State Mottoes Expressed in Latin
Arizona
Arizona's motto, Ditat Deus, meaning God enriches, is in all probability derived from Genesis 14:23 of the Latin Vulgate Version of the Bible.
Arkansas
The motto of Arkansas is Regnat Populus, which means The People Rule.The source of this phrase is unknown.
Colorado
Colorado's motto, Nil Sine Numine, meaning Nothing without the Diety, is drawn from Virgil's Aeneid, Book II, line 777. The Latin reads: ...non haec sine numine devum Eveniunt.
Connecticut
The motto of Connecticut, Qui Transtulit Sustinet, means He who transplanted continues to sustain. It is an adaptation of Psalms 79:3 of the Latin Vulgate Version of the Bible, which reads, de Aegypto transtulisti, Ejicisti gentes et Plantasti eam.
The District of Columbia
The motto of Washington, D.C., is Justitia Omnibus, which denotes Justice to all.
Idaho
The state motto of Idaho, Esto Perpetua, meaning Mayest thou endure forever!, is, according to W. Francis H. King in his Classical and Foreign Quotations (J. Whitacker and Sons, Ltd., London, 1904, p. 90),supposed dying apostrophe of Pietro Sarpi (Fra Paolo) in speaking of his beloved Venice.
Kansas
The motto of Kansas is Ad Astra Per Aspera, signifying To the stars through difficulties. It was probably formed by the combination of the ideas and words of two passages from Virgil's Aeneid: itur ad astra- Book IX, Line 641; ardua pennis astra sequi- Book XII, Lines 892-3.
Maine
Dirigo, meaning I guide, is the State motto of Maine. It alludes to the idea that just as a star guides a sailor home from his seagoing adventures, the State guides its citizens toward the loftiest patriotism.
Maryland
The motto on the reverse of the State seal of Maryland, Scuto Bonae Voluntatis Tuae Coronasti Nos, which means With the shield of thy good-will thou hast covered us, may be found in the Latin Vulgate Version of the Bible, Psalms 5:12. On the same side of the seal is an Italian motto- Fatti Maschii Parole Femine, meaning Manly Deeds, Womanly Words. This is the Calvert motto.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts' State motto, Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem, can be translated as With the sword she seeks peace under liberty. This is attributed to Algernon Sydney (1622-1683), an English political writer, from the complete phrase, ...Manus haec inimica tyrannis Ense petit placidam sub liberate quietam.
Michigan
The State motto of Michigan, Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice, meaning If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you, is said to have been suggested by the mural inscription on the north door of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, which reads, Si Monumentum RequirisCircumspice.
Mississippi
Mississippi's State motto, Virtute Et Armis, meaning by valor and arms, may have been suggested by the motto of Lord Gray De Wilton, Virtute Non Armis Fido.
Missouri
The State motto of Missouri, Salus Popili Suprema Lex Esto, signifying Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law, may be found in Cicero's De Legibus, Book III, Part III, Sub. VIII.
New Mexico
New Mexico's State motto, Crescit Eundo, meaning It grows as it goes, is found in Lucretius' De Rerum Natura, Book VI, Line 341.
New York
New York uses one Latin word, Excelsior, which means Higher, as its motto. This term was first used with reference to the physical, but it has now come to include spiritual, mental, and social progress.
North Carolina
North Carolina's motto, Esse Quam Videri, signifying To be rather than to seem, may be found in Cicero's De Amicitia, Section 26, line 16. The sense in which Cicero used this expression in the De Amicitia is different from that in which the motto is used today. Cicero says, enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt... meaning thereby, indeed not so many wish to be endowed with virtue as wish to seem to be...
Ohio
Between the years 1866 and 1868, the State of Ohio had as a motto, Imperium In Imperio, meaning An empire within an empire. Since the repeal, in 1868, of the law providing this motto, however, this State has had no motto.
Oklahoma
Labor Omnia Vincit, signifying Labor conquers all things, is found in Virgil's Georgics, Book I, Line 145.
Oregon
Oregon's motto, Alis Volat Propriis, meaning She flies with her own wings, was the motto of the Territory of Oregon. This seems to be a corruption of Lines 1141 and 1142 of Seneca's Hippolytus, Act IV. They read, ambiguis Mobilis alis hora.
South Carolina
South Carolina is credited with two mottoes: (1) Animis Opibusque Parati, meaning Ready in soul and resource, found in Virgil's Aeneid, Book II, Line 799, and (2) Dum Spiro, Spero, signifying While I breathe, I hope, which was the motto of the Irish Viscounts Dillion. The latter refers to the figure of Hope on the State seal. Two more Latin mottoes appear on the State seal: (1) Quis separabit?, meaning Who shall separate us?, and (2) Meliorem Lapsa Locavit, which freely translated signifies, He has planted a better than the fallen.
Virginia
Virginia's motto is Sic semper Tyrannis, meaning Thus ever unto tyrants. This is the original motto recommended for the Seal of Virginia by George Mason to the Virginia Convention in 1776. It has no literary origin of note.
West Virginia
The motto of West Virginia is Montani Semper Liberi, meaning Mountaineers are always freemen. It has no literary origin of note.
Wyoming
The State motto of Wyoming, Cedant Arma Togae, signifying Let the arms yield to the gown, may be found in Cicero's De Officiis, Book I, Chapter 22, Line 41.