"The truth will set you free" (Latin: Vēritās līberābit vōs (biblical) or Vēritās vōs līberābit (common), Greek: ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς, transl. hē alḗtheia eleutherṓsei hūmâs) is a statement found in John 8:32—"And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (KJV)—in which Jesus Christ addressed a group of Jews who believed he was the messiah.
The phrase is used as the motto of many universities, colleges, and schools: Yonsei University, Caltech (semi-officially), Johns Hopkins University, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, Canterbury Christ Church University,[1] Adelphi University, University of Portland, Idaho State University, Ottawa University, St. Augustine's University, Southern Methodist University, University of Tennessee, Lafayette College, St Thomas College, Thrissur, Mar Ivanios College, Andhra Christian College, Catholic University of Uruguay, Catholic University of Cordoba, University of San Martín de Porres, Doshisha University, Victoria University, and Darien High School.
The verse itself, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free", is inscribed on the Main Building at the University of Texas at Austin and at Parks Library at Iowa State University. "The truth shall make you free" is also inscribed on "Old Vic", the Victoria College building at Victoria University in the University of Toronto as well as the main hall of McCain Library at Agnes Scott College.
The phrase in Latin is the official motto of Southern Methodist University.[2]
The phrase in Greek is the official motto of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Translated into German, Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen (lit. "The truth will make you free"), it is the motto of the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg.[3]
The verse from the King James Version is carved in stone in the Original Headquarters Building (OHB) of the Central Intelligence Agency.[4][5]
The phrase is in the Bible on the coat of arms of the Dominican Republic used since 1913.
The former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, commonly uses the phrase,[6][7][8] which was his motto at the 2018 presidential election. After the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard verdict on June 1, 2022, Bolsonaro tweeted the versicle.[9][10]
Media related to Veritas liberabit vos at Wikimedia Commons