONUM : Let us do some good while there is still time

OMNES AEQUALES SOLA VIRTUTE DISCREPANTES  : They are all the same, only your good deeds make them different

VER NON SEMPER VIRET : Spring does not last forever

UMBRA SICUT HOMINIS VITA : The life of man is like a shadow

OMNES VULNERANT, ULTIMA NECAT : Each one wounds, the last one kills

SOL OMNIBUS LUCET : The sun shines for all

RUIT HORA : Time flies

EX IIS UNAM CAVE : Beware of one of them

MEMOR ESTO BREVIS AEVI : Remember that life is short

LUCEM DEMONSTRAT UMBRA : It is light that makes a shadow

AMICIS QUALIBET HORA : Any hour can go to my friends

TEMPUS OMNIA DABIT : Time will eventually give everything

UNA EX HIS ERIT TIBI ULTIMA : One of these will be your last

TEMPUS VINCIT OMNIA : Time conquers all

VITA IN MOTU : Life is in motion

SIC LABITUR AETAS : So goes life

LENTE HORA, CELERITER ANNI : The hour is slow but the years run quickly

TEMPUS FUGIT : Time flies

FRUERE HORA : Enjoy this moment

UNA DABIT QUOD NEGAT ALTERA : One will give what the other has refused

HORAS NON NUMERO NISI SERENAS : I show only the bright hours

VITA SIMILIS UMBRAE : Life is like the shadows

DOCEO HORAS : I tell the time

SOL ME PROBAT UNUS : Only the sun can prove that I am useful

SOL REX REGUM : O sun, king of kings