2023-03-05 08:00:00
Every state is different, and each distinguishes itself by its natural landmarks, attractions and symbols. Along with a state nickname, the 50 states are known by individual mottos that represent their founding or key features.
The United States has a national motto of its own. “In God We Trust” is the U.S. motto, reaffirmed by the House in 2011. But several other mottos have found their place in the national lexicon, one such is “Out of many, one” or “Out of many, one.” President Barack Obama referred to the Latin phrase as the national motto in a speech in 2010.
Here’s what you should know about the state motto for each state:
Alabama
Alabama’s state motto is “We dare defend our rights,” a Latin phrase that translates to “We dare maintain our rights.”
Alaska
Alaska’s state motto is “North to the Future,” chosen in 1967 during the Alaska Purchase Centennial to represent “Alaska as a land of promise.”
Arizona
“God enriches” is Arizona’s state motto, which means “God enriches.”
Arkansas
Arkansas’ state motto is “The populace rules,” which translates from Latin to “The people rule.”
California
“Eureka” has been California’s state motto since 1963, but the word has appeared on the state seal since 1849 as a reference to the discovery of gold in California.
Colorado
Colorado’s motto is “Nothing without the power,” which translates from Latin to “Nothing without providence or deity.”
Connecticut
Connecticut’s state motto is “He that hath transmigrated shall endure,” which means “He who transplanted still sustains.” According to Connecticut’s state government site, possible origins trace to the psalm “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.”
Delaware
Delaware’s state motto has been “Liberty and Independence” since 1847. The state also adopted a tourist slogan in 2015, “Delaware: Endless Discoveries.”
District of Columbia
Though technically not a state, Washington, D.C. still has a motto: “Justice for all,” which means “Justice for All.”
Florida
Florida’s motto is the same as the nation’s motto: “In God We Trust.”
Georgia
Georgia’s state motto appears as three pillars on its state seal: “Wisdom, Justice and Moderation.”
Hawaii
Hawaii’s state motto comes from King Kamehameha III in 1843 and was uttered as the Hawaiian flag rose again after a brief period of British occupation: “The air of the country is still in good condition,” or “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Idaho
Idaho’s state motto is “This perpetuates,” which translates to “Let it be perpetual,” “It is forever” or “Be eternal.”
Illinois
Illinois’ state motto is “State Sovereignty, National Union.”
Indiana
Since 1937, Indiana’s state motto has been “The Crossroads of America.”
Iowa
Iowa’s state motto is “Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.”
Kansas
Kansas’ state motto “Ad astra per aspera” means “To the stars through difficulties” and is aptly illustrated on the state seal, which depicts a farm below a sky of stars.
Kentucky
Kentucky’s state motto is “United we stand, divided we fall.” It comes from “Liberty Song” by John Dickinson, a song from 1768 that Kentucky’s first governor was fond of. Kentucky also has an official Latin motto, “Let us give thanks to God,” or “Let us be grateful to God.”
Louisiana
Louisiana’s state motto is “Union, Justice, Confidence.”
Maine
Maine’s state motto is “I direct,” which means “I direct” or “I guide.”
Maryland
Maryland’s state motto is an Italian proverb: “Male deeds, female words” which generally translates to “strong deeds, gentle words,” the state of Maryland says. The saying dates to Calvert family, the Roman Catholic founders of the Maryland colony. But according to literary translator Antony Shugaar, the phrase more closely translates to “manly deeds, womanly words.”
Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ state motto since 1775 is “The sword seeks a peaceful rest under liberty.” which is Latin for “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”
Michigan
Michigan also has a Latin state motto, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula look around,” translating to “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”
Minnesota
“The North star” is Minnesota’s state nickname, which is a French phrase meaning “Star of the North.”
Mississippi
Mississippi’s state motto is “Power and weapons,” which means “By valor and arms.”
Missouri
“Safety of the people be the supreme law” is Missouri’s state motto. The exact translation has been debated but was originally intended to mean “Let the good of the people be the supreme law,” as proposed by William Wells in 1847 when he designed the state seal. Today, the Secretary of State’s office says it means “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.”
