A good state motto should make a big statement, encapsulating its ideals and its essence.

Does your state's motto reflect its true story?



#01

Alabama:
Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere

Latin for “We dare maintain our rights,” the motto was meant to
“interpret the spirit of our peoples in a terse and energetic sentence,”
said Marie Bankhead Owen in 1939, when she was director of Alabama’s state archives.
Owen was the one who came up with the motto after finding the sentiment in an
18th-century poem by Sir William Jones called “What Constitutes a State?”
The full quote it was taken from reads: “Men who their duties know, but know their rights,
and knowing, dare maintain.” The motto was then translated into Latin
by a professor from the University of Alabama.






#02

Arizona:
Ditat Deus

Arizona’s state motto translates from Latin to “God enriches,” and therein lies a land mine.
While no one is disputing that this should be Arizona’s motto, there’s been a battle afoot to
keep the motto out of public-school classrooms. It’s not the word God that offends people
who have an issue. They object to the fact that it implies that God is active in our affairs,
rather than just being someone “we trust” (as in “In God We Trust”).




#03

Alaska:
North to the Future

Alaska’s motto, “North to the Future,” was created by Richard Peter, a newsman from
Juneau, Alaska. It’s meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise, and it was adopted
in 1967 during the 100th anniversary of the Alaska Purchase.
If you’re thinking of relocating, you might want to consider this state.
Believe it or not, Alaska will pay you more than $1,000 a year to live there.





#04

Arkansas:
Regnant Populus

Latin for “The people rule,” this motto doesn’t stir much controversy (compared with, say, Arizona’s).
And South Dakota’s, as you’ll see, is just a tweak away from this. While the origin of the phrase
is unknown, some say it was promoted by the recording clerk of the first territorial assembly,
Samuel Calhoun Roane. It was adopted in 1864, albeit in the form of Regnant Populi, which
can be loosely translated as “Some people rule.” In 1907,
Acting Governor Xenophon O. Pindall changed it to Regnant Populus to make it more egalitarian.





#05


California:
Eureka

Eureka is a Greek word that means “I found it.” The word has appeared on California’s state
seal since 1849 and was probably intended to refer to the discovery of gold in California.
The origin of the word itself goes way: Archimedes, the famed Greek mathematician,
is said to have exclaimed “Eureka!” when he discovered a method of determining the
purity of gold. Despite appearing on California’s seal for more than a century,
the word didn’t become the state’s official motto until 1963.




#06

Colorado:
Nil Sine Numine

This motto first appeared on Colorado’s Territorial Seal and means something along
the lines of “Nothing Without Providence.” Providence, of course, doesn’t refer to the
Rhode Island city. Instead, it refers to a higher spiritual power—possibly (probably) God.
Jokesters during Colorado’s early mining days liked to play with the words to say,
“Nothing without a new mine.”




#07

Connecticut:
Qui Transtulit Sustinet

“He who transplanted still sustains” is the translation of Connecticut’s motto, and it has been
associated with the geographical area where Connecticut lies since the early days of
Saybrook Colony in the 17th century. As to what it means, former State Librarian Charles J. Hoadly
pointed to the 80th Psalm as a possible source.
It reads, “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.”




#08

Delaware:
Liberty and Independence

Delaware’s motto, “Liberty and Independence,” was derived from the Order of Cincinnati,
a hereditary organization of American Revolutionary War officers. It first appeared on the
state’s seal in 1847 as an expression of the ideals of American government.




#09

Florida:
In God We Trust

Florida has had an official state motto only since 2006. It’s “In God We Trust,”
which is the same as that of the United States. It’s also a variation on what has
been part of Florida’s state seal since 1868: “In God Is Our Trust.”





