Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt
“Everywhere, where right and glory lead.”
Motto of the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers
What does “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt” mean?
Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt translates as “Everywhere, where right and glory lead.”
Serve wherever duty and honor call. It expresses unconditional commitment.
“Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Ubique | everywhere | adverb of place |
| quo | to where, wherever | relative adverb of direction, introducing the clause |
| fas | right, what is lawful by divine law | neuter noun, nominative singular; indeclinable, used only in the nominative and accusative |
| et | and | conjunction joining fas and gloria |
| gloria | glory | feminine noun, nominative singular, of gloria, glory; second subject of ducunt |
| ducunt | they lead | 3rd person plural present indicative active of duco, to lead |
How to pronounce “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt”
The two systems sound the same here, since there is no v, ae or soft c or g. Stress falls on the second syllable of ubique, because its i is long, and on the first syllable of gloria and ducunt.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “everywhere, where right and glory lead”. It describes a soldier who goes anywhere, because the guide is duty and honour rather than orders alone.
It is the motto shared by two corps of the British Army, the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers, granted in 1832. The single word Ubique, “everywhere”, appears on their badges, and the second phrase completes the thought.
The wording is modern Latin written for military corps, not a line from a Roman author. The sense of going anywhere that duty requires is why it still suits veterans and anyone describing steady commitment.
How to use “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt”
A fitting motto for a veteran’s retirement gift, a service memorial or a regimental-style engraving. It also works as a personal motto for someone whose work takes them wherever a duty is needed.
- Latin
- Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt
- English
- Everywhere, where right and glory lead.
- Source
- Motto of the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Duty
Common mistakes
- The motto belongs to both the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers. Presenting it as the motto of only one of the two corps is incomplete.
- Fas is not “fate”. It means what is right or permitted under divine law, which is why the English reads “right”.
- Quo here means “to where”, not “by which”. Reading it as “by which right and glory lead” loses the idea of direction.
- Cutting the line to “Ubique” alone is correct for the badge, but the shortened form means only “everywhere” and drops the idea of duty and glory.
Questions about “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt”
What does “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt” mean?
“Everywhere, where right and glory lead.” It expresses a readiness to serve wherever duty and honour call.
Who uses “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt” as a motto?
The Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers of the British Army both bear it, together with the single word Ubique.
How do you pronounce “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt”?
oo-BEE-kweh kwoh fahs et GLOH-ree-ah DOO-koont, in both Classical and Church Latin.
Is “Ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound. Be aware that it is the motto of two military corps, so check that it suits the person wearing it.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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