Per se - By itself

Here is Latin phrase people use frequently.  Per se means by itself, or through it.  I have sited some examples of the phrase used in sentences.  I located this list of examples at http://dictionary.reference.com/ .  

Example sentences for per se

It isn't clear whether serotonin influences aggression per se or simply impulse control.

It wasn't a mistake per se, but merely an unfinished drawing by one dot.

Not the fuel cells per se, but the whole concept of a flexible plug in hybrid with electric drive.

As with trade deficits, economic theory doesn't view debt per se as being harmful.

But biological diversity per se-the number of species in an ecosystem-provides no shield against invasions.

Although it contains a map, it is not the usual guide, per se.

Several famous people have been quoted use “per se” and William Dunbar is one quote I found.  William Dunbar was a British poet (1465-c. 1530) and wrote this poem about London (1. 1-8).  The complete poem can be found in Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250–1918. Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (New ed., rev. and enl., 1939) Oxford University Press.

“London, thou art of townes A per se.
Soveraign of cities, semeliest in sight,
Of high renoun, riches, and royaltie;
Of lordis, barons, and many goodly knyght;
Of most delectable lusty ladies bright;
Of famous prelatis in habitis clericall;
Of merchauntis full of substaunce and myght:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all”

Quotation by William Dunbar

London_thou_art_of_townes_A_per_se. (n.d.). Columbia World of Quotations. Retrieved February 23, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://quotes.dictionary.com/London_thou_art_of_townes_A_per_se