Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio
“Created by labour, I serve labour and science.”
Latin motto
What does “Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio” mean?
Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio translates as “Created by labour, I serve labour and science.”
The institution speaks in the first person: it was built by working people and exists to serve both work and knowledge. It honours the link between education and working life.
“Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Labore | by labour, by work | ablative singular of labor, “work, toil”; ablative of means or agent (who or what did the creating) |
| creata | created, having been created | feminine nominative singular perfect passive participle of creo, “I create”; agrees with the unnamed feminine speaker (the institution) |
| labori | to labour, to work | dative singular of labor; the thing served, as servio takes the dative |
| et | and | conjunction joining labori and scientiae |
| scientiae | to science, to knowledge | dative singular of scientia, “knowledge, science”; second thing served |
| servio | I serve | first person singular present active indicative of servio, “to serve” (takes the dative) |
How to pronounce “Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio”
The differences are in scientiae (classical “skee-”, church “shee-”, ending “-eye” versus “-eh”) and in the v of servio (w versus v). Stress falls on the second syllable of labore and creata, the first of labori, the third of scientiae and the first of servio.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto reads “by labour created, to labour and to knowledge I serve”. The speaker is the institution itself, which talks about its own origins and purpose in the first person.
The data we have describes it as a modern Latin composition, the motto of an educational institution, not a quotation from an ancient author. We cannot name the institution or the year the motto was adopted here, so treat its history as unverified.
Its message is that the place was built by working people and exists for both work and learning. This pairing of labour and science is typical of workers’ education and trade union colleges.
How to use “Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio”
It suits an inscription or crest for a trade union college, a workers’ education centre or a vocational school. It could also serve as a personal motto for someone who values both practical work and study.
- Latin
- Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio
- English
- Created by labour, I serve labour and science.
- Source
- Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Work
Common mistakes
- The grammar of “creata” is feminine, because it agrees with the institution. A male speaker who wants to say “I, created by labour” would need creatus instead.
- “Labore” (ablative, “by labour”) and “labori” (dative, “to labour”) look alike but have different roles. Mixing them up changes the meaning.
- “Scientia” is broader than modern “science”. It means knowledge in general, so “labour and knowledge” is a fair alternative reading.
- This is not a classical Roman saying. Do not credit it to an ancient author.
Questions about “Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio”
What does “Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio” mean?
“Created by labour, I serve labour and science.” The speaker is an institution that was built by work and now serves both work and knowledge.
Who said “Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio”?
It is not tied to a famous author. It is a modern Latin motto written for an educational institution, in that institution’s own voice.
How do you pronounce “Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio”?
In classical Latin: lah-BOH-reh kreh-AH-tah LAH-boh-ree et skee-EN-tee-eye SEHR-wee-oh. The church version softens the sci- and the v: shee-EN-tee-eh SEHR-vee-oh.
Can I use “Labore creata” for myself, for example as a tattoo?
The feminine “creata” fits a female speaker or a feminine noun such as an institution. A man would normally use “creatus”. Ask a Latin teacher to check any personal adaptation.
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.