The phrase "POTIUS MORI QUAM FOEDARI," means "rather to die than to be dishonored."
The exact date of the origin of the phrase cannot be determined, because it comes from the Latin and was used by Roman soldiers as a "battle cry."
It was also used immediately before a Roman centurion committed suicide. When he knew that he was defeated and would die at the hands of the enemy, he would "fall on his own sword."
The other version of this Latin phrase is "MORS ANTE INFAMIAM." "Infamiam" literally means "infamy," and "dishonor" is a synonym.