List of U.S. state and territory mottos explained

Most of the United States' 50 states have a state motto, as do the District of Columbia and 3 of its territories. A motto is a phrase intended to formally describe the general motivation or intention of an organization. State mottos can sometimes be found on state seals or state flags. Some states have officially designated a state motto by an act of the state legislature, whereas other states have the motto only as an element of their seals. The motto of the United States itself is In God We Trust, proclaimed by Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 30, 1956.[1] The motto "Latin: [[E pluribus unum]]" (Latin for 'out of many, one') was approved for use on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, but was never adopted as the national motto through legislative action.

South Carolina has two official mottos, both which are in Latin. Kentucky, North Dakota, and Vermont also have two mottos, one in Latin and the other in English.[2] All other states and territories have only one motto, except for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which do not have any mottos.[3] English and Latin are the most-used languages for state mottos, each used by 25 states and territories. Seven states and territories use another language, of which each language is only used once. Eight states and two territories have their mottos on their state quarter; thirty-eight states and four territories have their mottos on their state seals.

The dates given are, where possible, the earliest date that the motto was used in an official sense. Some state mottos are not official but are on the official state seal; in these cases the adoption date of the seal is given. The earliest use of a current motto is that of Puerto Rico, Latin: Joannes est nomen ejus, granted to the island by the Spanish in 1511.

State, federal district and territory mottos

JurisdictionMottoEnglish translationLanguageDate
AlabamaLatin: [[Audemus jura nostra defendere]]We dare defend our rightsLatin[4]
AlaskaNorth to the FutureEnglish[5]
American SamoaSamoan: Samoa, Muamua Le AtuaSamoa, let Atua be firstSamoan[6]
ArizonaLatin: [[Ditat Deus]]God enrichesLatin[7] [8]
ArkansasLatin: [[Regnat populus]]The people ruleLatin[9]
CaliforniaEureka (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Εὕρηκα)I have found itGreek[10]
ColoradoLatin: [[Nil sine numine]]Nothing without providenceLatin[11]
ConnecticutLatin: [[Qui transtulit sustinet]]He who transplanted still sustainsLatin[12]
DelawareLiberty and IndependenceEnglish[13]
District of ColumbiaLatin: Justitia OmnibusJustice for allLatin[14]
FloridaIn God We TrustEnglish[15]
GeorgiaWisdom, Justice, ModerationEnglish[16] [17] [18]
GuamNeither "Land of the Chamorros" or "Where America's Day Begins" has any official or unofficial status, but are rather slogans. The Seal of Guam does not have a motto on it. Any changes require an OFFICIAL source.-->
HawaiiHawaiian: [[Seal of Hawaii#Motto design|Ua mau ke ea o ka {{okinaThe life of the land is perpetuated in righteousnessHawaiian[19] [20]
IdahoLatin: [[Esto perpetua]]Let it be perpetualLatin[21]
IllinoisState sovereignty, national unionEnglish[22]
IndianaCrossroads of AmericaEnglish[23]
IowaOur liberties we prize and our rights we will maintainEnglish[24]
KansasLatin: [[Ad astra per aspera]]To the stars through difficultiesLatin[25]
KentuckyUnited we stand, divided we fallEnglish[26]
Latin: Deo gratiam habeamusLet us be grateful to GodLatin2002[27]
LouisianaUnion, justice, confidenceEnglish[28]
MaineLatin: [[Seal of Maine#Motto|Dirigo]]I leadLatin[29]
MarylandItalian: [[Seal of Maryland|Fatti maschi, parole femine]]Strong deeds, gentle words Italian[30] [31]
MassachusettsLatin: [[Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem]]By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under libertyLatin[32]
MichiganLatin: [[Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice]]If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about youLatin[33] [34]
MinnesotaFrench: [[L'Étoile du Nord]]The star of the NorthFrench[35]
MississippiLatin: [[Virtute et armis]]By valor and armsLatin[36]
MissouriLatin: [[Salus populi suprema lex esto]]Let the welfare of the people be the supreme lawLatin[37]
MontanaSpanish; Castilian: Oro y plataGold and silverSpanish[38]
NebraskaEquality before the lawEnglish[39]
NevadaAll For Our CountryEnglish[40]
New HampshireLive Free or DieEnglish[41]
New JerseyLiberty and prosperityEnglish[42]
New MexicoLatin: [[Crescit eundo]]It grows as it goesLatin[43]
New YorkLatin: ExcelsiorEver upwardLatin[44]
North CarolinaLatin: [[Esse quam videri]]To be, rather than to seemLatin[45]
North DakotaLiberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparableEnglish[46] [47]
Latin: Serit ut alteri saeclo prositOne sows for the benefit of another ageLatin[48]
Northern Mariana Islands
OhioWith God, all things are possibleEnglish[49] [50]
OklahomaLatin: [[Labor omnia vincit]]Labor conquers all thingsLatin[51] [52] [53]
