The popular placeholder text “lorem ipsum” actually comes from a treatise on the theory of ethics. Specifically, sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) written by Cicero, over two thousand years ago.
What exactly is Lorem ipsum?
Contrary to popular belief, Lorem ipsum is not simply “random” text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BCE, making it over 2,000 years old.
Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words – consectetur
– from a Lorem ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, he discovered the undoubtable source.
Lorem ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BCE. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance.
Where does it come from?
The first line, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…”, comes from a sentence in section 1.10.32. The standard chunk of Lorem ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.
1914 English translation by H. Rackham
On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralised by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain. These cases are perfectly simple and easy to distinguish.
In a free hour, when our power of choice is untrammelled and when nothing prevents our being able to do what we like best, every pleasure is to be welcomed and every pain avoided. But in certain circumstances and owing to the claims of duty or the obligations of business it will frequently occur that pleasures have to be repudiated and annoyances accepted. The wise man therefore always holds in these matters to this principle of selection: he rejects pleasures to secure other greater pleasures, or else he endures pains to avoid worse pains.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Turpis egestas pretium aenean pharetra, orci eu lobortis elementum nibh tellus molestie vulputate dignissim suspendisse inest.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore magna aliqua.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua, nemo eiysmod tempor.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit.
Consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent vulputate elit felis, quis efficitur tortor viverra. Quisque fermentum enim et enim imperdiet vestibulum at vitae tortor. Cras auctor scelerisque odio at varius. Nullam rhoncus nibh ut sem dignissim fringilla. Fusce dapibus nulla sed ipsum commodo molestie ut mauris.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore magna aliqua.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Turpis egestas pretium aenean pharetra, orci eu lobortis elementum nibh tellus molestie vulputate dignissim suspendisse inest.
Lorem ipsum
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Natus quia, quam pariatur commodi quod obcaecati alias aspernatur, nulla asperiores molestiae aut magnam unde eveniet mollitia. Magni doloremque dignis simos excepturi exercitationem.
Deserunt culpa similique repellendus veniam animi officia, suscipit incidunt eaque eum odit harum voluptate recusandae cupiditate tempore dicta! At ab laborum necessitatibus. Similique deleniti culpa, distinctio fugit officiis fugiat repudiandae animi eveniet quidem. Mollitia impedit nisi porro ab fugiat. Nisi eveniet fugit asperiores qui. Sequi assumenda consectetur laborum error.
Lorem ipsum, dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Officia nam velit aspernatur, maiores, sint aliquam itaque necessitatibus culpa et. Veritatis vita nisi, ex aliquid iste fuga voluptate repudiandae corporis voluptas atque ullam perferendis nihil consequatur dicta eveniet at adipisci in tempora. Asperiores error, nemo possimus distinctio officia explicabo nihil voluptatibus quod assumenda.
Necessitatibus fuga sequi eum aspernatur, tempora voluptatum totam molestiae eius. Eos reprehenderit quaerat porro recusandae quasi, magnam qui cum repellendus. Eius molestias corrupti accusamus voluptatibus inventore repellat exercitationem vitae, veritatis pariatur sapiente corporis illum odit. Neque voluptates unde nemo minus error porro quas debitis facere vero. Ducimus illum vitae cupiditate, odio hic saepe quod delectus illo, natus eligendi vero culpa.
Similique deleniti culpa, distinctio fugit officiis fugiat repudiandae animi eveniet quidem. Mollitia impedit nisi porro ab fugiat, nisi eveniet fugit asperiores qui. Est doloremque quos excepturi nihil amet odio fuga saepe quae architecto? Sequi assumenda laborum error. Asperiores corrupti molestias qui minima dolores. Neque voluptates unde nemo minus error dolores porro repudiandae repellat fugit quas, debitis facere vero.
Ducimus illum vitae cupiditate a, tempora, odio hic saepe quod delectus illo, natus eligendi vero culpa. Eius molestias corrupti accusamus voluptatibus inventore repellat exercitationem vitae, veritatis pariatur totam sapiente corporis illum odit.