List of U.S. state mottos
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This is a list of mottos for the different states of the United States. To help tourism, states can also make state slogans.
| State | Motto | Translation (If applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Audemus jura nostra defendere[1] | (Latin, "We dare to defend our rights" or "We Dare Maintain Our Rights") |
| Alaska | North to the Future | |
| Arizona | Ditat Deus[2] | (Latin, "God enriches") |
| Arkansas | Regnat populus[3] | (Latin, "The people rule") |
| California | Eureka[4] | (Greek, "I have found it") |
| Colorado | Nil sine numine | (Latin, "Nothing without Providence" or "Nothing without the Deity") |
| Connecticut | Qui transtulit sustinet | (Latin, "He who transplanted sustains") |
| Delaware | Liberty and independence | |
| Florida | In God we trust[5] | |
| Georgia | Wisdom, Justice, Moderation | |
| Hawaii | Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Āina i ka Pono | (Hawaiian, "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness") |
| Idaho | Esto perpetua | (Latin, "Let it be perpetual") |
| Illinois | State sovereignty, national union | |
| Indiana | The crossroads of America | |
| Iowa | Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain | |
| Kansas | Ad astra per aspera | (Latin, "To the stars through difficulties") |
| Kentucky | English: United we stand, divided we fall Latin: Deo gratiam habeamus |
(Latin, "Let us be grateful to God"; adopted in 2002) |
| Louisiana | Union, justice, and confidence | |
| Maine | Dirigo | (Latin, "I direct") |
| Maryland | Fatti maschi, parole femmine | (Italian, "Strong deeds, gentle words") |
| Massachusetts | Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem | (Latin, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty") |
| Michigan | Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice / Tuebor | (Latin, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you") / (Latin, "I will defend") |
| Minnesota | L'étoile du Nord (Official state motto) / Quae sursum volo videre (Territorial motto never repealed) | (French, "The star of the North") / (Latin, "I long to see what is beyond") |
| Mississippi | Virtute et armis | (Latin, "By valor and arms") |
| Missouri | Salus populi suprema lex esto | (Latin, "The Welfare of the People is the Highest Law") |
| Montana | Oro y plata | (Spanish, "Gold and silver") |
| Nebraska | Equality before the law | |
| Nevada | All for our country | |
| New Hampshire | Live free or die | |
| New Jersey | Liberty and Prosperity | |
| New Mexico | Crescit eundo | (Latin, "It grows as it goes") |
| New York | Excelsior! | (Latin, "Ever Upward!") |
| North Carolina | Esse quam videri | (Latin, "To be, rather than to seem") |
| North Dakota | Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable / Strength from the soil | Daniel Webster quote used on the Great Seal / motto used on the Coat of Arms |
| Ohio | With God, all things are possible | |
| Oklahoma | Labor omnia vincit | (Latin, "Hard work conquers all things") |
| Oregon | The Union, and Alis volat propriis | (Latin, "She flies with her own wings") |
| Pennsylvania | Virtue, Liberty and Independence | |
| Rhode Island | Hope | |
| South Carolina | Dum spiro spero | (Latin, "While I breathe, I hope") |
| South Dakota | Under God the people rule | |
| Tennessee | Agriculture and commerce | |
| Texas | Friendship[6] | |
| Utah | Industry | |
| Vermont | Freedom and Unity[7] and Stella quarta decima fulgeat | (Latin, "May the 14th star shine bright") |
| Virginia | Sic semper tyrannis | (Latin, "Thus always to tyrants") |
| Washington | Al-ki | (Chinook Jargon, "By and by") |
| West Virginia | Montani semper liberi | (Latin, "Mountaineers are always free") |
| Wisconsin | Forward | |
| Wyoming | Equal Rights |
District of Columbia and United States Territories[change | change source]
| Jurisdiction | Motto | Translation (If applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | Samoa, Muamua Le Atua | (Samoan, "Samoa, Let God be First") |
| District of Columbia | Justitia Omnibus | (Latin, "Justice for all") |
| Puerto Rico | Joannes Est Nomen Eius | (Latin, "John is his name") In honor of San Juan, i.e. John the Baptist |
| Guam | Where America's Day Begins | |
| Virgin Islands | United in Pride and Hope |
Related pages[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Alabama Department of Archives and History, Alabama Emblems: State Motto". Alabama Department of Archives and History. 2014-02-06. Archived from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
Official Alabama State Motto
- ↑ "Arizona Facts / Office of the Arizona Governor". Office of the Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. Archived from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
Above the drawing is the Arizona state motto, Ditat Deus, (Latin for "God Enriches")
- ↑ "Arkansas State Symbols" (PDF). Our State Seal. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
Latin phrase "Regnat Populus", our state motto
- ↑ "California State Library - History and Culture - California State Symbols". State Motto. California State Library. Archived from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
State Motto
- ↑ "State Motto - Florida Department of State". State Motto. Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
"In God We Trust" was adopted by the Florida legislature
- ↑ "SYMBOLS OF TEXAS". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
The state motto of Texas is “Friendship.”
- ↑ "Title 1, chapter 11, section 491. Coat of Arms; Crest; Motto and Badge". Vermont State Statutes. State of Vermont. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
Other websites[change | change source]
- http://www.cco.net/~paz/motto&songs.htm Archived 2008-08-07 at the Wayback Machine
- Kentucky's newer motto