The FSF Europe Motto

"Omnis enim res, quae dando non deficit, dum habetur et non datur, nondum habetur, quomodo habenda est."

English translation:

"For if a thing is not diminished by being shared with others, it is not rightly owned if it is only owned and not shared."

German translation:

"Denn jede Sache, die durch Mitteilung an andere nicht verliert, besitzt man nicht, wie man soll, solange man sie nur selber besitzt, ohne sie wieder an andere weiterzugeben."

(from Sigisbert Mitterer, Bibliothek der Kirchenväter, Bd. 49, München 1925)

This quote can be found in Book I, Chapter 1 "De doctrina christiana" "Corpus Christianorum", "Series latina", Vol. 32, p. 6, lines 10-11. Written 397 AD by Saint Augustinus.

It originally referred to the principle of giving and sharing preached by Jesus but fits almost perfectly on the philosophy of Free Software where one can share without losing.

About Aurelius Augustinus

[oldest known picture of Saint Augustinus]

born 354 in the Roman province town Thagaste (current Algeria),
studies of Philosophy, Grammar and Rethorik in Thagaste, Carthago, Rome and Milano,
386 AD found his was to Christianity,
387 AD baptized,
390/391 AD Aurelius Augustinus became priest and shortly after bishop of Hippo Regius (current Algeria),
important role in the African church and important factor in the solution of dogmatic quarrels,
430 AD Augustinus died when the Vandals besieged the town.

Due to his role in the dogmatic controversies and his far-spanning work, Augustinus has been seen as the theological authority in the medieval ages. Nowadays he is held as the most important latin found-father of the church.

Many thanks to

Steven G. Johnson who pointed this great quote out to us.

Dr. Michael Becht (head of faculty, library of the theological faculty, University of Freiburg i. Br., Germany) who helped me with my research and made the original quote available as well as providing all the additional info. He also supplied the oldest picture of St. Augustinus from the Lateranpalace in Rome (6th century AD)

Georg C. F. Greve collected all these information and posted it to our discussion list.