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Latin Mottoes

The basic lists of Latin mottoes were provided by Rose Williams
It keeps coming up, so let me explain, this page began as Rose Williams' list of mottoes and although I have added other mottoes, that is all this list is. Translation is skilled interpretation. There is no exact one-to-one correspondence between each Latin word and an English word. If you wish to try your hand at putting these mottoes into English and do a reasonable job, I'd be happy to link to your list. If you want help figuring out approximately what these mottoes "mean" in English, post a question in the forum. You may also buy a Latin dictionary.

Colleges and Universities

  • University of Michigan
    Artes, scientia, veritas
  • University of Florida
    Civium in moribus rei publicae salus
  • University of Chicago
    Crescat scientia, vita excolatur
  • University of Texas
    Disciplina praesidium civitatis
  • University of the South
    Ecce quam bonum
  • St. John's College (Annapolis)
    Facio liberos ex liberi libris libraque
  • Brown University
    In Deo speramus
  • Columbia University
    In lumine tuo videbimus lumen
  • Ohio Wesleyan
    In tuo lumine videbimus lumen
  • University of Nebraska
    Litteris dedicata omnibus artibus
  • Kalamazoo College
    Lux esto
  • University of North Dakota
    Lux et lex
  • Yale University
    Lux et veritas
  • University of New Mexico
    Lux hominum vita
  • University of North Carolina(Chapel Hill)
    Lux/Libertas
  • University of Washington
    Lux sit
  • University of Rochester
    Meliora
  • University of Oregon
    Mens agitat molem
  • Hunter College
    Mihi cura futuri
  • Brooklyn College
    Nil sine magno labore
  • Tulane University
    Non sibi, sed suis
  • New York University
    Perstare et praestare
  • Trinity College
    Pro ecclesia et patria
  • Baylor University
    Pro ecclesia, pro Texana
  • University of Mississippi
    Pro scientia et sapientia
  • City College of New York
    Respice, adspice, prospice
  • University of Missouri
    Salus populi
  • Fordham University
    Sapientia et doctrina
  • Delaware College
    Scientia sol mentis
  • State University of New York (Buffalo)
    Spe
  • University of Vermont
    Studiis et rebus honestis
  • Amherst College
    Terras irradient
  • Harvard University
    Veritas
  • Johns Hopkins University
    Veritas vos liberabit
  • Florida State University
    Vires artes mores
  • Dartmouth College
    Vox clamantis in deserto

United States

  • E pluribus unum

State Mottoes in Latin

  • Kansas
    Ad astra per aspera
  • Wyoming
    Cedant arma togae
  • New Mexico
    Crescit eundo
  • Maine
    Dirigo
  • Arizona
    Ditat Deus
  • South Carolina
    Dum spiro, spero
  • Massachusetts
    Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
  • North Carolina
    Esse quam videri
  • Idaho
    Esto perpetua
  • New York
    Excelsior
  • District of Columbia
    Justitia omnibus
  • Oklahoma
    Labor omnia vincit
  • West Virginia
    Montani semper liberi
  • Colorado
    Nil sine numine
  • Connecticut
    Qui transtulit sustinet
  • Arkansas
    Regnat populus
  • Missouri
    Salus populi suprema lex esto
  • Maryland
    Scuto bonae voluntatis Tuae coronasti nos
  • Virginia
    Sic semper tyrannis
  • Michigan
    Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice
  • Mississippi
    Virtute et armis

Misc.

  • U.S. Coast Guard
    semper paratus


Mottoes from public schools of the UK, from V.E.D. Georgopoulos, Department of Mathematics, The University of Reading:
  • Eton
    Floreat Etona
  • Harrow
    Stet Fortuna domus
  • Fettes College in Edinburgh
    Industria
    Georgopoulos adds that in that school there are boarding houses, the best of which is Glencorse House whose motto Numquam Onus, which means that everyone has to contribute something in the House.
  • Merchant Taylor
    Concordia parrae res crescunt
  • Residential Colleges at Yale University
    • Trumbull
      Fortuna favet audaci
    • Sybrook College
      Qui transtulit sustinet (Also for the State of Connecticut)
  • University of Pennsylvania
    Leges sine moribus vanae

    V.E.D. Georgopoulos also sent the following interesting historical tidbits.

        "As you might already know the U Penn was founded by Benjamin Franklin and by William Penn and the latter's Family. William Penn's (who aparently I think, though I'm not so sure, that he was an Etonian) motto which appears in his coat of Arms is Dum clavum teneam. .
        At U Penn there are also residential houses which possess their own history and sometimes their own motto.
        Hill house is one of them founded by Robert C. Hill, class of 1889, a Wharton graduate and a trustee of Penn, was an offspring of the 7th Viscount Hill (Sir Gerald Rowland Clegg-Hill of Hawkstone and Hardwicke). This Family had as motto: Avancez which means Forward.
        Another House at Penn is Gregory College House founded by Emily Lovira Gregory, who was the first woman on Penn's Faculty. Her family motto is: 'Sriaghal mo dhream which means Royal is my Race. The spelling of the latter doesn't have to surprise you, it is correct.
        Finally another House at Penn is Hamilton College House named after William Hamilton, class of 1762 who was an offspring of 3d Baron Hamilton of Dalzell. The family motto and the motto of the House is: Quis occursabit which means: Who will Run to Meet them. Closing Harrison College which was named after Provost Charles Curtis Harrison, Class of 1862, possesses the motto of Harrison Family which is Perseverance.
        I think that the above will come out helpful for you and that you will add them to your list."

      DAEMON ETRUSCAN 

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