Not sure if this is the appropriate place to pose this question, but apparently we don't have a Latin Stackexchange…
The motto of Birkbeck College in London is "In nocte consilium". However I have seen widely differing interpretations of this phrase. The Wikipedia page cites a web page from a department of the college (now dead link), stating it means "Study by night". However a page on Wikipedia states that this phrase means "Tomorrow is a new day", which I don't see how could be possibly connected to the previous translation. And then on a page from Wikiproverbs, meanings like "An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening." are listed, which seem to be completely contrary to the first translation.
Finally, on the page http://distichalatina.blogspot.com/2012/01/in-nocte-consilium.html, a whole passage is displayed, stating:
In Nocte Consilium
Consilium in tenebris capias et nocte profunda:
Humanis obstat sensibus alma dies.
—
Before thou bring thy Workes to Light,
Consider on them, in the Night.
Which I find most plausible.
How shall this phrase be interpreted in English exactly? Surely a college that adopts this motto should have a clear idea about what it means before doing so? However, Googling doesn't reveal any official information on it given by the college…
Best Answer
English has the idiom "Sleep on it," meaning withhold immediate judgment, but it lacks the notion of active consideration at night.
*The verb of the main clause is second person, present tense, subjuctive mood, active voice -- the so-called jussive subjunctive. It expresses an exhortation or command.