Nullius in verba explained

(Latin for "no one's words" or "take nobody's word for it") is the motto of the Royal Society. John Evelyn and other fellows of the Royal Society chose the motto soon after the Society's founding in 1660.[1]

Meaning and etymology

The Royal Society website says that the motto is "an expression of the determination of Fellows to withstand the domination of authority and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment."[2]

The phrase comes from Horace's Epistle to his benefactor Maecenas, where he claims not to be devoted to any particular sect but is rather an eclectic by nature.[3] [4] [5] The motto was extracted from the first of two hexameters, as indicated in bold:

Latin: '''Nullius''' addictus iurare '''in verba''' magistri, – quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes.[6]
(Not bound to swear by the words of a master; where the storm drives me I turn in for shelter.)

The minor planet known as 11059 Nulliusinverba in the asteroid belt is named after the expression.[7] The phrase is also widely used and cited elsewhere.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hunter, Michael Cyril William. Establishing the New Science: The Experience of the Early Royal Society. 1995. Boydell Press. 0851155065. 17.
  2. Web site: History of the Royal Society . 19 July 2021 . The Royal Society.
  3. Book: Shuckburgh, E.S.. The Epistles of Horace, Book I. Cambridge. 1888. 1. (Latin)
  4. Book: Francis, Philip. Horace Vol. II. Harper & Brothers. 1846. 9. (English translation)
  5. Book: Horace. The Works of Horace, Vol. II. Davidson. 1753. 206. (see footnote)
  6. [s:la:Epistulae (Horatius) - Liber I|Horace: ''Epistles'', Book I, epistle I, lines 14 and 15]
  7. http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=11059 (11059) Nulliusinverba
  8. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20170330044317/https://www.theguardian.com/science/life-and-physics/2017/jan/22/take-nobodys-word-for-it-evidence-and-authority-in-a-world-of-propaganda. 2017-03-30. live. Take nobody's word for it – evidence and authority in a world of propaganda. The Guardian. theguardian.com. Jon. Butterworth. 2017. London. Jon Butterworth.
  9. Anon. Editorial: Nullius in verba. Nature Physics. 12. 9. 2016. 817. 1745-2473. 10.1038/nphys3890. free.
  10. Web site: Nullius in verba. In verba? Nullius!. Ben Goldacre. Ben. Goldacre. 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311200245/http://www.badscience.net/2010/06/nullius-in-verba-in-verba-nullius/. 2016-03-11. badscience.net.
  11. Amonette. William E.. English. Kirk L.. Ottenbacher. Kenneth J.. Nullius in Verba. Sports Medicine. 40. 6. 2010. 449–457. 0112-1642. 10.2165/11531970-000000000-00000. 3081786. 20524711.
  12. Stirling. Andy. Intolerance: retain healthy scepticism. Nature. 471. 7338. Andy Stirling. 2011. 305. 0028-0836. 10.1038/471305a. free.
  13. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160606123917/http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/nullius-in-verba-take-nobodys-word-for-it/. 2016-06-06. Nullius in verba: take nobody's word for it. The Royal Society should encourage more debate, says The Scientific Alliance. cambridgenetwork.co.uk. Cambridge. Martin. Livermore. 2013. Cambridge Network.

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