State mottos are a common type of state symbol in the US, with every state having one. Many mottos predate the state, with Rhode Island’s “Hope” dating back to 1664. Mottos are often in other languages, with Latin being the most common. They make statements about the state’s identity, with some expressing religious or political views, while others refer to location or natural features. Some states have multiple mottos.
US states are associated with a wide variety of different symbols, including state flags, anthems, animals, and even gemstones. One of the most common types of state symbol is the state motto. Every state in the union has a motto, as do several territories and the District of Columbia.
State mottos have been a part of American identity for centuries. Several actually predate the state. Rhode Island’s motto, “Hope,” was adopted by the colony’s general assembly in 1664, and was in use even earlier. Similarly, Connecticut’s motto, “Qui transtulit sustinet”, (“He who has a transplant sustains”) was first adopted in 1662. The oldest motto in the United States is not a state motto but the motto of the territory of Puerto Rico, ” Joannes Est Nomen Ejus” or “John is his name”, adopted in 1511 by the Spanish rulers of the island.
Many states have mottos in other languages. The most common is Latin, used in the mottos of 22 states. California’s state motto is in Greek, while the mottos of Maryland, Minnesota, and Montana are in Italian, French, and Spanish, respectively. Washington’s state motto, “Al-ki” or “and by,” is Chinook slang, a trade language used by Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest. The motto of Hawaii, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono” (“The life of the earth continues in righteousness”) is in Hawaiian.
A state motto usually makes a statement of some sort about the perceived identity of the state. Many express religious sentiments, while others express political views. For example, Missouri’s motto is “Salus populi suprema lex esto” or “Let the welfare of the people be the highest law,” while New Hampshire’s state motto is “Live free or die.” Others refer to state location or natural features, such as Minnesota’s “L’etoile du Nord” (“The North Star”) state motto, or Michigan’s “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice” (“If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you”). Still others express inspirational sentiments such as Oregon’s “Labor omnia vincit” (“Work conquers all”) or Maryland’s “Fatti maschii, parole femine” (“Male deeds, feminine words”).
Some states have more than one motto. For example, Kentucky has both an English motto, “United we stand, divided we fall,” and a Latin motto, “Deo gratiam habeamus” (“We are thankful to God”). North Dakota and South Carolina also have multiple mottos.
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