Altius
Fortius
Citius
The motto for the modern Olympic Games.
Translation:
Higher
Stronger
Faster
Implication:
Anybody who thinks that Latin has nothing to do with the Olympics, please, think again.
Obviously, the founder of the modern games seems to believe that Latin plays a critical role.
And yet, it is an understandable misconception.
I mean, really, what does athletic competition have to do with the mind?
Isn't it just a body thing?
Well, actually, no.
As any athlete will tell you, athletic competition is a total mind game.
To compete at the highest level, you have to train your body and mind like nobody's business.
You have to force yourself to do gruelling work-outs, to keep going when you'd rather not, to never, ever give up.
And even that doesn't guarantee a victory.
You may have the body, the athletic prowess, to excel.
But if you don't have the mind-set, cannot harness your powers when you need them most, you are in trouble.
If you are a stride behind in the ten thousand meter hurdles with fifty meters to go, and you cannot call on your kick when you need it, you won't win.
The same is true if you are a stride ahead.
This is the essence of
Mind Over Matter.
Or, if you prefer the Latin,
Mens omnia vincit.
The Mind conquers all.
Imagine what would happen if you could give your mind commensurate training.
If you could harness your mind, and have its powers accessible when you need them.
At your beck and call.
This is what we do at CAGSE.
This is our Latin program.
Yes, it's about Latin.
Yes, it's about helping schools meet the challenges of the UK National Curriculum.
But more than anything, it's about getting young people to harness their brains, their minds, their potential, to tap into it, and to live life to the fullest.
We do that by training students in language.
The brilliance of English.
The brilliance of Latin.
The discipline to harness language, to mine it, so that in any situation, it is there for you.
Imagine if young people had such linguistic skill.
They could do anything they wanted.
Be anything they wanted.
Their prospects would be...
Unlimited.
There is as much joy in executing a complex linguistic maneuver as there is in performing a complex floor exercise in gymnastics.
Imagine students being able to parry with a mental deftness that an Olympic class fencer would admire.
CAGSE's approach to Latin is linguistic. It involves discipline. There is no short-cut to comprehension, any more than there is a short cut to winning a place on your country's team in the Olympic Games.
We won't even talk about winning a medal.
We are the linguistic regimen that complements the athletic regimen of the Games.
We do not pull punches.
We do not give false confidence.
Students who go through our Latin program excel.
It is that simple.