What Does Nullius in Verba Mean?

Nullius in verba is the motto of the Royal Society. John Evelyn and other fellows of the Royal Society chose the motto soon after the Society's founding in 1660.

What is nullius Verba?

The Royal Society's motto 'Nullius in verba' is taken to mean 'take nobody's word for it'. It is an expression of the determination of Fellows to withstand the domination of authority and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment.

Why was the idea of Nullius in verba so important?

The Royal Society's motto 'Nullius in verba', which can be roughly translated as 'Take nobody's word for it', dates back to 1663. The motto was seen as an expression of the Fellows' determination to withstand the domination of authority and verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment.