About the NU Mottos

«Quaecumque sunt vera»

Latin: Whatever [things] are true.

This is from Phillipians 4:8. Note that verse is a complicated mess in any language:

• de cetero, fratres, quaecumque sunt vera, quaecumque pudica, quaecumque iusta, quaecumque sancta, quaecumque amabilia, quaecumque bonae famae -- si qua virtus, si qua laus, haec cogitate. [Vulgate; my punctuation]
• Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. [KJV]
• Au reste, frères, que tout ce qui est vrai, tout ce qui est honorable, tout ce qui est juste, tout ce qui est pur, tout ce qui est aimable, tout ce qui mérite l'approbation, ce qui est vertueux et digne de louange, soit l'objet de vos pensées. [Louis Segond]

«ὁ λόγος πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας»
[«Ho logos plêrês kharitos kai alêtheias»]

Greek: The word/idea [is] full of grace and truth.

This is from the Greek of John 1:14:

• Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας.
• And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. [RSV]
• et Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis et vidimus gloriam eius gloriam quasi unigeniti a Patre plenum gratiae et veritatis [Vulgate]
• Et la parole a été faite chair, et elle a habité parmi nous, pleine de grâce et de vérité; et nous avons contemplé sa gloire, une gloire comme la gloire du Fils unique venu du Père. [Louis Segond]