List of U.S. state mottos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. To promote tourism, states also establish state slogans, which are unofficial and change more often than state mottos. A separate list of U.S. state slogans is also available, as well as a list of U.S. state nicknames.
Mottos for countries are listed separately.
| State | Motto | Translation (If applicable) | Year & Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Audemus jura nostra defendere | (Latin, "We dare to defend our rights") | 1939[1][2] |
| Alaska | North to the future | ||
| Arizona | Ditat Deus | (Latin, "God enriches") | |
| Arkansas | Regnat populus | (Latin, "The people rule") | |
| California | Eureka | (Greek, "I have found it") | [3] |
| 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 justice | ||
| Florida | In God we trust | ||
| Georgia | Wisdom, justice, and moderation | ||
| Hawaii | Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina 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 adversity") | |
| Kentucky | English: United we stand, divided we fall Latin: Deo gratiam habeamus |
(Latin, "Let us give thanks to God"; adopted in 2002) |
|
| Louisiana | Union, justice, and confidence | ||
| Maine | Dirigo | (Latin, "I direct") | |
| Maryland | Fatti maschi, parole femmine | (Italian, "Manly deeds, womanly 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 be defended") | |
| Minnesota | L'étoile du Nord (Official state motto) / Quae sursum volo videre (Territorial motto never repealed) | (French, "The star of the North") / (Latin, "I long to see what is beyond") | |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, "Labor conquers all things") | |
| Oregon | Alis volat propriis, and The Union | (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 | ||
| Utah | Industry | ||
| Vermont | Freedom and Unity | ||
| Virginia | Sic semper tyrannis | (Latin, "Thus always to tyrants") | |
| Washington | Al-ki (unofficial) | (Chinook Jargon, "By and by") | [4] |
| West Virginia | Montani semper liberi | (Latin, "Mountaineers are always free") | |
| Wisconsin | Forward | ||
| Wyoming | Equal rights |
| 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 |
- ^ Official Alabama Motto. Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History (2006-04-27). Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
- ^ Official Alabama State Coat of Arms. Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History (2006-04-27). Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
- ^ According to Official state law. Accessed February 26, 2007.
- ^ Symbols of Washington State. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved on March 11, 2007.