Spectemur agendo

Spectemur Agendo is a Latin motto meaning Let us be judged by our acts.

Source

It comes originally from Book XIII of Ovid's Metamorphoses where it is attributed to the hero Ajax:

Denique (quid verbis opus est?) spectemur agendo!

which most literal translations render as

Finally (what is the use of words?) let us be seen together in action!

United Kingdom institutions

In the United Kingdom, it was first adopted as the motto of The Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) regiment of the British Army.

It is the civic motto of:

• London Borough of Lambeth, with the translation Let us be regarded according to our conduct;
• London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, using the translation Let us be judged by our actions,
  • it was also used by the previous Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith;
• the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley covering the town of Barnsley and a surrounding area in South Yorkshire. The Borough uses the more direct translation Judge us by our Actions in publicity; the motto appears with the town crest on the shirts of Barnsley F.C. football club.

Spectemur agendo is also the motto of:

• The National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN)
• The Royal Dublin Fusiliers
• RAF Benson
• The 148 (Barnsley) Squadron Of the Air Training Corps Based in Barnsley
• the 344 (Fulham) Squadron of the Air Training Corps based in Hammersmith.
• Kingsbury High School
• the Albion FC in Clapham, London.
• Maclear House, at King's College School, Wimbledon.

and was once the motto of Dishforth Police Training Centre. The motto was then adopted by the North Eastern Police Training Centre at Durham, which opened when Disforth closed.

Spectemur Agendo was once the motto of Newbridge Comprehensive School, South Wales. Spectemur Agendo was also the motto of Earsham Hall School, Bungay, Suffolk.

United States institutions

In the United States, it is the motto of several college student organizations including:

• the Cap and Skull Senior Honor Society (Rutgers University),
• the Beta Charge of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity at Cornell University,

It is the Motto found on the challenge coin of Medic One paramedics.

It is the official motto of:

• Westminster Choir College
• Apple Valley Police Department of Minnesota.
• York Fire/Rescue Department of York, Pennsylvania.
• The Anaheim Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps - the 1972 DCI world champions.
• The Spring Hill High School soccer team in Spring Hill, Kansas, est 2007.

Sweet Briar College uses it as the class motto every four years. Their translation is We are proven by our actions

Australian institutions

• Camberwell Grammar School, a Church of England school for boys in Melbourne, also wears the motto, preferring the translation By our deeds may we be known.
• Clyde House (formerly Clyde School) within Geelong Grammar School,
• Gosford High School, Gosford, New South Wales
• Hawthorn Football Club
• Lismore High School, Lismore, New South Wales
• Newcastle Grammar School
• South Sydney High School, Maroubra, New South Wales
• The Forest High School, Frenchs Forest, New South Wales

New Zealand Schools

• Highlands Intermediate School, Welbourn, New Plymouth

South African institutions

• South African College Schools, Cape Town, oldest school in South Africa.

Dutch schools

• Gymnasium Haganum (schoolpaper: spectemur agendo-spec)

Family and clan mottos

In Ireland, the motto also appear emblazoned upon the crest of the Edward Hussey-Montagu, 1st Earl Beaulieu, McAleer, Donnelly, Shannon and Mott family crest.

It is the Cobb family motto, and the Eager family motto, that can be found on its crest, dating back to ancestors who held the family seats in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland in England from ancient times.

It is also is the McClure Family Motto, the ancestors of the bearers of this surname were thought to be of the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland.