Latin phrases often have actual meanings that vary from the literal translation. This is true in most (if not all) languages; but it is perhaps more significant in dead languages such as Latin, since the contexts and backgrounds are not as obvious to most of us today (or are sometimes extremely obscure). This short conversation is an excellent example of this phenomenon; a literal interpretation of these few phrases can be misleading. If you have questions, comments, new information, or if you just want to argue about it, mail me. Here is a .wav recording of the conversation.
Background: As Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) runs the Faro table in a crowded saloon, with an inebriated Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) standing by, a group of cowboys enters noisily, led by Curly Bill Brocius (Powers Boothe) and Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn). Introductions are made (so to speak)...
[Ringo steps up to Doc]
Ringo: And you must be Doc Holliday.
Doc: [Careless, drunk, and not looking very well] That's the rumor.
Ringo: You retired too?
Doc: Not me. I'm in my prime.
Ringo: [Dubious and insulting] Yeah, you look it.
Doc: And you must be Ringo. Look, darlin', Johnny Ringo. The deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darlin'? Should I hate him?
Kate: You don't even know him.
Doc: Yes, but there's just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don't know, reminds me of... me. No. I'm sure of it, I hate him.
Wyatt: [To Curly Bill and Johnny, holding up hands in placatory gesture.] He's drunk.
[Doc takes another drink from his tin cup.]
Doc: In vino veritas. / Wine loosens the tongue.
"There are sleeping drunks and fighting drunks and quiet drunks and talkative drunks. In vino veritas, an old Roman proverb, with the literal meaning 'in wine the truth', tells us that people under the influence of wine or other spirits will say things they ordinarily try to conceal." 1
Ringo: Age quod agis. / Pay attention to what you are doing.
(Or, in this case, "You'd better be careful" or "Watch what you say".)
"Age quod agis, literally 'do what you are doing', is excellent advice for those who become careless in their work as well as for those who fail to do what they are supposed to do." 2
Doc: Credat Iudaeus Apella, non ego. / Tell it to the Marines, not me.
This phrase comes from a work by Horace; literally, I believe that this reads "Let the Jew Apella believe it; I will not." Roget's Thesaurus entry #497 (absurdity) gives "Credat Judaeus Apella" the loose translation "Tell it to the Marines", while entry #485 (unbelief) suggests "Let those believe who may."
"Iudaeus" is sometimes spelled "Judaeus".
Ringo: Iuventus stultorum... [he indicates his revolver] ...magister. / Youth is the teacher of fools.
"Iuventus" is sometimes spelled "juventus".
or...
Ringo: Eventus stultorum... [he indicates his revolver] ...magister. / Fools must be taught by experience.
(You decide which, if any, is correct.)
Doc: [Half-whispering with heightened intensity] In pace requiescat! / Rest in peace!
Johnny proceeds to draw his revolver and gives an impressive demonstration of his dexterity in handling and twirling it; Doc answers with a repetition of the same moves, except using a tin cup instead of a revolver. Everyone enjoys the joke and the conflict is over for now.
1. Ehrlich, Eugene: Amo, Amas, Amat and More (Harper and Row, 1985), p. 164
2. Ehrlich, Eugene: Amo, Amas, Amat and More (Harper and Row, 1985), p. 34