Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes
“Lead in order to serve, not to rule.”
After Bernard of Clairvaux, De consideratione
What does “Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes” mean?
Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes translates as “Lead in order to serve, not to rule.”
Good leadership means helping others, not dominating them.
“Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Praesis | lead! | second person singular present subjunctive of praesum, “I am in charge of, I preside”; here a purpose or exhortation form, “you should lead” |
| ut | so that, in order that | conjunction introducing a purpose clause |
| prosis | you may benefit, be of use | second person singular present subjunctive of prosum, “I benefit, I am useful” |
| ne | not, and not | negative particle; here it sets up the second clause: “not (lead) in order to rule” |
| ut | so that, in order that | conjunction introducing the second purpose clause |
| imperes | you may command, rule | second person singular present subjunctive of impero, “I command, I rule” |
How to pronounce “Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes”
The two systems differ only in the diphthong ae (eye in classical, eh in church) and the final e of imperes (ays vs ehs). Stress falls on the first syllable of praesis and prosis, and on the second of imperes.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “May you lead so that you may be useful, not so that you may command.” The play on praesis and prosis is deliberate: the two verbs sound alike but pull in opposite directions, one about holding office, the other about doing good.
The thought comes from Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century), the Cistercian abbot, who wrote De consideratione for his former pupil Pope Eugene III. In it he warns the pope that his office exists for the benefit of others and that he should know himself as a servant, not as a lord.
The line is usually given in this polished form, which is a later condensation of Bernard’s argument rather than a verbatim quotation. Today it is often used as a motto for what is called servant leadership.
How to use “Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes”
A fitting motto for a leader, teacher, manager or anyone newly put in charge, and a good fit for a speech, a desk reminder or an essay on leadership and responsibility. It also suits a tattoo for someone who sees authority as a duty to others.
- Latin
- Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes
- English
- Lead in order to serve, not to rule.
- Source
- After Bernard of Clairvaux, De consideratione
- Era
- Middle Ages
- Theme
- Leadership
Common mistakes
- Do not present it as a quotation from classical Rome. It is medieval, drawn from Bernard of Clairvaux, and the short form is a later condensation.
- The verbs are subjunctives, not plain commands or statements, so “Praesis ut prosis” is not “you lead and you benefit”. The ut clauses express purpose.
- Changing the person is risky: to say “I lead in order to serve” you would need praesim ut prosim, not just a swap of one word.
- ne ut imperes is often shortened to “not to rule”, which is fine as English, but in Latin the ut must stay for the clause to be correct.
Questions about “Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes”
What does “Praesis ut prosis, ne ut imperes” mean literally?
Roughly “May you be in charge so that you may be useful, not so that you may command”. It says that authority exists to serve others, not to dominate them.
Who said “Praesis ut prosis”?
The idea goes back to Bernard of Clairvaux and his De consideratione, addressed to Pope Eugene III. The compact wording we use today is a later condensation of his thought.
How do you pronounce “Praesis ut prosis”?
Classical: PRY-sis oot PROH-sis. Church Latin: PREH-sis oot PROH-sis. The stress falls on the first syllable of each of the two main words.
Is “Praesis ut prosis” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. The grammar is sound: two subjunctive purpose clauses with ut. If you want a shorter version, “Praesis ut prosis” alone works, but it loses the contrast with ruling.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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