“Virtue Mine Honour”. A motto that has stuck with Macleans College since the opening of the school. But what does the school motto really mean?
“Virtue Mine Honour”, meaning “Virtue is the mark of my honour”, was a motto that originated from the Scottish Clan MaClean, a clan known for their honour, strength and courage during skirmishes with other clans around Scotland at the time, such as the Mackinnon or Campbell Clan. The motto was used by Clan MaClean both for the clan’s identification and for members to show their allegiance through this unifying phrase. Members of Clan MacLean may have also called out “Virtue Mine Honour” during battle to reaffirm what they stood for and to identify gathering points, but the clan’s slogan, “Bas no Beatha” (Death or Life) is more commonly attributed with such purposes.
At Macleans College today, “Virtue Mine Honour” is a motto meaning that at Macleans, the focus is on nurturing moral excellence and that students’ virtues are valued above all, even over academics or extracurriculars as it is virtue that acts as the foundation of honour and reputation. It is virtue that cultivates students who are noble in spirit to earn themselves respect and distinction. For students at Macleans, “Virtue Mine Honour” serves as a constant reminder to instill a virtuous character in everyday life so as to live with moral excellence, not just during their time at Macleans, but well into the future.
May 11th, 2023
Aaron Huang
