Pro Aris et Focis

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Pro Aris et Focis is a Latin phrase used as the motto of many families and military regiments, as well as being one of the mottos of Bristol University.

Meaning "For god and country" or literally "for our altars and our hearths", but is used by ancient authors to express attachment to all that was most dear and venerable. It could be more idiomatically translated "for our homes". Thus the famous Latin orator and philosopher Cicero uses the phrase to emphasise the importance of his argument in his philosophical work de Natura Deorum 3.40 [1].

"Pro Aris et Focis" is the motto of many families such as the Waits of Scotland, and of military regiments all over the world, such as the Middlesex Yeomanry of Britain, the Royal Queensland Regiment of Australia and the Victoria Rifles of Canada.