OregonLatin: [[Alis volat propriis]]She flies with her own wingsLatin[54]
PennsylvaniaVirtue, liberty, and independenceEnglish[55]
Puerto RicoLatin: Joannes Est Nomen EjusJohn is his nameLatin[56] [57]
Rhode IslandHopeEnglish[58]
South CarolinaLatin: [[Dum spiro spero]]While I breathe, I hopeLatin[59]
Latin: [[Animis opibusque parati]]Ready in soul and resourceLatin
South DakotaUnder God the people ruleEnglish[60]
TennesseeAgriculture and CommerceEnglish[61]
TexasFriendshipEnglish[62]
UtahIndustryEnglish[63] [64]
VermontFreedom and UnityEnglish[65]
Latin: Stella quarta decima fulgeatMay the fourteenth star shine brightLatin[66] [67]
VirginiaLatin: [[Sic semper tyrannis]]Thus always to tyrantsLatin[68]
U.S. Virgin IslandsUnited in Pride and HopeEnglish[69]
WashingtonChinook jargon: Al-ki or Chinook jargon: Alki (Unofficial)By and byChinook Jargon[70]
West VirginiaLatin: [[Montani semper liberi]]Mountaineers are always freeLatin[71]
WisconsinForwardEnglish[72]
WyomingEqual RightsEnglish[73]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of 'In God we Trust'. U.S. Treasury. 2009-02-27. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090228174920/http://www.treas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml. 2009-02-28.
  2. Web site: State Coat of Arms. State of North Dakota. 2016-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20160926113105/https://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=74&id=State%20Coat%20of%20Arms. 2016-09-26. dead.
  3. Book: Shearer . Benjamin F. . Shearer . Barbara S. . State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide . 2002 . . 9780313315343 . 24 . Third.
  4. Web site: Official Alabama Motto . 2009-02-06 . February 13, 2008 . Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors . Alabama Department of Archives & History . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225002/http://www.archives.state.al.us/emblems/st_motto.html%20 . dead .
  5. Web site: State Symbols . State of Alaska . 2019-05-13 . 2016-05-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160522050300/http://alaska.gov/kids/student.htm . live .
  6. Web site: The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1607-2007 . Sorensen . Stan . Theroux, Joseph . 57 . American Samoa Government . 2009-03-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080626050638/http://americansamoa.gov/history/samhist_forweb.pdf . 2008-06-26 .
  7. Web site: Arizona State Seal. State of Arizona. 2009-02-07. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090610051218/http://az.gov/webapp/portal/displaycontent.jsp?id=1963. 2009-06-10.
  8. Web site: History of the Arizona State Seal . Arizona Secretary of State . 2009-02-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090211222417/http://www.azsos.gov/info/state_seal/history.htm . 2009-02-11 .
  9. Web site: The Great Seal of Arkansas. State of Arkansas. 2009-02-14. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224941/https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/education. live.
  10. Web site: History and Culture - State Symbols. State of California. 2009-02-07. 2019-01-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20190105214315/http://www.library.ca.gov/california-history/state-symbols/#Heading11. dead.
  11. Web site: Colorado State Archives Symbols & Emblems. State of Colorado. 2009-02-07. 2019-01-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20190107145753/https://www.colorado.gov/archives. live.
  12. Web site: Sites, Seals & Symbols. June 9, 2008. State of Connecticut. 2009-02-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20101210041918/http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3188&q=392608. 2010-12-10. dead.
  13. Web site: Delaware Facts and Symbols. 14 August 2008. State of Delaware. 2009-02-07. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224942/http://portal.delaware.gov/delfacts/gov.shtml. live.
  14. Web site: About District of Columbia. District of Columbia. 2009-02-07. 2012-02-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20120215092653/http://about.dc.gov/about.asp?portal_link=hr. live.
  15. Web site: What is the state motto of Florida?. https://archive.today/20120719143552/http://myflorida.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/myflorida.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=682&p_created=1028703600&p_sid=9zkHj3Ri&p_lva=695&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MSZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1tb3R0bw**&p_li=&p_topview=1. dead. 2012-07-19. State of Florida. 2009-02-07.
  16. Web site: State Seal. State of Georgia. 2009-02-14. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140524123552/http://georgia.gov/georgia-facts-and-symbols. 2014-05-24.
  17. Web site: Georgia State Symbols. State of Georgia. 2009-04-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20121130190056/http://sos.georgia.gov/archives/state_symbols/state_symbols.html. 2012-11-30. dead.
