List of U.S. state and territory mottos

All of the United States' 50 states have a state motto, as do the District of Columbia and 3 of its territories. A motto is a phrase intended to formally describe the general motivation or intention of an organization. State mottos can sometimes be found on state seals or state flags. Some states have officially designated a state motto by an act of the state legislature, whereas other states have the motto only as an element of their seals. The motto of the United States itself is In God We Trust, proclaimed by Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 30, 1956. The motto "" (Latin for 'out of many, one') was approved for use on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, but was never adopted as the national motto through legislative action.

South Carolina has two official mottos, both which are in Latin. Kentucky, North Dakota, and Vermont also have two mottos, one in Latin and the other in English. All other states and territories have only one motto, except for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which do not have any mottos. English and Latin are the most-used languages for state mottos, each used by 25 states and territories. Seven states and territories use another language, of which each language is only used once. Eight states and two territories have their mottos on their state quarter; thirty-eight states and four territories have their mottos on their state seals.

The dates given are, where possible, the earliest date that the motto was used in an official sense. Some state mottos are not official but are on the official state seal; in these cases the adoption date of the seal is given. The earliest use of a current motto is that of Puerto Rico, , granted to the island by the Spanish in 1511.

State, federal district and territory mottos

+ Jurisdiction Motto English translation Language Date Alabama We dare defend our rightsLatin AlaskaNorth to the Future EnglishAmerican Samoa Samoa, let Atua be firstSamoanArizona God enrichesLatinArkansas The people ruleLatinCaliforniaEureka ()I have found itGreekColorado Nothing without providenceLatinConnecticut He who transplanted still sustainsLatinDelawareLiberty and Independence EnglishDistrict of Columbia Justice for allLatinFloridaIn God We Trust EnglishGeorgiaWisdom, Justice, Moderation EnglishGuam HawaiʻiThe life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness/*The sovereignty of the land is perpetuated in righteousness When first said by King Kamehameha III in July 1843, it originally meant "The sovereignty of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." The State of Hawaiʻi's official website translates the saying as "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." In Hawaiian, Ea means life but also sovereignty, leading to this slight difference in translation.HawaiianIdaho Let it be perpetualLatinIllinoisState sovereignty, national union EnglishIndianaCrossroads of America EnglishIowaOur liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain EnglishKansas To the stars through difficultiesLatinKentuckyUnited we stand, divided we fall English Let us be grateful to GodLatin2002The Latin motto was adopted by HB 857 and is defined by KRS 2.105 .LouisianaUnion, justice, confidence EnglishMaine I leadLatinMaryland Strong deeds, gentle words ItalianMassachusettsBy the sword we seek peace, but peace only under libertyLatinMichigan If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about youLatinMinnesota The star of the NorthFrenchMississippi By valor and armsLatinMissouri Let the welfare of the people be the supreme lawLatinMontana Gold and silverSpanishNebraskaEquality before the law EnglishNevadaAll For Our Country EnglishNew HampshireLive Free or Die EnglishNew JerseyLiberty and prosperity EnglishNew Mexico It grows as it goesLatinNew York Ever upwardLatinNorth CarolinaTo be, rather than to seemLatinNorth DakotaLiberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable EnglishKingsbury, George. History of Dakota Territory (1915). Retrieved from the Internet Archive 12 May 2014.One sows for the benefit of another ageLatinNorthern Mariana Islands OhioWith God, all things are possible EnglishOklahomaLabor conquers all thingsLatin OregonShe flies with her own wingsLatinPennsylvaniaVirtue, liberty, and independence EnglishPuerto RicoJohn is his nameLatinRhode IslandHope EnglishSouth CarolinaWhile I breathe, I hopeLatinReady in soul and resourceLatinSouth DakotaUnder God the people rule EnglishTennesseeAgriculture and Commerce EnglishTexasFriendship EnglishUtahIndustry EnglishVermontFreedom and Unity EnglishMay the fourteenth star shine brightLatin Virginia Thus always to tyrantsLatinU.S. Virgin IslandsUnited in Pride and Hope EnglishWashington or (Unofficial)By and byChinook Jargon West Virginia Mountaineers are always freeLatinWisconsinForward EnglishWyomingEqual Rights English

List of U.S. state and territory mottos

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