US State Mottos

State mottos are powerful expressions of each state's values, history, and aspirations. These official statements, often in Latin, English, or other languages, appear on state seals and serve as enduring symbols of state identity.

Many state mottos were adopted during their founding or statehood, while others have been updated to reflect modern values. Some are drawn from classical literature, while others were created specifically for the state.

State Mottos Directory

State Motto Translation Year Adopted
Alabama Audemus jura nostra defendere We dare defend our rights 1939
Alaska North to the Future — 1967
Arizona Ditat Deus God enriches 1863
Arkansas Regnat populus The people rule 1907
California Eureka I have found it 1849
Colorado Nil sine numine Nothing without providence 1861
Connecticut Qui transtulit sustinet He who transplanted sustains 1788
Delaware Liberty and Independence — 1847
Florida In God We Trust — 2006
Georgia Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation — 1799
Hawaii Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness 1959
Idaho Esto perpetua Let it be perpetual 1890
Illinois State Sovereignty, National Union — 1819
Indiana The Crossroads of America — 1937
Iowa Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain — 1847
Kansas Ad astra per aspera To the stars through difficulties 1861
Kentucky United we stand, divided we fall — 1792
Louisiana Union, justice, confidence — 1902
Maine Dirigo I direct 1820
Maryland Fatti maschii, parole femine Manly deeds, womanly words 1632
Massachusetts Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty 1775
Michigan Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you 1835
Minnesota L'étoile du Nord The Star of the North 1861
Mississippi Virtute et armis By valor and arms 1894
Missouri Salus populi suprema lex esto Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law 1822
Montana Oro y plata Gold and silver 1865
Nebraska Equality before the law — 1867
Nevada All for our country — 1866
New Hampshire Live free or die — 1945
New Jersey Liberty and prosperity — 1777
New Mexico Crescit eundo It grows as it goes 1912
New York Excelsior Ever upward 1778
North Carolina Esse quam videri To be, rather than to seem 1893
North Dakota Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable — 1889
Ohio With God, all things are possible — 1959
Oklahoma Labor omnia vincit Labor conquers all things 1907
Oregon Alis volat propriis She flies with her own wings 1987
Pennsylvania Virtue, liberty, and independence — 1778
Rhode Island Hope — 1664
South Carolina Dum spiro spero While I breathe, I hope 1776
South Dakota Under God the people rule — 1885
Tennessee Agriculture and Commerce — 1801
Texas Friendship — 1930
Utah Industry — 1896
Vermont Freedom and Unity — 1788
Virginia Sic semper tyrannis Thus always to tyrants 1776
Washington Alki By and by 1889
West Virginia Montani semper liberi Mountaineers are always free 1863
Wisconsin Forward — 1851
Wyoming Equal rights — 1890

Interesting Motto Facts

Language Distribution

About 20 states have Latin mottos, while others use English, Spanish, French, Native American, or Hawaiian languages.

Oldest Motto

Maryland's motto, adopted in 1632, is the oldest state motto in the United States.

Newest Motto

Florida's motto "In God We Trust" was officially adopted in 2006, making it the most recently adopted state motto.

Shortest Motto

Rhode Island has the shortest state motto with just one word: "Hope".

Common Themes in State Mottos

Liberty & Freedom

  • New Hampshire - "Live free or die"
  • West Virginia - "Mountaineers are always free"
  • Massachusetts - "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty"

Progress & Growth

  • New York - "Excelsior (Ever upward)"
  • Wisconsin - "Forward"
  • New Mexico - "It grows as it goes"

Religious References

  • Florida - "In God We Trust"
  • Ohio - "With God, all things are possible"
  • Arizona - "God enriches"

Virtue & Character

  • North Carolina - "To be, rather than to seem"
  • Oklahoma - "Labor conquers all things"
  • South Carolina - "While I breathe, I hope"