Illegitimi non carborundum

Illegitimi non carborundum is a mock-Latin aphorism meaning "Don't let the bastards grind you down".

History

The phrase originated during World War II. Lexicographer Eric Partridge attributes it to British army intelligence very early in the war (using the plural dative, or perhaps they meant ablative – it's the same form: illegitimis). The phrase was adopted by US Army general "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell as his motto during the war. It was later further popularized in the US by 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.

Generations of Harvard students have taken the phrase into the world, as it is the first line of an unofficial school song, and the song of the Harvard Band, that to some extent is a parody of more solemn school songs like "Fair Harvard thy sons to your Jubilee throng" etc. Illigitimum non carborundom is the slogan for the Harvard Band. Illegitimum non carborundum; Domine salvum fac. Illegitimum non Carborundum; Domine salvum fac. Gaudeamus igitur! Veritas non sequitur? Illegitimum non carborundum—ipso facto!

Variants

There are many variants of the phrase, such as

• Nil illegitimi carborundum.
• Non illegitimis carborundum.
• Illegitimi nil carborundum.
• Non illegitimi carborundum.
• Nil bastardo carborundum.
• Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
• Illegitimis non carborundum.
• Illegitimus non carborundum est.
• Nil illegitimo in desperandum carborundum
• Nil carborundum illegitamae
• Noli ilegitimus carborundum
• Nolite Illegitimos Conterere Vos

None of the above is correct Latin. Carborundum is not a Latin word but the name of a mineral which is extremely hard and used for grinding. (See Silicon carbide.) The ending -undum suggests a Latin gerundive form, which is typically used to express the sense of "must be" or (in this case) "must not be", as in Cato the Elder's famous speech-ender, "Carthago delenda est" ('Carthage must be destroyed'); however, the word carborundum is actually a portmanteau of "carbon" (from Latin), and "corundum" (from Tamil kurundam).

Illegitimi suggests illegitimate to the English speaker, or bastardo likewise, but the Latin for bastard is actually nothus (from the Greek word notho (νόθο) meaning not-pure, used when referring to a bastard whose father is known) or spurius (for a bastard whose father is unknown).

The phrase has a nonsensical structure—the subject (which is "you") does not appear ("illegitimi" is not the subject - the meaning of the phrase is "YOU must not be ground down by the illegitimate ones")—and the ending would have to agree in gender and number with the subject ("um" is the neuter gender singular ending). Moreover, even if carborundum were a real Latin gerundive and illegitimi a real Latin noun, the gerundive construction would require illegitimi to be in the dative case.

"Nil" or "nihil" is regular Latin for "not at all" or "nothing." The forms with nil may be formed partly on the pattern of the genuine Latin phrase Nil desperandum.

It also should be kept in mind that "bastards" is used in English as a generic derogatory term, not at all relating to the marital status of one's parents.

Henry Beard in his 1991 book Latin for Even More Occasions offered some correct Latin for the sentiment, in a section called "Dopey Exhortations Are More Forceful in Latin":

Never let the bastards wear you down.
Noli nothis permittere te terere.

Use as a motto

• 3d Space Operations Squadron Weapons & Tactics Flight (USAF)(2004–2006)
• The U.S. submarine USS Tunny (SSN-682)
• The weekly Alaskan newspaper the Nome Nugget
• Whitehorse Daily Star, in the capital of the Yukon Territory
• University of Idaho Navy ROTC Drill Team
• The comic strip Odd Bodkins
• Toronto FC Supporters Group, Red Patch Boys - 75 Mile Bastards Chapter
• Informal motto for the seminarians at Nashotah House Theological Seminary: Nolite Illegitimos Conterere Vos.

In popular culture

The arts

• Nil Carborundum, title of a 1962 play and TV comedy by Henry Livings.
• Nil Carborundum Illegitimo, in Principia Discordia from 1965.
• Nolite te bastardes carborundorum, in The Handmaid's Tale (1985) by Margaret Atwood.
• Illegitimi non carborundum, in Lucifer's Hammer (1977) by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, page 29.
• Nil illegitimo carborundum is a maxim credited to the fictional philosopher Didactylos in Terry Pratchett's Small Gods.
• Non Illegitimus Carborundum is the school motto of the fictional girl's school St. Trinian's, appearing on the school's coat of arms.
• Illegitimis non Carborundum is printed on a banner in the artwork for The Toasters' 7th studio album Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down.
• Nil carborundum illegitimis is said by Landon Kettlewell in Cory Doctorow's Makers
• Illegitimi non carborundum in "Fight Song" by The Republic Tigers

Politics

• Mentioned with translation by the Member of Parliament for Twickenham Toby Jessel in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on 7 June 1993.
• Mentioned by Premier of Newfoundland, Danny Williams in reference to a power deal with Nalcor Energy on February 20, 2009.

Sports

• Illegitimum non carborundum in Ten Thousand Men of Harvard, Harvard's most-frequently played fight song.

See also

• Dog Latin
• List of Latin phrases

External links

• Two alternative explanations