Boni mores plus valent quam divitiae.

Because mores is plural, and the adjective has to agree with it.

• bonus = good (masculine singular nominative)
• boni = good (masculine plural nominative)

Since mores is masculine plural, Latin uses boni mores = good morals / good character / good conduct.

In Latin, mos means something like custom, habit, or moral character. Its plural, mores, is very commonly used to mean:

• morals
• character
• conduct
• customs

So boni mores is a very natural Latin expression. It does not just mean several separate customs; it can also mean a person's good moral character or good behavior more generally.

Both are nominative plural.

• boni mores = nominative plural masculine
• divitiae = nominative plural feminine

Here boni mores is clearly the subject of valent.

Why is divitiae nominative too? Because after quam with a comparison, Latin often keeps the same case as in the full underlying clause. The idea is:

• Boni mores plus valent quam divitiae [valent].
• Good morals are worth more than riches [are worth].

So divitiae is nominative because it is understood as the subject of the omitted valent.

Valent is from valeo, valere, which basically means to be strong, to be powerful, or to have worth.

In this sentence, it means something like:

• are worth more
• have greater value
• count for more
• are stronger / more powerful

So the sentence is not just about physical strength. It is about value or moral importance.

Plus is a comparative form meaning more. In a sentence like this, plus valet / plus valent is a common way to say:

• is worth more
• counts for more
• has more force

So plus valent quam divitiae means are worth more than riches.

You may also learn magis as more, but plus is very natural with ideas of amount, degree, or value. With valere, plus valere is a standard expression.

It is best understood here as functioning adverbially, modifying valent.

So:

• valent = they are worth / they are strong
• plus valent = they are worth more

Even though plus historically comes from a comparative form, in this sentence you can think of it simply as more.

Quam means than in comparisons.

So:

• plus ... quam ... = more ... than ...

Here the structure is:

• Boni mores plus valent quam divitiae.
• Good morals are worth more than riches.

It sets up the comparison between good morals and riches.

Divitiae is one of those Latin nouns that is usually used only in the plural. It means:

• riches
• wealth

So even though English often uses singular wealth, Latin commonly says divitiae in the plural.

This is called a plural-only noun or pluralia tantum.

Because boni mores comes first and clearly serves as the main subject.

• mores = plural
• valent = plural

Then quam divitiae is the comparison: than riches.

So the sentence works like this:

• main statement: Boni mores plus valent
• comparison added: quam divitiae

In expanded form:

• Boni mores plus valent quam divitiae valent.

That makes it easier to see that valent belongs first to boni mores, and the second valent is just omitted.

Yes, depending on context.

Mos, mores can cover a range of meanings such as:

• custom
• habit
• moral practice
• character
• conduct

So boni mores might be translated as:

• good morals
• good character
• good conduct
• good habits

If the meaning has already been given to the learner, the exact English wording may vary, but the Latin idea is broader than just one English phrase.

Yes. Latin word order is fairly flexible because the endings show the grammar.

This sentence has a very straightforward and natural order:

• Boni mores = subject
• plus valent = verb phrase
• quam divitiae = comparison

But Latin could rearrange the words for emphasis. For example, a poet or stylist might move divitiae or plus to another position. The endings would still show the relationships.

So the order here is clear and simple, but not the only possible one.

Here is a quick breakdown:

• boni

  • adjective from bonus, -a, -um
  • nominative masculine plural
  • agrees with mores

• mores

  • noun from mos, moris
  • nominative masculine plural
  • subject of valent

• plus

  • comparative form meaning more
  • used adverbially here

• valent

  • verb from valeo, valere
  • 3rd person plural present active indicative
  • they are strong / they are worth / they count

• quam

  • than
  • introduces the comparison

• divitiae

  • noun meaning riches / wealth
  • nominative feminine plural
  • understood as the subject of an omitted second valent

Several natural translations are possible:

• Good morals are worth more than riches.
• Good character is worth more than wealth.
• Good conduct counts for more than riches.
• Moral character is more valuable than wealth.

The Latin is compact, but it can be expressed in English in a few different ways depending on how literally or smoothly you want to translate it.