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 | 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 |
About 20 states have Latin mottos, while others use English, Spanish, French, Native American, or Hawaiian languages.
Maryland's motto, adopted in 1632, is the oldest state motto in the United States.
Florida's motto "In God We Trust" was officially adopted in 2006, making it the most recently adopted state motto.
Rhode Island has the shortest state motto with just one word: "Hope".