Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum

The phrase **Errare humanum est** is a well-known Latin proverb translating to "To err is human," acknowledging that making mistakes is an inherent part of the human condition. It is most often the opening of a longer saying: **Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum**, which means "To err is human, but to persist [in error] is diabolical."

### Historical Origins and Attributions

The exact origins of the phrase are uncertain and debated, as it does not appear verbatim in surviving classical Latin texts. It is frequently—but incorrectly—attributed to the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE–65 CE), whose writings on ethics and human fallibility might have inspired similar sentiments, though no direct attestation exists in his works. Other common misattributions include the Roman orator Cicero (106–43 BCE), who expressed related ideas about error and folly in his speeches and philosophical treatises, but again, not this precise wording. Some sources link it to early Christian figures like St. Augustine (354–430 CE) or St. Jerome (c. 347–420 CE), possibly due to its moralistic tone aligning with patristic writings on sin and repentance.

Scholars generally view it as a proverbial expression that likely emerged or gained popularity in the medieval or Renaissance periods, when Latin proverbs were widely circulated in moral and educational texts. The idea of human error as natural echoes earlier classical concepts—for instance, Aristotle's discussions of akrasia (weakness of will) or Ovid's reflections on fallibility in the *Metamorphoses*—but the concise formulation seems to be a later synthesis.

### Modern Influence

The phrase entered English literature prominently through Alexander Pope's 1711 poem *An Essay on Criticism*, where he adapted it as "To err is human; to forgive, divine," shifting the focus to forgiveness while popularizing the core idea worldwide. Today, it remains a staple in discussions of psychology, leadership, and ethics, reminding us that errors are inevitable but persistence in them is avoidable folly.