Non nobis nati
“Born not for ourselves.”
Motto of St Albans School; cf. Cicero, De Officiis 1.22
What does “Non nobis nati” mean?
Non nobis nati translates as “Born not for ourselves.”
We are born to serve others and the wider community, not only ourselves.
“Non nobis nati” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Non | not | adverb of negation |
| nobis | for ourselves | dative plural (dative of advantage) of the pronoun nos, “we”; the sense is “for us”, so “for ourselves” |
| nati | born | nominative masculine plural perfect participle of nascor, “I am born” (a deponent verb); the full phrase needs a verb such as sumus, “we are”, understood |
How to pronounce “Non nobis nati”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the first syllable of nobis and the first of nati.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “not for ourselves born”, with “we are” left to be understood: “we are born not for ourselves”. It is a short form of a thought that Cicero puts into a longer sentence.
The line echoes Cicero’s De Officiis (“On Duties”), written in 44 BC, where he writes that we are not born for ourselves alone. Cicero credits the idea to Plato and ties it to the duty each person owes to family, friends and the wider community.
Today the exact words are best known as the motto of St Albans School in Hertfordshire. The same words, usually with the ending “sed patriae” (“but for our country”), also turn up elsewhere as a motto for service.
How to use “Non nobis nati”
A good fit for a school, charity or volunteer group motto, a graduation or thank-you card, or a tattoo for someone who values service and community. It also works in an essay on civic duty or public service.
- Latin
- Non nobis nati
- English
- Born not for ourselves.
- Source
- Motto of St Albans School; cf. Cicero, De Officiis 1.22
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Society
Common mistakes
- It is not a complete sentence. “We are” (sumus) is understood, so do not add words to “fix” it.
- Only the exact line “non nobis solum nati sumus” is Cicero’s. The shorter “Non nobis nati” is a motto form, not a direct quotation.
- Do not confuse it with the Psalm 115 line “Non nobis, Domine” (“Not to us, Lord”). The two sound alike but have different meanings.
- Changing it for one person or a group of women needs different endings: “natus” (one man) or “nata” (one woman, or women as “natae”).
Questions about “Non nobis nati”
What does “Non nobis nati” mean literally?
“Not for ourselves born”, usually put as “born not for ourselves”. The verb “we are” is understood.
Who said “Non nobis nati”?
Cicero wrote the thought in De Officiis 1.22 as “non nobis solum nati sumus”. The shorter form is better known as a school motto.
How do you pronounce “Non nobis nati”?
In classical Latin: nohn NOH-bees NAH-tee. The church pronunciation sounds the same.
Is “Non nobis nati” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound. Be aware that it is an elliptical motto, so it reads as a short phrase rather than a full sentence.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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