suaviter in modo, fortiter in re

[ swah-wi-ter in moh-doh, fohr-ti-ter in rey; English swav-i-ter in moh-doh, fawr-ti-ter in ree, swah-vi-ter ]

Latin.

1. gently in manner, firmly in action.

Example Sentences

He seems to live by Ignatius of Loyola's dictum suaviter in modo, fortiter in re: gentle in manner, strong in deed.

From The Guardian

He was strictly suaviter in modo fortiter in re.

From Project Gutenberg

On his desk in front of the lectern rested an inch-high plate bearing the Latin motto, Suaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re, and the translation, "Gently in Manner, Strongly in Deed."

From Time Magazine Archive

Of Lord Chesterfield's golden maxim--Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re--he attended so earnestly to the latter half that he generally forgot the former.

From Project Gutenberg

"Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re."—This rule is strongly recommended by Lord Chesterfield in one of his letters, as "unexceptionably useful and necessary in every part of life."

From Project Gutenberg