Fac, Si Facis — If You’re Going to Do It, Do It

There’s an old Latin phrase that carries the kind of weight you don’t shake off easily: Fac, si facis. Translated, it means, “Do it, if you’re going to do it.” It’s a phrase rooted in ancient satire, likely coined by the Roman poet Horace to mock politicians who made big promises but never followed through.

But behind the sarcasm lies a deeper wisdom—one that challenges us as men, as fathers, and as believers: If you commit to something, see it through. Do it with your whole heart. And do it without delay.

Let’s break it down.

1. If You Start Something, Finish It

You’ve probably heard the more modern version: Just do it. But that slogan—good as it sounds—can feel impulsive. Fac, si facis includes an important qualifier: If.

Not everything is worth doing. But when something is—when you decide it’s worth your time, your energy, your sacrifice—then do it. All the way. Half-finished projects, broken commitments, and distracted efforts don’t reflect who we’re called to be.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 reminds us:

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

There’s a kind of pride that pushes us to say yes to everything, afraid to admit limits. But real strength lies in measured patience—knowing your priorities, guarding your time, and staying true to your word.

Paul put it like this in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27:

“I do not run like someone running aimlessly… I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

You don’t have to do everything. But what you do, you must do well. Set your aim. Then follow through—step by step, day by day.

2. Do It with Your Whole Heart

Think of the kind of people we naturally respect—even if we don’t agree with everything they do. They’re the ones who give their all. Whether it’s a coach who pushes through setbacks to lead their team, a small business owner grinding day and night to build something from scratch, or a father who shows up day after day for his family, they share a common trait: they don’t do things halfway.

That kind of grit and resolve is becoming rare.

Too many today settle for doing “just enough.” They punch the clock, go through the motions, and wonder why life feels empty. But Scripture calls us to something better.

Colossians 3:23-24 puts it plainly:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

When you work, do it with honor. When you parent, love with purpose. When you serve, do so with resolve. If the world has forgotten what wholehearted living looks like, then let’s remind them. Let’s raise sons and daughters who don’t quit at the first obstacle or cut corners when no one’s watching.

Let’s be men who finish what we start—and do it well.

3. Don’t Wait for Perfect—Just Start

We’ve all done it: said we were going to do something… and never did. Maybe it was starting that business, writing that book, learning that skill, stepping up in faith. But talk is cheap.

1 Corinthians 4:20 says:

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

God’s kingdom shows up in action. Not empty words. Not vague intentions. Real change—real faith—is seen in what we do.

As writer Austin Kleon once put it:

“Lots of people want to be the noun without doing the verb.”

They want the identity without the effort. But God calls us to act. To obey. To risk. To step forward.

The Stoic Marcus Aurelius said,

“You must build up your life action by action.”

That’s how real men are made. Not in planning or dreaming—but in doing.

And in the words of the King of Israel in 1 Kings 20:11:

“Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.”

It’s not how loudly you boast before the battle that matters—it’s whether you stand afterward that counts.

Conclusion: Live Before You Die

One day, like Paul, we’ll all face the end of our race. What story will your life tell?

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness…”
—2 Timothy 4:7-8

Fac, si facis. If you’re going to do it—do it. Finish the race. Fight the good fight. Live fully, faithfully, courageously. There is no reward for the man who only talks. Only for the one who commits, who dares, who finishes.

(Note: This was altered from a lesson I origanally gave for my oldest son’s graduation)

By Jeremy Sprouse

Jeremy has been married to Erynn since August 1999. They are blessed with six children: Jaden, Isaiah, Isaac, Ean, Joseph, and Evelyn. Jeremy preaches for the Patrick St. church of Christ in Dublin, TX and is the author of To Train Up a Knight.