Fessis Membris Dulcis Quies

In the little Italian town of Bordighera, there are a few Latin inscriptions above stone benches. The inscriptions do not contain any particularly useful information. They do not say "no smoking" or "it is dangerous to lean out."

Instead they are different ways to pay homage to rest and idleness.

Fessis membris dulcis quies

The meaning of fessīs membrīs dulcis quiēs is "sweet repose for weary limbs."

As far as I can tell, the complete phrase is not a quote from any Latin writer, but the people who put up the bench simply wanted to say that here was sweet repose for weary limbs, and they said it in Latin because that sounded good.

Seneca used the the expression of sweet repose, dulcis quiēs in his drama Thyestes, but not in the context of tired limbs.

Fessīs membrīs means "weary limbs." The expression uses dative plural of fessus and membrum to express "for."

Dulcis quiēs means "sweet repose." It is in nominative singular.

Honesto otio

The expression honestō ōtiō means "for honourable idleness (or retirement)".

It is a little too short to be considered a "quote," but Cicero uses it a few times in letters.

The expression is in dative singular to express "for," similar to membrīs dulcis.

Quid ultra tendis? 

This expression finally is a real quote, and its meaning is a little less obvious, as is often the case with real quotes. It means "why stretch further?"

The context is Horace's Ode 18 in Book II of his Carmina. The poet asks why one should aim for more than is necessary in life. The linked page contains both translation and comments if you click on the links to the right.

Well, now that's sorted out, and I hope you can relax even more next time you go on holiday to Bordighera.