List of U.S. state mottos
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. To help tourism, states can also make state slogans. State slogans are not official and change more often than state mottos. Here is a list of U.S. state slogans and a list of U.S. state nicknames.
Mottos for countries are listed here.
State | Motto | Translation (If applicable) |
---|---|---|
Alabama | Audemus jura nostra defendere | (Latin, "We dare to defend our rights") |
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") |
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 | |
Georgia | Wisdom, justice, and moderation | |
Hawaii | Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina 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Minnesota | L'étoile du Nord (Official state motto) / Quae sursum volo videre (Territorial motto never repealed) | (French, "The star of the North") / (Latin, "I long to see what is beyond") |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 | 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 | |
Utah | Industry | |
Vermont | Freedom and Unity | |
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 |
[change] District of Columbia and territories owned by the United States
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 |