Felicior Augusto, melior Traiano

"Felicior Augusto, melior Traiano" or "Sis felicior Augusto, melior Traiano" (Latin: "be more fortunate than Augustus [and] better than Trajan) was the formula delivered in the Roman Senate at the inauguration of late Roman emperors. The phrase refers to the perceived well-being during the reigns of Augustus and Trajan. Particularly, it recalls Trajan's title Optimus (Best) and expresses the senatorial memory of Trajan as the exemplar of imperial modesty. The phrase has been in use until at least 4th century AD, when the Roman Empire had dramatically changed in character from what it had been under Trajan's rule.