List of U.S. state and territory mottos
Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States of America. 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) | Language | Year and citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alabama |
Audemus jura nostra defendere | We Dare Defend Our Rights | Latin | 1939[1][2] |
 Alaska |
North to the future | English | 1967[3] | |
 Arizona |
Ditat Deus | God enriches | Latin | |
 Arkansas |
Regnat populus | The people rule | Latin | |
 California |
Eureka | I have found it | Greek | [4] |
 Colorado |
Nil sine numine | Nothing without God's will | Latin | |
 Connecticut |
Qui transtulit sustinet | He who transplanted sustains | Latin | |
 Delaware |
Liberty and Independence | English | ||
 Florida |
In God We Trust | English | ||
 Georgia |
Wisdom, justice, and moderation | English | ||
 Hawaii |
Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono | The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness | Hawaiian | |
 Idaho |
Esto perpetua | Let it be perpetual | Latin | |
 Illinois |
State sovereignty, national union | English | ||
 Indiana |
The Crossroads of America | English | ||
 Iowa |
Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain | English | ||
 Kansas |
Ad astra per aspera | To the stars through adversity | Latin | |
 Kentucky |
United we stand, divided we fall Deo gratiam habeamus |
Let us be grateful to God |
Latin | 1942 2002[5] |
 Louisiana |
Union, justice, et confiance | Union, justice, and confidence | French | |
 Maine |
Dirigo | I lead | Latin | |
 Maryland |
Fatti maschi, parole femmine | Manly deeds, womanly words | Italian | |
 Massachusetts |
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem | By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty | Latin | |
 Michigan |
Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice Tuebor |
If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you I will defend (Latin) |
Latin | |
 Minnesota |
L'étoile du Nord (Official state motto) Quae sursum volo videre (Territorial motto never repealed) |
The star of the North I long to see what is beyond |
French Latin |
|
 Mississippi |
Virtute et armis | By valor and arms | Latin | |
 Missouri |
Salus populi suprema lex esto | The Welfare of the People is the Highest Law | Latin | |
 Montana |
Oro y plata | Gold and silver | Spanish | |
 Nebraska |
Equality before the law | English | ||
 Nevada |
All for our country | English | ||
 New Hampshire |
Live Free or Die | English | ||
 New Jersey |
Liberty and prosperity | English | ||
 New Mexico |
Crescit eundo | It grows as it goes | Latin | |
 New York |
Excelsior | Ever upward! | Latin | |
 North Carolina |
Esse quam videri | To be rather than to seem | Latin | 1893[6] |
 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 |
English | |
 Ohio |
With God, all things are possible | English | ||
 Oklahoma |
Labor omnia vincit | Labor conquers all things | Latin | |
 Oregon |
Alis volat propriis, and The Union | She flies with her own wings | Latin | |
 Pennsylvania |
Virtue, Liberty, and Independence | English | ||
 Rhode Island |
Hope[7] | English | ||
 South Carolina |
Dum spiro spero Animis opibusque parati |
While I breathe, I hope Ready in soul and resource |
Latin | [8][9] |
 South Dakota |
Under God the people rule | English | ||
 Tennessee |
Agriculture and commerce | English | ||
 Texas |
Friendship (Caddo, Tejas) Remember The Alamo !! (Republic of Texas motto - never repealed) |
English | ||
 Utah |
Industry | English | 1959[10] | |
 Vermont |
Freedom and Unity | English | ||
 Virginia |
Sic semper tyrannis | Thus always to tyrants | Latin | |
 Washington |
Al-ki (unofficial) | By and by | Chinook Jargon | [11] |
 West Virginia |
Montani semper liberi | Mountaineers are always free | Latin | |
 Wisconsin |
Forward | English | ||
 Wyoming |
Equal Rights | English |
| Territory | Motto | Translation (if applicable) | Language | Year and citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Samoa |
Samoa, Muamua Le Atua | Samoa, Let God Be First | Samoan | |
 District of Columbia |
Justitia Omnibus | Justice for All | Latin | |
 Guam |
Where America's Day Begins | English | ||
 Puerto Rico |
Juan es su nombre | John is his name - in honor of John the Baptist |
Spanish | |
 Virgin Islands |
United in Pride and Hope | English |
References
- ^ "Official Alabama Motto". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ "Official Alabama State Coat of Arms". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ According to Alaska Office of Economic Development. Accessed July 01, 2008.
- ^ According to Official state law. Accessed February 26, 2007.
- ^ Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Accessed August 12, 2007.
- ^ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Rhode Island Office of the Secretary of State".
- ^ "SC Statehouse Student's web page, State Mottos". Retrieved 2007-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Text "publisher = South Carolina General Assembly" ignored (help) - ^ "SC Statehouse Student's web page, State Seal". Retrieved 2007-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Text "publisher = South Carolina General Assembly" ignored (help) - ^ Utah State Motto and Emblem from pioneer.utah.gov "Pioneer: Utah's Online Library" page. Retrieved on 2008-09-08
- ^ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2007-03-11.