In rebus asperis, constantia plus valet quam timor.

Literally, it means in harsh things or in rough matters.

But Latin res is a very broad word. It can mean thing, matter, affair, or situation. So in a sentence like this, rebus is best understood as circumstances or situations.

That is why in rebus asperis means something like in difficult circumstances, in hard times, or in adversity.

Because in with the ablative usually means in, on, or under in the sense of location or situation, not movement.

Here the sentence is describing the situation in which the statement is true: when circumstances are difficult.

So:

• in + ablative = position, setting, circumstance
• in + accusative = motion into something

Since there is no idea of motion here, Latin uses the ablative: in rebus asperis.

They are plural because Latin often uses the plural with res where English might use a singular idea like adversity or difficulty.

So res = thing / matter / situation and res in the plural, especially in phrases like this, can mean circumstances.

asperis is an adjective modifying rebus, so it has to agree with it in:

• case
• number
• gender

That is why both words are:

• ablative
• plural
• feminine

Both are nominative singular.

• constantia is the subject of valet
• timor is the thing being compared with constantia

The full idea is:

constantia plus valet quam timor valet

Since timor is understood as the subject of the omitted valet, it also stays in the nominative.

It comes from valere, whose basic sense is to be strong.

Depending on context, valere can mean:

• to be strong
• to have force
• to be effective
• to count for something
• to be worth

Here valet does not mean is healthy. It means something more like:

• has more force
• is more effective
• counts for more
• is more powerful

So plus valet is a very natural way to express that one thing has greater power or value than another.

Both can be translated as more, but plus is very common when Latin is talking about amount, value, or force.

In this sentence, plus valet means something like has greater force or counts for more. That makes plus a very good fit.

So it helps to hear plus valet almost as a phrase: is worth more / has more power.

Because Latin often leaves out a repeated word when it is easy to understand.

The full version would be:

constantia plus valet quam timor valet

But once valet has already appeared, Latin does not need to repeat it.

English does the same thing:

• steadfastness matters more than fear instead of
• steadfastness matters more than fear matters

So the omitted valet is understood automatically.

Because quam introduces the second half of the comparison, and that second half has an understood verb.

So:

• constantia valet
• timor valet

After quam, Latin is really giving a shortened version of the second clause. Since timor would be the subject of valet, it remains nominative.

So quam timor means: than fear does or than fear is in the sense required by the sentence.

The word order is meaningful, but not rigid.

The sentence is arranged like this:

In rebus asperis | constantia | plus valet | quam timor

This order does a few useful things:

• In rebus asperis sets the scene first
• constantia appears early, which gives it emphasis
• quam timor comes at the end to complete the comparison neatly

Latin relies more on endings than on word order, so the words could be rearranged without changing the basic grammar. But this order is clear, balanced, and natural.