Classical Terms Every SigEp Should Know
Intellectual Foundations of the Colorado Gamma Learning Community
At Colorado Gamma, personal development is not accidental. It is grounded in discipline, judgment, accountability, leadership, and the consistent pursuit of excellence.
Greek and Latin expressions endure because they capture timeless principles of character, action, balance, responsibility, and human potential.
Greek terms primarily describe foundational concepts: Excellence, judgment, balance, purpose, and human development. Latin phrases often express applied wisdom, decisions, conduct, responsibility, and perspective in action.
This intellectual framework reflects the same classical traditions of reflection, self-examination, and lifelong development emphasized throughout Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Tragos programs.
Together, these terms form part of the intellectual foundation of the Sigma Phi Epsilon experience, strengthening self-awareness, critical thinking, communication, resilience, and personal accountability.
Foundational Principles & Development
Arete (ἀρετή) — Excellence.
— Living up to your highest potential through disciplined daily behavior.
— Excellence defined by consistency, not recognition.
Sophrosyne (σωφροσύνη) — Balance. Self-control.
— Regulation of emotion, impulse, and decision-making.
— Stability and sound judgment under pressure.
Enkrateia (ἐγκράτεια) — Self-mastery.
— Control over impulses, reactions, and behavior.
— Discipline maintained regardless of circumstance.
Paideia (παιδεία) — Whole-person development.
— Formation beyond academics alone.
— Habits, judgment, discipline, leadership, and resilience.
Telos (τέλος) — Purpose. Direction.
— Long-term orientation guiding decisions and priorities.
— Alignment of present behavior with future outcomes.
Dynamis (δύναμις) — Potential.
— Capability waiting to be developed.
— Potential realized through discipline and accountability.
Judgment, Reasoning & Action
Phronesis (φρόνησις) — Practical wisdom.
— Applied judgment in real-world situations.
— Knowing not just what is correct, but what is appropriate.
Nous (νοῦς) — The mind. Reasoning.
— Clear thinking, awareness, and intellectual discipline.
— Sound Mind as performance capacity.
Praxis (πρᾶξις) — Action. Execution.
— Values and goals translated into behavior.
— Effort without execution produces nothing.
Cogito, ergo sum — I think, therefore I am.
— Existence affirmed through awareness and thought.
— A reminder that conscious reasoning defines agency.
Ex nihilo nihil fit — Nothing comes from nothing.
— Outcomes require cause, effort, and input.
— Discipline and work precede results.
Acta, non verba — Deeds, not words.
— Actions define credibility.
— Intentions without execution carry no weight.
Non sequitur — It does not follow.
— Recognition of flawed reasoning.
— Sound judgment requires logical coherence.
Character, Culture & Brotherhood
Philia (φιλία) — Brotherhood. Loyalty.
— Trust built through shared standards and reliable conduct.
— Brotherhood defined by behavior, not proximity.
Ethos (ἦθος) — Character. Culture.
— The standards shaping daily conduct.
— Not what we claim to value, but what behavior proves.
Bona fide — In good faith.
— Genuine, sincere, and authentic conduct.
— Integrity reflected through intention and action.
Mea culpa — Through my fault.
— Ownership of responsibility.
— Accountability without deflection.
Sui generis — Of its own kind.
— Something unique or exceptional.
— Distinction earned through standards and conduct.
Time, Perspective & Mortality
Tempus fugit — Time flies.
— Awareness of time’s accelerating passage.
— Discipline requires urgency.
Memento vivere — Remember to live.
— Balance between discipline and appreciation.
— Life engaged intentionally.
Memento mori — Remember that you will die.
— Perspective-shaping awareness of mortality.
— Judgment clarified through finite time.
Fortune, Risk & Decision
Audentes fortuna iuvat — Fortune favors the bold.
— Calculated risk precedes opportunity.
— Courage balanced with judgment.
Alea iacta est — The die has been cast.
— Recognition of irreversible decisions.
— Commitment following choice.
Festina lente — Hurry slowly.
— Balance between urgency and caution.
— Speed guided by judgment.
Cui bono? — Good for whom?
— Examination of incentives and consequences.
— Judgment strengthened through motive awareness.
Everyday Awareness & Conduct
In vino veritas — In wine, there is truth.
— Lowered inhibition reveals character.
— Conduct remains a personal responsibility.
Persona non grata — An unwelcome person.
— Social consequence of behavior.
— Reputation shaped through conduct.
Ad hominem — To the person.
— Logical fallacy attacking individuals rather than ideas.
— Rational discourse requires intellectual discipline.
Quid pro quo — Something for something.
— Reciprocal exchange.
— Recognition of transactional dynamics.