# Ne Plus Ultra?

- Link: https://dismasfellowshipnetwork.com/reflections/ne-plus-ultra/
- Published: 2021-02-11T11:55:12-04:00
- Author: Paul Tuck

[⌊The Pillars of Hercules in Gibraltar⌉⌊The Pillars of Hercules in Gibraltar⌉[

The Pillars of Hercules in Gibraltar

 

AUTHOR: Paul Tuck

I want to talk to you for a few minutes about a Latin phrase:  “Ne Plus Ultra.” 

It is a phrase that is still used today to denote “excellence; to be at the ultimate
in achievement.”  Some companies even use it as a slogan as if to say of their product,“
There is no way to improve on this, it’s perfect.” You see, “Ne Plus Ultra” means
literally **_“No More Beyond.”_** I personally don’t think it’s a good motto to 
live by.

You see, this motto goes back to the glory days of Spain.  During their hay-day 
as world conquerors the Spanish believed that Spain was the last solid land in the
west and that the entire world had thus been already conquered.  There was a sign
at Gibraltar that said “Ne Plus Ultra” which was a warning to sailors not to bother
going much further.   There was nothing more.  To sail further west would mean falling
off the edge of the Earth.  “Ne Plus Ultra,” meant there was nothing more to see
and nothing more to do.

Spanish coins from this era depict the Pillars of Hercules and the motto, “Ne Plus
Ultra.”  Likewise, the Royal Arms of Spain used the same motto.
 BUT THEN **_“In
1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”_**  His expeditions proved that there was
a lot more to the earth than previously thought.  This motto became an embarrassment
to Spain who thought they had done it all.

When Charles V inherited the throne, he had the NE taken out of the motto.  The 
new motto for Spain became “PLUS ULTRA” = “More Beyond.”
 As I mentioned, I don’t
think “Ne Plus Ultra” is a good motto to live by.  WHY? Because it stops us from
growing and going beyond ourselves. 

**Reflection Queston:_._**_ “Is there something NEW or something MORE that you would
like to do?”_