University Mottoes = Values of the University?

Latin: Hinc lucem et pocula sacra
English: Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts, Non-literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.

Nice one!

Considering how old Cambridge's is, they seem to have it nailed.

What I was extremely interested in after seeing @Hydeman and @jneill's conversation about Imperial College London's motto, is whether university mottos accurately reflect the values of an institution. Especially because some of these mottos were created many years ago. So I decided to create a list of university mottos for some selected universities!

University of Cambridge

Latin: Hinc lucem et pocula sacra
English: Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts, Non-literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.

University of Oxford

Latin: Dominus Illuminatio Mea
English: The Lord is my Light.

University College London

Latin: Cuncti adsint meritaeque expectent praemia palmae
English: Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward.

Imperial College London

Latin: Scientia imperii decus et tutamen
English: Scientific knowledge, the crowning glory and the safeguard of the empire.

University of Edinburgh

Latin: Nec temere, nec timide
English: Neither rashly, nor timidly.

King's College London

Latin: Sancte et sapienter
English: With holiness and wisdom.

The University of Manchester

Latin: Cognitio, sapientia, humanitas
English: Knowledge, wisdom, humanity

London School of Economics and Political Science

Latin: Rerum cognoscere causas
English: To understand the causes of things.

University of Bristol

Latin: Vim promovet insitam
English: (Learning) promotes one's innate power

Warwick

Latin: Mens agitat molem
English: Mind over matter

University of Glasgow

Latin: Via, Veritas, Vita
English: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Durham University

Latin: Fundamenta eius super montibus sanctis
English: Her foundations are upon the holy hills.

Nottingham

Latin: Sapientia urbs conditur
English: A city is built on wisdom.

University of St Andrews

Greek: Αιέν αριστεύειν
English: Ever to Excel

Birmingham

Latin: Per Ardua Ad Alta
English: Through efforts to high things.

Sheffield

Latin: Rerum cognoscere causas
English: To understand the causes of things.

Southampton

Latin: Strenuis Ardua Cedunt
English: Adversity leads to Endeavour

Leeds

Latin: Et augebitur scientia
English: And knowledge will be increased.

Queen Mary University of London

Latin: Coniunctis viribus
English: With united power

York

Latin: In limine sapientiæ
English: On the threshold of wisdom.

Lancaster

Latin: Patet omnibus veritas
English: Truth lies open to all

Cardiff

Welsh: Gwirionedd Undod A Chytgord
English: Truth, Unity, and Harmony

University of Aberdeen

Latin: Initium sapientiæ timor domini
English: The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord

Liverpool

Latin: Haec otia fovent studia
English: These days of peace foster learning.

Bath

Latin: Generatim discite cultus
English: Learn each field of study according to its kind

Exeter

Latin: Lucem sequimur
English: We follow the light!

Sussex

English: Be Still and Know

Loughborough

Latin: Veritate, Scientia, Labore
English: By Truth, By Science, By Labour

Dundee

Latin: Magnificat anima mea dominum
English: My soul doth magnify the lord

UEA

English: Do Different

One thing that I found was that a lot of these mottos are related to religion. Are these religious mottos still appropriate in a time where secularism in education is promoted? Are the values of universities accurately reflected in the mottoes of said universities?

What I was extremely interested in after seeing @Hydeman and @jneill's conversation about Imperial College London's motto, is whether university mottos accurately reflect the values of an institution. Especially because some of these mottos were created many years ago. So I decided to create a list of university mottos for some selected universities!

University of Cambridge

Latin: Hinc lucem et pocula sacra
English: Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts, Non-literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.

University of Oxford

Latin: Dominus Illuminatio Mea
English: The Lord is my Light.

University College London

Latin: Cuncti adsint meritaeque expectent praemia palmae
English: Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward.

Imperial College London

Latin: Scientia imperii decus et tutamen
English: Scientific knowledge, the crowning glory and the safeguard of the empire.

University of Edinburgh

Latin: Nec temere, nec timide
English: Neither rashly, nor timidly.

King's College London

Latin: Sancte et sapienter
English: With holiness and wisdom.

