qui bene amat, bene castigat

Latin

Etymology

Literally, “he who loves well, castigates well”.

This form of the phrase is likely a calque from French qui aime bien châtie bien. Similar phrases are found in Latin texts:

• c. 325 CE, Lactantius, Divinae institutiones 5.23:

  Bonos autem quos diligit castigat saepius

  The good people whom he likes, he punishes more often

• Early 16th century, Vives, De Subventione pauperum 1.6:

  Quem diligit, castigat

  Whom he likes, he punishes

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /kʷiː ˈbe.ne ˈa.mat ˈbe.ne kasˈtiː.ɡat/, [kʷiː ˈbɛnɛ ˈämät̪ ˈbɛnɛ käs̠ˈt̪iːɡät̪]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /kwi ˈbe.ne ˈa.mat ˈbe.ne kasˈti.ɡat/, [kwiː ˈbɛːne ˈäːmät̪ ˈbɛːne käsˈt̪iːɡät̪]

Proverb

quī bene amat, bene castīgat

1. spare the rod and spoil the child

Usage notes

• This proverb, which has been used especially as a recurrent theme in education, can have the following two distinct interpretations:

1. he who loves will not hesitate to chastise, in the interest of the one being loved
2. only he who loves will be able to exercise the punishment in a sensible way.