  18. Web site: Government - Georgia State Motto . GeorgiaInfo . Digital Library of Georgia . 20 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811162410/https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/government/article/georgia-state-symbols/georgia-state-motto-wisdom-justice-and-moderation. 11 August 2020.
  19. Web site: Hawaii, the Aloha State. 2009-01-14. State of Hawaii. 2009-03-02. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225045/http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/. live.
  20. Web site: Hawaii State Motto. NETSTATE.COM. 2009-02-15. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224937/http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm. live.
  21. Web site: Idaho's State Motto. March 1970. Idaho State Historical Society. 2009-02-07. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224901/http://www.idahohistory.net/Reference%20Series/0134.pdf. live.
  22. Web site: Seal of the State of Illinois . State of Illinois . 2009-02-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090131084651/http://www.sos.state.il.us/general/seal.html . 2009-01-31 .
  23. Web site: Emblems. State of Indiana. 2009-02-07. 2011-09-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20110915153347/http://www.in.gov/history/files/Emblems.pdf. dead.
  24. Web site: Iowa State Symbols . State of Iowa . 2009-02-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100430004137/http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/StateSymbols/ . 2010-04-30 .
  25. Web site: Kansas Seal . State of Kansas . 2009-02-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090129164251/http://governor.ks.gov/Facts/kansasseal.htm . January 29, 2009 .
  26. Web site: Kentucky's State Symbols. 2008-01-29. Commonwealth of Kentucky. 2009-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20081222124236/http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/kysymbols.htm . 2008-12-22.
  27. The Latin motto was adopted by HB 857 and is defined by KRS 2.105 .
  28. Web site: Kids' Page. State of Louisiana. 2009-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126074129/http://louisiana.gov/Explore/Kids_Page/. 2010-11-26. dead.
  29. Web site: Emblems . State of Maine . 2009-02-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090510161023/http://www.maine.gov/legis/senate/statehouse/symbols/Emblems.htm . 2009-05-10 .
  30. Web site: Maryland State Seal - Great Seal of Maryland (reverse). April 21, 2005. Maryland State Archives. State of Maryland. 2009-02-14. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225042/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/reverse.html. live.
  31. Web site: Maryland State Seal - Great Seal of Maryland. June 17, 2004. Maryland State Archives. State of Maryland. 2009-02-14. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224855/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/seal.html. live.
  32. Web site: Massachusetts Facts. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2009-02-10. 2012-04-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20120414211235/http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf1a.htm. live.
  33. Web site: History of the Great Seal. State of Michigan. 2009-02-14. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224839/https://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29938-22823--,00.html. live.
  34. Web site: State Motto. State of Michigan. 22 August 2010. 24 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225018/https://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29938_30245-2606--,00.html. live.
  35. Web site: Minnesota State Symbols. State of Minnesota. 2009-03-02. 2012-02-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20120213111930/http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/symbols.aspx. live.
  36. Web site: State of Mississippi Symbols . State of Mississippi . 2009-02-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429193034/http://www.ms.gov/symbols.jsp . April 29, 2009 .
  37. Web site: The Great Seal of Missouri. State of Missouri. 2009-02-10. 2009-01-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20090130130149/http://sos.mo.gov/symbols/symbols.asp?symbol=seal. live.
  38. Web site: About the State Seal . State of Montana . 2009-02-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090205161902/http://sos.mt.gov/About_Office/State_Seal.asp . 2009-02-05 .
  39. Web site: State Seal. State of Nebraska. 2009-02-10. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225006/http://www.sos.ne.gov/symbols/seal.html. live.
  40. Web site: Nevada Information. State of Nevada. PDF. 2009-02-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090130152600/http://www.nv.gov/new_KidsHomework.htm . 2009-01-30.
  41. Web site: State Emblem. New Hampshire Almanac. State of New Hampshire. 2009-02-10. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224936/https://www.nh.gov/almanac/. live.
  42. Web site: The Great Seal of the State of New Jersey . State of New Jersey. 2009-02-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090115070028/http://www.state.nj.us/state/home/seal.html . 2009-01-15.
  43. Web site: Great Seal of New Mexico. State of New Mexico. 2009-02-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20081129110322/http://www.sos.state.nm.us//sos-seal.html. 2008-11-29. dead.
  44. Web site: New York State Flag and Great Seal of the State of New York. March 31, 2008. State of New York. 2009-02-10. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224902/http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/emblems/flag.htm. dead.
  45. Web site: The State Symbols. 2009-01-22. State Library of North Carolina. State of North Carolina. 2009-02-07. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224927/https://www.ncpedia.org/symbols#motto. dead.
  46. Web site: State Motto. State of North Dakota. 2009-02-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090211174012/http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=75&id=State%20Motto. 2009-02-11. dead.
