A state motto is used to describe the intent or motivation of the state in a short phrase. For example, it can be included on a country's
flag,
coat of arms, or
currency. Some countries do not have a national motto.
Armenia: One Nation, One Culture (
Armenian: Մեկ Ազգ, Մեկ Մշակույթ; Mek Azg, Mek Mshakouyt).[6]
Australia: No official motto. Formerly Advance Australia.[7]
Austria: The future is in our hands, Austria is in our hearts (Die Zukunft liegt in unseren Händen, Österreich liegt in unseren Herzen ).Previously, one of the possible meanings was:
Latin: Austriae est imperare orbi universo (Austria's destiny is to rule the world).
Azerbaijan: No official motto. Unofficial: The Land of Fire (
Azerbaijani: Odlar Yurdu)
Long live the People's Republic of China, Long live the Great People's Unity of the World! (
Mandarin Chinese: 中华人民共和国万岁,世界人民大团结万岁) is the motto inscribed onto the
Tiananmen, the symbol of the PRC.
Eritrea: Victory to the Masses! (
Arabic: انتصار للجماهير,
Tigrinya: ዓወት ንሓፋሽ!, also in English).
Estonia: No official motto. Unofficial motto: Long live Estonia! (
Estonian: Elagu Eesti!) or Long live the Republic of Estonia! (
Estonian: Elagu Eesti Vabariik!)
Ethiopia: Currently no official motto. Formerly: Ethiopia First (
Amharic: ኢትዮጲያ ትቅደም; "Ethiopia Tikdem"), and prior to that: Ethiopia holds up her hands unto God (
Ge'ez: ኢትዮጵያ ታበድ አደዊሃ ሃበ አግዚአብሐር; Itiyopia tabetsih edewiha habe Igziabiher), taken from
Psalm 68:31.[45]
Fiji: Fear God and honour the King (
Fijian: Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui)[46]
Honduras: Free, sovereign and independent (Spanish: Libre, Soberana E Independiente)[59]
Hungary: Currently no official motto. Formerly With God for Homeland and Freedom (
Latin: Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate),
battle cry of Prince
Francis II Rákóczi in the early 18th century.
Iran: God is the Greatest (
Persian: الله اكبر;
Allahu Akbar). De facto motto: Independence, freedom, the Islamic Republic (
Persian: استقلال، آزادى، جمهورى اسلامى; Esteqlāl, āzādī, jomhūrī-ye eslāmī).[62][63]
Lithuania: No official motto. Freedom, Unity, Prosperity (
Lithuanian: Laisvė, vienybė, gerovė) used on coins since 2015. May unity bloom! (
Lithuanian: Vienybė težydi!) from the
national anthem.
Montenegro: No official motto. Unofficial motto: May Montenegro be eternal! (
Serbo-Croatian: Da je vječna Crna Gora! / Да је вјечна Црна Гора!). From the
national anthem.
Morocco: God, the Country, the King (
Arabic: الله، الوطن، الملك; Allāh, Al-Waṭan, Al-Malīk,
Berber languages: ⴰⴽⵓⵛ, ⴰⵎⵓⵔ, ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ; Akuc, Amur, Agellid).[84] Sovereign's motto: If you aid God, He will aid you (
Arabic: إن تَنصُروا اللهَ ينصُرُکُمʾIn tanṣurū 'Ilaha yanṣurukum)[85]
Poland: No official motto.
Unofficial mottos of Poland include: For our freedom and yours (
Polish: Za wolność Naszą i Waszą); For Faith, Law and the People (
Latin: Pro Fide, Lege et Grege), and God, Honour, Fatherland (
Polish: Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna).[citation needed]
Portugal: This is my blissful beloved homeland (Esta é a ditosa Pátria minha amada)
Romania: No official motto. Formerly Nothing without God (
Latin: Nihil sine Deo), which has been proposed to return.[102] Before Nihil sine Deo, Unul pentru toți și toți pentru unul ("
One for all and all for one") was used as the motto of Romania for a short period of time, still being a popular patriotic phrase to this day and an unofficial motto.[103]
Russia: No official motto at sovereignty level.
Tatarstan Unofficial: We can! (
Tatar: Без Булдырабыз!, romanized: Bez Buldırabız!).[104]
Asturias: Hoc Signo Tuetur Pius, Hoc Signo Vincitur Inimicus With this sign thou shalt defend the pious, with this sign thou shalt defeat the enemy (
Latin)
Azores: Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos Rather die as free men than be enslaved in peace (Portuguese)[145]
Easter Island: Traditional motto / unofficial; He hanga te Atu'a he pakea te ma'eha ote mori nei ite he nua ta'atoa (
Rapa Nui: "May God let the clarity of this vital light be extended to all peoples")
Puerto Rico: Joannes est nomen ejus (
Latin: "John is his name"). Taken from the
Vulgate translation of
Luke 1:63, referring to the fact that the island's former name was "San Juan" (now the
capital's name) in honour of Saint
John the Baptist.[157]
Ethiopian Empireሞዓ አንበሰ ዘአምነባደ ይሁዳ (Moa Ambassa ze Imnegede Yehuda) (
Ge'ez: Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah).[45]
Republic of Florence: Regna cadunt luxu surgunt virtutibus urbes! (
Latin: Fall, you kingdoms of luxury, for the cities of virtue shall thrive!)
