Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not just a random text. Its roots are in classical Latin literature from 45 BC, which it did more than 2,000 years ago. Richard McClintock, a professor of Latin at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, studied one of the most obscure Latin words “consectetur” in one of Lorem Ipsum’s passages, and looked for quotations of the word in classical literature, finding the exact source. Lorem Ipsum is found in 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 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first row of Lorem Ipsum comes from a row found in section 1.10.32. The standard Lorem Ipsum snippet, used since 1500, is listed below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of Cicero’s “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” are also placed in their original format, together with their English translation made by H. Rackham in 1914.

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not just a random text. Its roots are in classical Latin literature from 45 BC, which it did more than 2,000 years ago. Richard McClintock, a professor of Latin at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, studied one of the most obscure Latin words “consectetur” in one of Lorem Ipsum’s passages, and looked for quotations of the word in classical literature, finding the exact source. Lorem Ipsum is found in 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 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics