List of U.S. state mottos

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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Minnesota L'étoile du Nord (Official state motto) / Quae sursum volo videre (Territorial motto never repealed) (French, "The star of the North") / (Latin, "I long to see what is beyond")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


  1. ^ Official Alabama Motto. Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History (2006-04-27). Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
  2. ^ Official Alabama State Coat of Arms. Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History (2006-04-27). Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
  3. ^ According to Official state law. Accessed February 26, 2007.
  4. ^ Symbols of Washington State. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
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