Fidite nemini
“Trust no one.”
Latin motto
What does “Fidite nemini” mean?
Fidite nemini translates as “Trust no one.”
A blunt piece of caution: rely on your own judgement and verify before you trust. It is less cynicism than a call for care.
“Fidite nemini” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Fidite | trust! | a command (imperative) of fido, “to trust”; plural, so addressed to several people. To one person: fide |
| nemini | to no one | dative singular of nemo, “no one”; fido takes the dative for the person trusted |
How to pronounce “Fidite nemini”
The two versions differ only slightly: the i in fidite and nemini is short in the classical reading and more open in the church reading, and the stress is the same in both. Stress the first syllable of fidite and of nemini.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “trust to no one”. Latin fido takes the dative for the person trusted, so nemini (“to no one”) is the grammatically correct form here.
No ancient author is known to have written it, so it is best treated as a modern Latin motto rather than a classical quotation. It reads like a Latin version of a widespread saying, not a line from a particular work.
It is often set against the older proverb “fide, sed cui vide” (“trust, but be careful whom”), which softens the warning. Today “Fidite nemini” turns up mainly as a motto for secretive, suspicious or security-minded settings.
How to use “Fidite nemini”
A fitting motto for a mystery or thriller cover, a cybersecurity or audit team, or a poster in a spy-themed room. Because it is an absolute rule, it works better as a dramatic tagline than as a sincere personal creed.
- Latin
- Fidite nemini
- English
- Trust no one.
- Source
- Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Prudence
Common mistakes
- Fidite is plural. Telling one person, use “Fide nemini”.
- Nemini is a dative, so do not swap in “nemo” or “neminem”. “Fidite nemo” is wrong.
- It is not a classical Roman saying, so do not attribute it to Cicero, Seneca or any ancient author.
- It is stricter than “fide, sed cui vide”, which allows trust once you have checked whom you are dealing with.
Questions about “Fidite nemini”
What does “Fidite nemini” mean literally?
“Trust to no one”, that is, “trust no one”. The dative nemini is used because the Latin verb fido takes the dative.
Who said “Fidite nemini”?
No ancient source is known. It is a modern Latin motto, and it should not be credited to a classical author.
How do you pronounce “Fidite nemini”?
Classical: FEE-dih-teh NEH-mih-nee. Church: FEE-dee-teh NEH-mee-nee. Both stress the first syllable of each word.
Is “Fidite nemini” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is grammatically sound, but it is plural. For a tattoo about yourself, “Fide nemini” (singular) is the more natural form.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.
