Sapientia magis auro desideranda
“Wisdom is more to be desired than gold.”
Latin university motto
What does “Sapientia magis auro desideranda” mean?
Sapientia magis auro desideranda translates as “Wisdom is more to be desired than gold.”
Wealth can be lost or spent, but wisdom keeps enriching the one who has it. The motto puts understanding above money as the goal worth striving for.
“Sapientia magis auro desideranda” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Sapientia | wisdom | nominative singular feminine of sapientia, “wisdom”; the subject of the sentence |
| magis | more | adverb meaning “more”; it introduces the comparison |
| auro | than gold | ablative singular neuter of aurum, “gold”; the ablative of comparison, so no word for “than” is needed |
| desideranda | to be desired | gerundive (verbal adjective) of desidero, “I long for”, agreeing with sapientia; it means “deserving to be longed for”. The verb est (“is”) is understood |
How to pronounce “Sapientia magis auro desideranda”
The main differences are in sapientia (classical t sounds like t, church like ts) and magis (hard g versus j). The stress is the same in both: sa-pi-EN-ti-a, MA-gis, AU-ro, de-si-de-RAN-da.
The story behind it
Word for word the line reads “wisdom, more than gold, to be desired”, with the verb “is” understood. The ablative auro does the work of “than gold”, and the gerundive desideranda carries the sense of something that ought to be wanted.
It is a modern Latin motto used by universities, and it echoes the Bible. The Book of Proverbs repeatedly ranks wisdom above gold and silver, and the Latin Vulgate renders those verses with similar vocabulary.
Because the thought is easy to grasp and fits the purpose of a school, the line suits academic settings. Today it works as a motto for learning, on certificates, plaques and gifts to students.
How to use “Sapientia magis auro desideranda”
It fits a graduation or scholarship card, a gift for a student starting university, or an inscription in a book or on a library or classroom wall. It also works as a personal motto for someone who values learning above wealth.
- Latin
- Sapientia magis auro desideranda
- English
- Wisdom is more to be desired than gold.
- Source
- Latin university motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- The Latin does not say “wisdom is better than gold” in a plain sense. Desideranda means “to be desired”, so the point is what deserves to be wanted.
- Do not add “quam” (“than”) before auro. The ablative already expresses the comparison, and adding quam would require a different case.
- The line is not a verbatim quotation from the Vulgate, so do not credit it to a particular chapter and verse of Proverbs. It echoes the biblical theme.
- To change the gender or number of the noun, desideranda must change with it. For a masculine singular noun it becomes desiderandus, and for a plural feminine noun, desiderandae.
Questions about “Sapientia magis auro desideranda”
What does “Sapientia magis auro desideranda” mean literally?
Literally “wisdom, more than gold, to be desired”, with “is” understood. In natural English: wisdom is more to be desired than gold.
Where does “Sapientia magis auro desideranda” come from?
It is a Latin university motto from the modern era. Its idea echoes the Book of Proverbs, which ranks wisdom above gold and silver.
How do you pronounce “Sapientia magis auro desideranda”?
In classical Latin: sah-pee-EN-tee-ah MAH-gis OW-roh deh-sih-deh-RAHN-dah. In church pronunciation the t in sapientia becomes ts and the g in magis becomes j.
Why is there no word for “than” in “magis auro”?
Latin often expresses “than” with the ablative case. Auro is ablative, so magis auro already means “more than gold”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
Related Latin quotes
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.