The University of Manchester

Latin: Cognitio, sapientia, humanitas
English: Knowledge, wisdom, humanity

London School of Economics and Political Science

Latin: Rerum cognoscere causas
English: To understand the causes of things.

University of Bristol

Latin: Vim promovet insitam
English: (Learning) promotes one's innate power

Warwick

Latin: Mens agitat molem
English: Mind over matter

University of Glasgow

Latin: Via, Veritas, Vita
English: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Durham University

Latin: Fundamenta eius super montibus sanctis
English: Her foundations are upon the holy hills.

Nottingham

Latin: Sapientia urbs conditur
English: A city is built on wisdom.

University of St Andrews

Greek: Αιέν αριστεύειν
English: Ever to Excel

Birmingham

Latin: Per Ardua Ad Alta
English: Through efforts to high things.

Sheffield

Latin: Rerum cognoscere causas
English: To understand the causes of things.

Southampton

Latin: Strenuis Ardua Cedunt
English: Adversity leads to Endeavour

Leeds

Latin: Et augebitur scientia
English: And knowledge will be increased.

Queen Mary University of London

Latin: Coniunctis viribus
English: With united power

York

Latin: In limine sapientiæ
English: On the threshold of wisdom.

Lancaster

Latin: Patet omnibus veritas
English: Truth lies open to all

Cardiff

Welsh: Gwirionedd Undod A Chytgord
English: Truth, Unity, and Harmony

University of Aberdeen

Latin: Initium sapientiæ timor domini
English: The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord

Liverpool

Latin: Haec otia fovent studia
English: These days of peace foster learning.

Bath

Latin: Generatim discite cultus
English: Learn each field of study according to its kind

Exeter

Latin: Lucem sequimur
English: We follow the light!

Sussex

English: Be Still and Know

Loughborough

Latin: Veritate, Scientia, Labore
English: By Truth, By Science, By Labour

Dundee

Latin: Magnificat anima mea dominum
English: My soul doth magnify the lord

UEA

English: Do Different

One thing that I found was that a lot of these mottos are related to religion. Are these religious mottos still appropriate in a time where secularism in education is promoted? Are the values of universities accurately reflected in the mottoes of said universities?

Latin is overrated, it's a shame newer universities couldn't pick more unusual languages - Old Church Slavonic would be awesome.

They're just catchy phrases that weren't already taken.

Eton:

trahentibus navem simul
lætemur in calle

Not an uni

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I wonder about the ex-polys, are their mottos also in Latin or in English? Don't have the time or energy to find out but might be interesting if they try to be 'posh' by using Latin ones. Though if they did, it may simply have been a case of keeping the motto of their former college/institute before university status.

Nonetheless Latin always seems a little pretentious to me (as a state school student, I guess), so I quite like how East Anglia have used 'Do Different' instead, that has to be my favourite one.

Some are in Latin, Some are in English (I think most of them are in English from my research)

tbh the quality of learning etc there is better than many yoonies ?

Had a quick look at a handful, couldn't resist. Sorry if I turn this into a rankings war but I thought I'd put them in for interest, because its interesting how the 'better' ones actually didn't use a latin phrase. This probably has no bearing whatsoever on the quality of the institution but oh well.

Manchester Metropolitan, 57th
English: Many Arts, Many Skills

Falmouth, 58th
English: Creative, Connected, Courageous

East London, 126th
Latincientia et votorum impletio
English: ' knowledge and the fulfilment of vows.'

Bolton, 122nd
Latin: Sapientia Superat Moras
English: 'Wisdom overcomes difficulty'

Had a quick look at a handful, couldn't resist. Sorry if I turn this into a rankings war but I thought I'd put them in for interest, because its interesting how the 'better' ones actually didn't use a latin phrase. This probably has no bearing whatsoever on the quality of the institution but oh well.

Manchester Metropolitan, 57th
English: Many Arts, Many Skills

Falmouth, 58th
English: Creative, Connected, Courageous

East London, 126th
Latincientia et votorum impletio
English: ' knowledge and the fulfilment of vows.'

Bolton, 122nd
Latin: Sapientia Superat Moras
English: 'Wisdom overcomes difficulty'