Latin quote · Courage

Volo, non fugio

“I fly, I do not flee.”

Traditional Latin motto

Translation

What does “Volo, non fugio” mean?

Volo, non fugio translates as “I fly, I do not flee.”

A pun on volo, which means both "I fly" and "I want": rising above danger instead of running away. It is a motto of courage.

Word by word

“Volo, non fugio” word by word

Latin	English	Grammar
Volo	I fly (or: I want)	first person singular present of volo, volare, “to fly”; it is also, by coincidence of form, the present of volo, velle, “to want, to wish”
non	not	adverb of negation, placed before the verb it negates
fugio	I flee	first person singular present active indicative of fugio, fugere, “to flee, to run away”

Pronunciation

How to pronounce “Volo, non fugio”

Classical LatinWOH-loh nohn FOO-gee-oh

Church LatinVOH-loh nohn FOO-jee-oh

The difference is in two sounds: v is a w in Classical Latin and a v in Church Latin, and the g in fugio is hard (g) in Classical but soft (j) in Church Latin. Stress falls on the first syllable of volo and of fugio.

Origin & context

The story behind it

Word for word the motto says “I fly, I do not flee”. It rests on a pun: volo can be the verb “to fly” (volare) or the verb “to want” (velle), so a second reading is “I want, I do not flee”. The Latin leaves both readings open.

The motto is traditional and its first use is not securely documented, so it cannot be tied to a single author or date. It is Modern Latin in style, a short, balanced phrase of the kind families and units adopt as a motto.

Today it is best known as a motto for families and for air units, where the double meaning of volo suits people who literally fly. The idea behind it is simple: meet danger by rising to it instead of running from it.

When to use it

How to use “Volo, non fugio”

Suits a pilot’s patch, a flying club, a hang-gliding or paragliding group, or a personal motto for someone who faces fear head on. It also works as a tattoo or engraving for anyone who likes a motto with a built-in pun.

Latin: Volo, non fugio
English: I fly, I do not flee.
Source: Traditional Latin motto
Era: Modern Latin
Theme: Courage

Good to know

Common mistakes

Volo is not only “I fly”. It can also mean “I want”, and the quote plays on both meanings, so a translation that drops one loses the pun.
Do not confuse volo, volare (“to fly”) with volo, velle (“to want”): they share the form volo but are different verbs with different forms elsewhere.
Fugio means “I flee” and takes no object here. It is not the same as fugo, “I put to flight”.
Changing the subject changes the endings: “he flies, he does not flee” is volat, non fugit, and the pun on “want” is lost.

FAQ

Questions about “Volo, non fugio”

What does “Volo, non fugio” mean literally?

“I fly, I do not flee.” Volo can also be read as “I want”, so the motto can be taken as “I want, I do not flee” as well.

Who said “Volo, non fugio”?

It is a traditional Latin motto with no securely documented first use, so it cannot be attributed to a particular author.

How do you pronounce “Volo, non fugio”?

In Classical Latin it is WOH-loh nohn FOO-gee-oh. In Church Latin it is VOH-loh nohn FOO-jee-oh.

Is “Volo, non fugio” correct Latin for a tattoo?

Yes, the grammar is sound: both verbs are first person singular present active. Just be aware of the double meaning of volo, “I fly” and “I want”, before you commit to it.

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