US State mottoes in Latin

State Mottoes in Latin

Nearly half (twenty-two) of the United States have mottoes in Latin. They are as such:

• Alabama - Audemus iura nostra defendere (we dare to defend our rights)
• Arizona - Ditat Deus (God enriches)
• Arkansas - Regnat populus (the people rule)
• Colorado - Nil sine numine (nothing without divine providence)
• Connecticut - Qui transtulit sustinet (he who transplanted sustains)
• District of Columbia - Justitia omnibus (justice for all)
• Idaho - Esto perpetua (mayest thou endure forever)
• Kansas - Ad astra per aspera (to the stars through difficulties)
• Maine - Dirigo (I guide)
• Maryland - Scuto bonae voluntatis tuae coronasti nos (with the shield of thy goodwill thou hast covered us)
• Massachusetts - Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem (with the sword she seeks peace under liberty)
• Michigan - Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you)
• Mississippi - Virtute et armis (by valor and arms)
• Missouri - Salus populi suprema lex esto (let the welfare of the people be the supreme law)
• New Mexico - Crescit eundo (it grows as it goes)
• New York - Excelsior (higher)
• North Carolina - Esse quam videri (to be rather than to seem)
• Oklahoma - Labor omnia vincit (work conquers all)
• South Carolina - Dum spiro, spero (while I breathe, I hope)
• Virginia - Sic semper tyrannis (thus always to tyrants)
• West Virginia - Montani semper liberi (mountaineers are always free)
• Wyoming - Cedant arma togae (let arms yield to the toga)

Ohio had a Latin motto from 1866 to 1868 ('imperium in imperio', meaning 'an empire within an empire'). In 1868, Ohio repealed the law which had given the state its motto. Since the repeal of the law, Ohio hasn't had a Latin motto.