"Don't be evil" is the informal corporate motto (or slogan) of Google.

THIS 315-year-old city has a history that could well have inspired Connecticut's informal motto - "the land of steady habits."

Its informal motto, a favorite saying of Miss Madeira, is "Function in disaster, finish in style."

"You know, we have an informal motto - we actually say this in our meetings - it's our business to help New Yorkers do theirs."

The phrase stuck, and it became Google's informal motto.

A more informal but well known motto, also introduced by De Coubertin, is "The most important thing is not to win but to take part!"

An informal motto used by members is "we lead, you follow, or get the hell out of our way".

When pressed on privacy issues, Google - whose informal motto is "Don't be evil" - says it can be trusted with this information.

"You can't regulate a pencil," has become their informal motto emblazoned across t-shirts on campuses everywhere.

The informal motto almost seemed to be: we will meet up, and no one will notice.