Caces Bele

S03E07 The CaferetroMar 12, 1994, 2:46 PM ET2 years later3 posts by 3 posters

🧩 Trivia

Fans discuss and correct the Latin phrase Elaine uses in the episode, debating the exact wording and translation of 'casus belli' and its meaning related to justification or causes for war.

3 posts

LEVINE,DARRYL,MRMar 12, 1994, 4:56 PM ET

RE: Elain's Latin phrase

For those interested, the Latin phrase that Elaine says during THE CAFE, "Caces bele" (sic) means something like 'the coming war'.

That's all I heard. Darryl Levine McGill University Montreal

Patrick and Sharon ReidMar 12, 1994, 2:46 PM ET↩ LEVINE,DARRYL,MR

The quote was actually "causis belli' and means the cause of the war - e.g. the kidnapping of Helen was the "Causis Belli" for the Trojan War.

Mark A. FreedmanMar 12, 1994, 5:16 PM ET↩ LEVINE,DARRYL,MR

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casus belli, I think, is more accurately defined as 'justfication for making war'. One could argue, for example, that the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq was the casus beli for the American/UN response.

Of course I may be completely wrong.

"Why can't I just be!? Why can't I just live!?