# Mottos (state) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 25, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529 "2001-10-25T13:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/1 "2001-10-25T13:42:22Z")
Was in the toy store the other day. While my son was playing with the train, I grabbeda United States board with mottos on the back. Are these real? Some of em are funny! Alabama: We dare defend our rights(if we dare…) Alaska: North to the future (I thought North led to Antarctica) Arizona: God enriches (I wish!) Arkansas: The people rule (ya! hippie motto, people Rule dude) California: I have found it (est?) Idaho: It is forever (what is?) Kansas: To the stars through difficulties (to the moon alice!) Maryland: Manly deeds, womanly words (NOW loves this one) Massachusetts: By the sword we seek peace (uh…) Michigan: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you (nice. and descriptive) South Carolina: While I breathe, I hope (obviously written by Thurmond) Wisconsin: Forward (or latterally) New Mexico: It grows as it goes (What does?) Are these real? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/2 "2001-10-25T14:02:47Z")
Yup. Of course they usually sound much better in Latin. ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/3 "2001-10-25T14:14:32Z")
in my sig (the one that got in threadspotting :D), i posted a website that had a lot of latin, including mottoes (which also included state mottoes in latin). it’s buried about halfway down, in my first post on the thread. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/4 "2001-10-25T14:53:13Z")
Um, Vanilla, Antarctica is the area around the South Pole… ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/5 "2001-10-25T15:23:58Z")
I think that Montana’s state motto is the one that cuts to the chase fastest. It is _“Oro y Plata”_, which is Spanish for “Gold and Silver”. That’s what’s really important, right? Minnesota’s actually sounds good in both French (the official version) and English. It is _“L’etoile du Nord”_, which means “The Star of the North”. Do any states have official state mottos in English? ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/6 "2001-10-25T15:38:26Z")
What were the ones for Texas and New York? Someone was trying to tell me that it’s “Remember the Alamo” and “I Love NY”, respectively, but something tells me that ain’t right… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/7 "2001-10-25T15:43:54Z")
Michigan also has a tourism motto: “Say YES! to Michigan.” When this got to the UP, it immediately was changed to “Say yah to da U.P., eh!” At this point, I think the UP version of it is a WAY bigger hit than the official version. About 50% of the cars in the UP have this on a bumpersticker on their car. I have one on the wall in my office. Say yah! ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/8 "2001-10-25T15:47:10Z")
New York’s state motto is “Excelsior” (Ever upward) I (heart) NY is the tourism catch-phrase. ---
**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/9 "2001-10-25T15:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamex \* > \*\*Do any states have official state mottos in English? \*\* Well, my favorite is New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die.” Short, simple, English. Definitely not funny, though. I guess sometimes our stereotypes of a place make some mottos sound a bit contrived or out of place, but generally, I like them. One that does make me smile a bit is on the Jefferson County courthouse here in Birmingham. It has two allegorical bas-reliefs above the front entry–one says “Forward” and the one on the other side says “Here We Rest.” Make up your minds, already! 45ACP ---
**Author:** ![SteverinoAlaReno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SteverinoAlaReno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteverinoAlaReno)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/10 "2001-10-25T15:52:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamex \* > \*\*Do any states have official state mottos in English? \*\* Nevada’s is in English: “Battle Born” ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/11 "2001-10-25T16:06:40Z")
Texas’ state motto is “The Friendly State”. “Remember the Alamo” would be a battle cry. In contrast, our anti-littering campaign is “Don’t mess with Texas” ---
**Author:** ![Zappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b3f665/32.png) [@Zappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zappo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/12 "2001-10-25T16:29:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamex \* > \*\*Do any states have official state mottos in English? \*\* Pennsylvania’s is “Virtue, Liberty and Independence.” Our tourism slogan is “Pennsylvania Memories Last a Lifetime.” Zap ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/13 "2001-10-25T17:16:03Z")
Georgia’s motto is in English - “Wisdom, Justice and Moderation”. The tourism slogan is “Georgia on your mind”. ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/14 "2001-10-25T17:16:21Z")
I thought SC’s was “Smiling faces, beautiful places.” ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/15 "2001-10-25T17:17:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 45ACP \* > **Well, my favorite is New Hampshire?s “Live Free or Die.” Short, simple, English. Definitely not funny, though.** Unless you consider the irony of the poor bastard who has to stamp that on a license plate. Unless state prisoners stamping license plates isn’t an anachronism. At far as Arizona’s _Ditat Deus_ motto the little miner on the state seal might be a little more enriched if copper was selling for more than 65¢ a pound. Blame the commodities market, not God, for that. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/16 "2001-10-25T17:17:52Z")
My state, Rhode Island, which has the longest official state name (Rhode Island and Providence Plantations) has the shortest motto: **Hope**. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/17 "2001-10-25T17:48:04Z")
Vermont’s logo is in english: Freedom and Unity. ---
**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/18 "2001-10-25T18:19:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > **Unless state prisoners stamping license plates isn’t an anachronism.** Oh, it’s not– [http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories/20010603/NH\_001.htm](http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories/20010603/NH_001.htm) (We’ve got to quit taking poor defenseless threads hostage like this–first it was ugly bullpups, now this!) 45ACP ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/19 "2001-10-25T18:39:59Z")
Hrmph - ran out to the car in chilly windy weather to get the Indiana roadmap and they don’t even PUT the state motto/bird/flower on it anymore… OK - According to the Indiana [State Information Center](http://www.state.in.us/sic/about/emblems/state_motto.html) Indiana State Motto – “The Crossroads of America” – Adopted 1937 And while I’m here: Flower: Peony (adopted 1957) Bird: Cardinal (adopted 1933) Tree: Tulip Tree (adopted 1931) Stone (OK this is going a bit far): Limestone (adopted 1971) There’s a poem & a song too… My favorite motto for Indiana: “Indiana: Keeping Lake Michigan out of Kentucky since 1816” ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529/20 "2001-10-25T18:55:43Z")
New Mexico’s state motto is indeed _Crescit Eundo_ (“It Grows As It Goes”). I’m assuming the “It” refers to the state itself, but there are some other, perhaps more amusing, possibilities. And while we’re on the subject of going over the top with “Official” things: State flower: yucca State bird: roadrunner State tree: piñon State insect: tarantula hawk wasp State mammal: black bear State fossil: _Coelophysis_ State _ **cookie** _: bizcochito It’s good to know that our state legislature has enough free time to decide important questions like this. I suppose it’s to be expected, though, in the _Land of Enchantment_. Damn those wizards. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mottos-state/89529.md?page=2)