What does Ignis aurum probat mean?

Fire tests gold.

It's the motto of the Prometheus Society.


This is part of a Latin quotation from Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman, Seneca. It reads in full "ignis aurum probat, miseria fortes homines", in English translation,"as gold is tempered by fire, so strong men are tempered by suffering". The meaning is that in order to become pure gold, the original gold-bearing ore must go through the tempering process of fire; the analogy being that for a man strong in spirit, adversity and suffering are the tempering agents necessary to refine his character and bring out his true potential.