  47. Kingsbury, George. History of Dakota Territory (1915). Retrieved from the Internet Archive 12 May 2014.
  48. Web site: House Bill No. 1346. State of North Dakota. 2013-02-27. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224853/https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/62-2011/bill-index/bi1346.html. live.
  49. Web site: 5.06 State motto.. LAW Writer Ohio Laws and Rules. State of Ohio. 2009-02-10. 2012-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20120318213849/http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/gp5.06. live.
  50. Web site: Great Seal of Ohio. Ohio History. Ohio Historical Society. 2011-04-10.
  51. Encyclopedia: State Emblems. Everett. Diana. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. 2009-06-05. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090615154251/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/S/ST020.html. 2009-06-15.
  52. Web site: Grand Seal of the Territory of Oklahoma. Chronicles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma State University. 2009-06-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20130520095946/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v035/v035p128.pdf. 2013-05-20. dead.
  53. Web site: History of Oklahoma Emblems. Chronicles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma State University. 2009-06-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20170918091424/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v022/v022p458.pdf. 2017-09-18. dead.
  54. Web site: State Motto Timeline . State of Oregon . 2009-02-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070810103500/http://www.leg.state.or.us/history/motto.htm . 2007-08-10 .
  55. Web site: Symbols. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 2009-02-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090122180951/http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/pahist/symbols.asp?secid=31 . 2009-01-22.
  56. Web site: Escudo de Puerto Rico. Government of Puerto Rico. es. 2011-04-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20110626200032/http://www2.pr.gov/SobrePuertoRico/SimbolosNacionales/Pages/Escudo.aspx. 2011-06-26. dead.
  57. Web site: Description. March 16, 2009. Welcome to Puerto Rico. 2009-04-10. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225019/http://www.topuertorico.org/descrip.shtml. live.
  58. Web site: State Symbols. State of Rhode Island. 2009-02-10. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225012/https://www.ri.gov/facts/factsfigures.php. live.
  59. Web site: Seals, Flags, House & Senate Emblems. State of South Carolina. 2009-04-10. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225039/https://www.scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/coolstuff/seal.shtml. live.
  60. Web site: Signs and Symbols of South Dakota . State of South Dakota . 2009-02-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080220004837/http://www.state.sd.us/state/sdsym.htm . 2008-02-20 .
  61. Web site: Tennessee Symbols And Honors. Tennessee Blue Book. State of Tennessee. 2009-02-10. 2017-12-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041539/http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/07-08/46-Symbols. live.
  62. Web site: Texas State Symbols. Texas State Library. 2009-02-10. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225130/https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/symbols.html%20. live.
  63. Web site: Utah State Motto and Emblem. State of Utah. 2009-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20200122150652/https://onlinelibrary.utah.gov/research/utah_symbols/motto.html. 2020-01-22.
  64. Web site: Great Seal of the State of Utah. State of Utah. 2009-04-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20090331121812/http://www.utah.gov/capitolbuilding/greatseal.html . 2009-03-31.
  65. Web site: 491. Coat of arms; crest; motto and badge. The Vermont Statutes Online. State of Vermont. 2015-04-10. 2018-08-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20180810235513/https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/01/011/00491. live.
  66. Web site: S.2. Vermont Legislature. 2015-04-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150416012829/http://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2016/Docs/BILLS/S-0002/S-0002%20As%20Passed%20by%20Both%20House%20and%20Senate%20Official.pdf. 2015-04-16. dead.
  67. Web site: NECN. After Confusion and Controversy, Vermont Gets New Latin Motto. Thurston. Jack. 10 April 2015. 11 April 2015. 15 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415220301/https://www.necn.com/news/politics/After-Confusion-and-Controversy-Vermont-Gets-New-Latin-Motto-299379711.html. live.
  68. Web site: State Symbols, Seals and Emblems . November 12, 2008 . Commonwealth of Virginia . 2009-02-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090115165637/https://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?FeatureID=138 . January 15, 2009 .
  69. Web site: Legislative Seal. Legislature of the Virgin Islands. 2009-02-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216024507/http://www.legvi.org/LEGVI2007/history.htm . 2008-12-16.
  70. Web site: Symbols of Washington State. Washington State Legislature. August 16, 2018. September 24, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090924041842/http://leg.wa.gov/Symbols/Pages/default.aspx. live.
  71. Web site: State Seal of West Virginia. State of West Virginia. 2009-02-14. 2018-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225027/http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Educational/Kids_Page/5.html. live.
  72. Web site: Wisconsin State Symbols . Wisconsin Blue Book . State of Wisconsin . 2009-02-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090227075257/http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07bb/pdf/961-966.pdf . 2009-02-27 .
  73. Web site: Great Seal. Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. 2009-02-14. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081127134359/http://vote.wyoming.gov/SecretaryDesk/SD-GreatSeal.aspx. 2008-11-27.

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