Repulsae Nescia


Repulsae Nescia is a Latin phrase meaning "ignorant of defeat" in English. The longer phrase from Horace, Virtus Repulsae Nescia, is often translated as "courage knows no defeat".

History

It is found in Horace: Odes, III., 2, 17. The following passage:
Virtus repulsae nescia sordidae

Intaminatis fulget honoribus,
Nec sumit aut ponit securis
Arbitrio popularis aurae.
was translated by Conington as:
True Virtue never knows defeat:

Her robes she keeps unsullied still;
Nor take, nor quits, her curule seat,
To please a people's veering will.

Usage as a motto