Vi veri universum vivus vici
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Vi veri universum vivus vici is a Latin phrase meaning: "By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe."
This phrase is from Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, where it appeared as Vi veri ueniversum vivus vici. Note that v was originally the consonantal u, and was written the same before the two forms became distinct, and also after in many cases, when u and v were both capitalized as V: thus, Veniversum. Also, universum is sometimes quoted with the form ueniversum (or Veniversum), which is presumably a combination of universum and oeniversum (two classically-attested spellings). The alliterative 'V' sounds are properly pronounced as English 'W' sounds in Classical Latin pronunciation. Ecclesial Latin uses Italianate pronunciation, retaining the English-style "v" sound.
Aleister Crowley took this phrase as his magickal motto as a "Magister Templi".
The phrase has recently been made popular by the motion picture V for Vendetta. In the movie version, the main character credits the phrase only to Faust. In the original graphic novel V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, on which the movie is based, the quote is attributed to "a German gentleman named Dr. John Faust."
