Nullius in verba

Nullius in verba (Latin for "Take nobody's word for it") is the motto of the Royal Society, that signifies the founders' determination to establish facts via experiments and profess objective science ignoring the influence of politics or religion. It was chosen for the society at its founding by John Aubrey.

It comes from Horace's Epistles, where he compares himself to a gladiator who, having retired, is free from any master's control.

These words in the original context: "Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri, quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes." ("I am not bound over to swear allegiance to any master; where the storm drives me I turn in for shelter.")^[1]

11059 Nulliusinverba is the name of a main-belt minor planet named after this term.

References

1. ^ Horace: Epistles, Book I, epistle i, line 14