Montana
Montana’s state motto is “Gold and silver,” which is Spanish for “Gold and Silver.” This motto is in tandem with Montana’s state nickname, “The Treasure State,” both named for the state’s mineral wealth.
Nebraska
Nebraska’s official state motto is “Equality Before the Law.”
Nevada
Nevada’s state motto is “All for Our Country.”
New Hampshire
Perhaps one of the most prominent state mottos across residents’ license plates, hats, shirts, flags and other state memorabilia is New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die,” which comes from a statement written by Revolutionary General John Stark.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s state motto is “Liberty and Prosperity.” The state also voted on the slogan “New Jersey: Come See For Yourself” in 2006 to attract tourists.
New Mexico
New Mexico’s state motto is “Increases,” which translates from Latin to “It grows as it goes.”
New York
If you’ve ever seen the movie “Silver Linings Playbook,” you may know this one. New York’s state motto is “Excelsior,” which translates to “Ever Upward.”
North Carolina
North Carolina’s state motto is “Be seen,” meaning “To be, rather than to seem.”
North Dakota
“Liberty and Union Now and Forever, One and Inseparable” is North Dakota’s state motto. According to ND.gov, this was also the motto of the Dakota Territory, the unorganized states of North and South Dakota prior to 1889.
Ohio
Ohio’s state motto is “With God, All Things Are Possible,” decided after a 12-year-old boy won a contest to select the motto in the 1950s. The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state of Ohio in 1997, saying this motto was a violation of the separation of church and state. But the motto remained when the district court judge ruled that it didn’t make reference to any one religion and was a generic reference to God.
Oklahoma
Oklahomans know “Work conquers all” or “Work conquers all” as the phrase on the state seal, but it technically isn’t defined as the state’s official motto. In fact, only 38% of Oklahoma residents could identify the motto, a 2021 survey found. A 2012 Oklahoma House resolution even tried to establish “In God We Trust,” the national motto, as Oklahoma’s as well. And in 2021, Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall proposed an $85,000 bill to prominently display the phrase on state buildings.
Oregon
“She Flies With Her Own Wings” has been Oregon’s state motto since 1987. Before that, it was “The Union.”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s state motto is “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence.”
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s state motto is a single word: “Hope.” The state also created the slogan “Rhode Island: Cooler and Warmer” in 2016 to garner tourists but quickly attracted backlash on social media.
South Carolina
South Carolina has two state mottos that appear on the state seal in two ovals. The first is “Minds Ready for anything” meaning “Prepared in mind and resources” and the second is “While I Breathe I Hope,” which means “While I breathe I hope.”
South Dakota
South Dakota’s state motto is “Under God the People Rule.” The state also has a motto that accompanies its state flower, the American Pasque. According to the state’s official site, “I lead” is the floral emblem motto.
Tennessee
Tennessee’s state motto has been “Agriculture and Commerce” since 1801 because of the state’s large agriculture sector.
Texas
Texas’ state motto is also a one-word wonder: “Friendship.” According to the Texas State Historical Association, the word was chosen in 1930 because the state name came roughly from a Caddo Indian word translating to “friends.”
Utah
Utah’s state motto is “Industry.” According to Utah History Encyclopedia, the motto became official in 1959 and was chosen because of its connection with the beehive symbol, also in Utah’s state nickname.
Vermont
Vermont’s state motto is “Freedom and Unity” as displayed on the state seal.
Virginia
“Thus always to tyrants” is Virginia’s state motto. The Latin phrase means “Thus always to tyrants.”
Washington
Washington has a territorial motto, but it’s never been formally adopted by the legislature, its state government site says. “Al-ki” or “Alki” is a Chinook word that means “Bye and Bye” or “By and By.”
West Virginia
West Virginia’s state motto is “Mountaineers are always free,” which is Latin for “Mountaineers are always free.” A 2007 vote also established “Wild, Wonderful” as West Virginia’s state slogan.
Wisconsin
“Forward” is Wisconsin’s state motto, chosen in 1851 when the state seal and coat of arms were revised.
Wyoming
Wyoming’s state motto is “Equal Rights.” The state is also nicknamed “Equality State,” as it was the first territory in the U.S. to give women the right to vote.
Discover more unique symbols for your state:
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