Avus saepe dicit animos hominum non semper eosdem manere, sed vitam sine spe tristem esse.

Because after a verb of saying like dicit (he says), Latin very often uses an indirect statement construction.

That construction is:

• a subject in the accusative
• plus an infinitive

So here we get:

• animos ... manere = that people’s minds/spirits do not always remain the same
• vitam ... tristem esse = that life without hope is sad

Both of these are things the grandfather says, so both are governed by dicit.

In an indirect statement, the subject of the statement is put in the accusative.

So:

• animi manent = the minds remain
  but after dicit it becomes
  dicit animos manere = he says that the minds remain

And:

• vita tristis est = life is sad
  but after dicit it becomes
  dicit vitam tristem esse = he says that life is sad

So animos and vitam are accusative because they are the subjects of two indirect statements.

That is the standard Latin pattern for indirect statement.

Instead of saying:

• he says that the minds do not always remain the same
• he says that life is sad

Latin usually says:

• he says the minds not always to remain the same
• he says life to be sad

That sounds strange in English, but it is normal Latin grammar. So:

• manere = to remain
• esse = to be

These infinitives complete the indirect statements after dicit.

Hominum is the genitive plural of homo, meaning of people or of human beings.

It depends on animos:

• animos hominum = the minds/spirits of people

So it shows whose minds are being discussed.

Because eosdem has to agree with animos.

Animos is:

• masculine
• plural
• accusative

So the form of idem (the same) must also be:

• masculine
• plural
• accusative

That gives eosdem.

So:

• animos eosdem manere = the minds remain the same

With non semper, the full idea is:

• the minds do not always remain the same

Here eosdem means the same in the sense of unchanged.

So animos hominum non semper eosdem manere means that people’s minds, attitudes, feelings, or characters do not always stay unchanged.

It is a common Latin way to say that people do not remain the same over time.

Because tristem agrees with vitam, which is accusative.

In the indirect statement:

• vitam is the accusative subject
• tristem is a predicate adjective describing vitam
• esse is the infinitive

So:

• vita tristis est = life is sad
• vitam tristem esse = that life is sad

Both vitam and tristem are feminine singular accusative.

Sine is a preposition that takes the ablative case.

So:

• spes = hope
• ablative singular = spe

Therefore:

• sine spe = without hope

This phrase modifies vitam:

• vitam sine spe = life without hope

Sed means but.

It links the two parts of what the grandfather says:

• animos hominum non semper eosdem manere
• sed vitam sine spe tristem esse

So the structure is:

• Grandfather often says [X], but [Y].

Both X and Y are indirect statements after dicit.

Non semper means not always.

It is placed before eosdem manere to negate the idea of always remaining the same:

• animos hominum non semper eosdem manere

That is, people’s minds do not always remain the same.

Latin word order is flexible, so this placement is natural and emphasizes the idea that the sameness is not constant.

The basic meaning does not depend mainly on word order, because the endings show the grammar. But the order still helps with emphasis and style.

For example:

• Avus saepe dicit puts the speaker first: Grandfather often says
• animos hominum introduces the first topic
• sed vitam sine spe tristem esse gives the contrasting second idea

Latin often puts key words in noticeable positions, but the case endings are what tell you how the sentence works.

It can cover several related ideas. Animus often means:

• mind
• spirit
• feelings
• temperament
• character

In this sentence, minds or dispositions is probably the most natural sense, because the point is that people do not always stay the same inwardly.

So animos hominum is not necessarily talking about immortal souls; it is more likely talking about people’s inner states or attitudes.

Yes. A helpful way to read it is:

• Avus saepe dicit
• animos hominum non semper eosdem manere
• sed vitam sine spe tristem esse

So:

1. Main verb: Avus saepe dicit = Grandfather often says
2. First indirect statement: animos hominum non semper eosdem manere
3. Second indirect statement: sed vitam sine spe tristem esse

Seeing that structure makes the grammar much easier.