#10

Georgia:
Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation

Georgia doesn’t have an official motto. But in 1799, when the legislature adopted a new state seal,
it featured an arch with word constitution, supported by three pillars. Each pillar was encircled
by a word: wisdom, justice, and moderation. Historian Lawton B. Evans has suggested that this
represents the three branches of government: legislative (wisdom), judicial (justice),
and executive (moderation). These concepts, along with courage, dovetail with the four
cardinal virtues that Plato associated with government.
While the word courage doesn’t appear, it’s possible that the image of a man
with a drawn sword represents this idea.




#11

Hawaii:
Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono

Hawaii and Washington are the only two states whose mottoes are in an indigenous language.
Hawaii’s motto translates to: “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Experts suggest that this is a call to “do good things.” It came from a speech made by
King Kamehameha III in 1843, in response to Hawaii’s victory over five months of British rule.





#12

Idaho:
Esto Perpetua

Idaho’s state motto is Latin for “Be eternal,” which is a call for Idaho to endure forever,
according to Idaho’s state government.
It was chosen the same year Idaho was admitted to the Union (1890).




#13

Illinois:
State Sovereignty, National Union

“State sovereignty” and “national union” are the twin concepts underlying the organization
of the United States, as expressed in the Constitution. These words had been part of the
Illinois state seal since 1818, but as the 19th century progressed, along with the debate
over the abolishment of slavery, these notions would do battle, particularly in Illinois.
This was something that Stephen A. Douglas and his arch political rival, Abraham Lincoln, debated.





#14

Indiana:
Crossroads of America

A 1937 General Assembly resolution made “Crossroads of America” the Indiana state motto.
It was a reference to the fact that Indiana was (and still is) literally the place where numerous state
and national highways intersect.
Indiana is also within a day’s drive for at least two-thirds of the American population.





#15

Iowa:
Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain

Since 1847, Iowa’s state motto has been: “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain.”
But there are some in Iowa who feel that this is no longer the best image for Iowa to portray,
calling it a “rallying cry for political activists and traditionalists” alike. Others believe that it’s in
line with Iowa’s image as one that’s focused on appreciating the law
and acknowledging it as the source of liberty.






#16

Kansas:
Ad Astra Per Aspera

When translated from Latin, Kansas’s motto means: “To the stars through difficulties.”
It was adopted in 1861, and according to the Office of the Governor of Kansas, it
“refers not only to the pioneering spirit of the early settlers, but also the difficult times
Kansas went through before becoming a state.”





#17

Kentucky:
United We Stand, Divided We Fall; Deo Gratiam Habeamus

On December 20, 1792, six months after Kentucky entered the Union, the first
Kentucky General Assembly adopted the official seal of the Commonwealth,
including a state motto. Inspired by a popular song from 1768 called “The Liberty Song,”
the motto is “United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” although it is often shortened to
“United We Stand.” But in 2002, Kentucky’s legislature decided that Kentucky needed
a Latin motto as well and came up with “Deo Gratiam Habeamus,” which means
“Let us be grateful to God.”






#18

Louisiana:
Union, Justice, Confidence

The Louisiana state motto is said to reflect the “unity of purpose presumably experienced
by all of Louisiana’s residents, and their collective confidence in the power of justice.”
Adopted in 1902, it appears on both the state flag and great seal.





#19

Maine:
Dirigo

Adopted in 1820, Maine’s motto, which translates from Latin to “I direct” or “I guide,”
is depicted by an image of the North Star, which always points “true north.” Why?
The underlying idea is that just as the North Star guides sailors home,
Maine guides its citizens toward patriotism.






#20

Maryland:
Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine

Maryland’s state motto is the subject of controversy, primarily because no one
can agree on how it should be translated into English, according to the Washington Post.
Initially, it was translated as: “Men do things, women talk about things.” By 1959,
that had rankled enough people for the Maryland legislature to change it to:
“Deeds are manly, words are womanly.” Still not quite right in the minds of many,
the translation was changed yet again in 1979 to what it still is today:
“Manly deeds, womanly words.” That’s still not quite right, according to some,
who believe it should read, “Strong deeds, gentle words,”
leaving gender out of it altogether.




More coming,,,