#state mottos

“Of course you know, this means war...”

4. Hawai'i: Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)

Honorable mentions:

Maryland: Fatti maschi, parole femine ("Manly deeds, womanly" words or, as currently officially interpreted, "Strong deeds, gentle words").

Mississippi: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)

North Carolina: Esse quam videri (To be, rather than to seem)

South Dakota: Under God the people rule

West Virginia: Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)

Montani semper liberi

On February 21, 1893, the General Assembly adopted Esse Quam Videri as the official state motto.  Translated from Latin, the phrase means “To be rather than to seem.”

[pictured: An illustration featuring our state motto from Our State Magazine.]

The phrase is a quote from the De Amicitia, an essay on friendship by the Roman author and politician Cicero that dates to 44 B.C.  Similar sentiments can found in early texts by the Greek poet Eschylus and the philosopher Socrates

Noted Halifax County judge and historian Walter Clark first selected the phrase and drafted the bill for the General Assembly to consider.

Nash County Senator Jacob Battle first introduced it.  At the time of its adoption, North Carolina was one of a few states across the country, and the only of 13 original states, without an official motto.

Though North Carolina had never had an official motto during statehood, Quae Sera Tamen Respexit appeared on the colonial seal.  That phrase, which means “Which, though late, looked upon me” in Latin, referred to the figure of Liberty which then, as today, also appeared on the seal.

Explore other North Carolina state symbols with articles, an interactive timeline and other features on NCpedia.

President Trump called New Hampshire ‘A Drug Infested Den.’ Look for that to replace “Live Free Or Die” as the state motto or one of these:

Live Free and High

The Gramite State

The Ohio of the Northeast

Welcome to New Hempshire

Everybody Must Be Stoned

Lower Taxes, Higher Citizens

Where Massachusetts Parties

Trump Drug Infested Den and Resort

Epic

Kansas: Ad Astra per Aspera (To the stars through difficulties) 

Oregon: Alis volat propriis (She flies with her own wings)

North Dakota: Serit ut alteri saeclo prosit (One sows for the benefit of another age)

South Carolina: Dum spiro spero Animis opibusque parati ( While I breathe, I hope Ready in soul and resource)

Massachusets: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem ( By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)

Did you even try?

Tennessee: Agriculture and Commerce

Wisconsin: Forward

Maine: Dirigo (I lead)

Montana: Oro y Plata ( Gold and Silver)

Michigan: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice ( If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you)

WTF (What does that even mean? AKA, That’s what she said jokes)

California: Eureka (I have found it)

New York: Excelsior (Ever Upward)

Washington: Al-ki (By and by)

New Mexico: Crecsit eundo (It grows as it goes)