Ever to Excel
"Ever to Excel" is the English translation of the Ancient Greek phrase 'αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν'. It has been used as motto by a number of educational institutions.
Origin and etymology
The phrase is derived from the sixth book of Homer's Iliad, in which it is used in a speech Glaucus delivers to Diomedes. During a battle between the Greeks and Trojans, Diomedes is impressed by the bravery of a mysterious young man and demands to know his identity. Glaucus replies: "Hippolocus begat me. I claim to be his son, and he sent me to Troy with strict instructions: Ever to excel, to do better than others, and to bring glory to your forebears, who indeed were very great ... This is my ancestry; this is the blood I am proud to inherit."
Usage as a motto
The phrase has been used as the motto of a number of schools and universities, mainly in the United Kingdom, but also in the United States and Canada. These include schools such as Caistor Grammar School, Edinburgh Academy[1], Kelvinside Academy[2] and Old Scona Academic High School[3], as well as universities such as Boston College[4] and the University of St Andrews[5].
References
- ^ "Edin Acad". Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Kelvinside". Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Old scona" (PDF). Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Boston College". Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Coat of Arms". University of St Andrews. Retrieved 2012-04-17.