Obesse nulli, prodesse multis
“To harm no one, to help many.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis” mean?
Obesse nulli, prodesse multis translates as “To harm no one, to help many.”
It sets out a simple ethic: do no harm and do as much good as you can. It suits professions and institutions that serve the public.
“Obesse nulli, prodesse multis” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Obesse | to harm | present infinitive of obsum, “I am against, I harm” (from ob + sum); it takes the dative |
| nulli | to no one | dative singular (masculine) of nullus, “no one, none”; the dative is required after obesse |
| prodesse | to benefit, to help | present infinitive of prosum, “I am useful, I benefit” (from pro + sum); also takes the dative |
| multis | to many | dative plural of multus, “many”, used as a noun meaning “many people” |
How to pronounce “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no v. The stress falls on the second syllable of obesse and prodesse, and on the first syllable of nulli and multis.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto reads “to harm no one, to help many”. It is built from two verbs made with the verb “to be”, obesse and prodesse, set against each other, with nulli and multis balancing the two halves.
The motto has no known single author or source. It is a traditional Latin saying that various families, schools and organizations have adopted, so it is best treated as an anonymous motto and not a quotation from a particular ancient writer.
Its two halves echo an old ethical idea: first do no harm, then do as much good as you can. That makes it a natural fit for institutions that serve the public, such as clinics, charities and volunteer groups.
How to use “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis”
A clear motto for a charity, clinic, school or volunteer group, or a personal creed for a tattoo, a signature line or the opening of a speech about service.
- Latin
- Obesse nulli, prodesse multis
- English
- To harm no one, to help many.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Virtue
Common mistakes
- It is not a classical quotation. Do not credit it to Cicero, Seneca or any other ancient author, because no such source is known.
- Nulli is dative, so the phrase is “to harm no one” (literally “to be harmful to no one”). Do not change it to nullum or nullus.
- Obesse and prodesse look alike but mean opposites: ob- means “against” and pro- means “for”. Mixing up the two reverses the meaning.
- Multis means “to many people”. It does not mean “to much” or “to everything”.
Questions about “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis”
What does “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis” mean literally?
“To harm no one, to help many.” Obesse is “to be harmful” and prodesse is “to be useful”, and both take the dative, hence nulli and multis.
Who said “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis”?
No one knows. It is a traditional Latin motto of uncertain origin, used by various families, schools and organizations, and it should not be credited to a famous ancient author.
How do you pronounce “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis”?
In classical Latin: oh-BES-seh NOOL-lee proh-DES-seh MOOL-tees. The church pronunciation sounds the same.
Is “Obesse nulli, prodesse multis” correct Latin for a tattoo or motto?
Yes. The grammar is sound: two infinitives, each followed by the dative that these verbs require. It reads well as a motto for a person or an organization.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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