Et tibi ipsi et aliis cogitare liceat
All good schools should have a Latin motto.
I’m not actually sure that’s true, or even desirable - but I think we will adopt this one - a) because we have often referred to John Wesley’s motto “Think and let think” (or “think and let others think”); b) because Mr Belfield our Latin teacher is available and willing to do quick translations at the drop of a hat and the renowned classicist Dr P V Jones MBE is a keen supporter of our school and his deep knowledge can be tapped into at a moment’s notice; and c) because we have recently started a Debating Society, which is all about thinking for yourself, being clear in your views and then respectfully listening to the views of others. Members of our Public Speaking Club are about to be challenged to prepare talks in which they argue for something they don’t really believe in - a great exercise in developing the areas of argument, debate, open-mindedness etc.
Just because I don’t agree with you, it doesn’t mean I hate you!
The literal translation is “Both for yourself and for others let it be permitted to think”. Not quite so slick as Wesley’s version, but powerful nonetheless.
A great quote in today’s Daily Telegraph: “If teachers aren’t able to foster agreeable disagreement in our seats of learning, then there is little hope for the future of respectful debate in this country” (Camilla Tominey).
Agreeable disagreement. Think and let think.
Or, as we classicists would put it, et tibi ipsi et aliis cogitare liceat.