Expert: Maria - 2/13/2010

Question
Dear Maria,

When i was in uni (like 15 years ago), I came across this motto "Cadere non cedere possum" or something like that. Back than the translation was "i may fall but i shall not yield". I have been trying to confirm this using the various translators floating on the net but to no avail. Can you help confirm or correct me on this? Do you know the orgin of this motto? Thanks very much.

Answer
Dear Rayner,

The literal translation of the Latin motto “Cadere non cedere possum” is  “I can fall, but not yield” where the action is in the present tense (Latin, ‘possum’),  not in the future.

Therefore the translation you remember , i.e. "I may fall, but I  shall not yield", is partially correct.

As for the origin of this phrase, it is not a quotation from a Roman author, but simply a motto which was  coined much later for a coat of arms.

For example the Drogheda family motto “Fortis cadere, cedere non potest” meaning “The brave man may fall, but not yield “ is quite similar to “Cadere non cedere possum”.

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that:

-CADERE (infinitive of CADO, I fall) = fall

-NON = not

-CEDERE (infinitive of CEDO, I yield) = yield

-POSSUM (present indicative, 1st.person singular) = I can/ I may