French First Republic: Various mottos ranging from "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death." (French: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité ou la Mort) to "Unity, indivisibility of the Republic; liberty, equality, brotherhood or death" (French: Unité, Indivisibilité de la République ; Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité ou la mort).[168]
Nazi Germany (1933–1945): Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer (German: One People, One Realm, One Leader.)[170]
Kingdom of Greece (1832–1924 and 1935–67): Ίσχύς μου ή άγάπη του λαού (Iskhis mou i ayapi tou laou) (
Greek: The love of the people is my strength)[171]
Habsburg Monarchy:
A.E.I.O.U. "All the world is subject to Austria" (German: Alles Erdreich ist Österreich untertan. Latin: Austria est imperare orbis universo)[172]
Hawaiian Kingdom: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono (
Hawaiian: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)[173]
Imperial State of Iran: مرا داد فرمود و خود داور است (Marā dād farmūd-o khod dāvar ast) (
Persian: Justice He bids me do, as He will judge me).[174]
Ancient Japan: 養正之心ヲ弘ム (Yōsei-no kokoro-wo hiromu) (Japanese: "spread the spirit of nurturing rightness"), 積慶重暉 (Sekkei Chōki) (Japanese, "accumulate joyousness and stack brightness"), 掩ヒテ㆓八紘ヲ㆒而為ス㆑宇ト (Ame-no-shita-wo ōhi-te ihe-to nasu) (Japanese, "cover eight crown cords and make it roof" aka
Hakkō Ichiu (八紘一宇))
Empire of Japan: 開国進取 (Kaikoku Shinshu) (Japanese: "Open nation and do enterprising")
Charter Oath (1868–) ->
大東亜新秩序建設 (Dai-tōa Shin-chitsujo Kensetsu) (Japanese: "Establishing of Great East Asian New Order", it means "東亜に於ける国際正義の確立、共同防共の達成、新文化の創造、経済結合の実現を期す" ("Hoping for establishing international righteousness, co-preventing communism, creating new culture and actualizing economic connection in East Asia"))
ja:基本国策要綱 (1940–)
Republic of Ragusa: Sloboda se ne prodaje za sve zlato svijeta (
Croatian: Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world)
Rhodesia: Sit Nomine Digna (
Latin: May she be worthy of the name)
Russian Empire: Съ нами Богъ! (S nami Bog!) (
Russian: God is with us!) and За Вѣру, Царя и Отечество! (Za Veru, Tsarya i Otechestvo!) (
Russian: For Faith, For Tsar, For Fatherland)
Russian State: Единая и Неделимая Россия! (Yedinaya i Nedelimaya Rossiya!) (
Russian: United and Indivisible Russia!) and Симъ побѣдиши! (Sim pobedishi!) (
Russian: In this, conquer!)
^Press reports have provided a variety of translations for the phrase. According to
Vatican Radio: "Pope Francis has chosen the motto Miserando atque eligendo, meaning lowly but chosen; literally in Latin by having mercy, by choosing him. The motto is one Francis used as bishop. It is taken from the homilies of the
Venerable Bede on
Saint Matthew's Gospel relating to his vocation: 'Jesus saw the tax collector and by having mercy chose him as an apostle saying to him: Follow me.'"[137]
^"National arms of Morocco". Retrieved 7 October 2015. The motto "ن تنصروا الله ينصركم" (If you glorify God, he will glorify you) is taken from the Qur'an (Verse 7, Sura 47).
^Gwenc'hlan Le Scouëzec, Guide de la Bretagne, page 40, Coop Breizh, Spézet, 1987; and Le Journal de la Bretagne des origines à nos jours, page 106, Larousse, Paris, 2001
^Joost Augusteijn, Storm. H. J., Region and State in Nineteenth-Century Europe: Nation-Building, Regional Identities and Separatism, Palgrave Macmillan, 2012,
p. 102.
^étrangères, Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires.
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
^Constitution de la République du Zaïre, article 5: "Sa devise est : Paix — Justice — Travail". Source: Journal Officiel de la République du Zaïre (N. 1 du 1er janvier 1983)
A state motto is used to describe the intent or motivation of the state in a short phrase. For example, it can be included on a country's
flag,
coat of arms, or
currency. Some countries do not have a national motto.
Armenia: One Nation, One Culture (
Armenian: Մեկ Ազգ, Մեկ Մշակույթ; Mek Azg, Mek Mshakouyt).[6]
Australia: No official motto. Formerly Advance Australia.[7]
Austria: The future is in our hands, Austria is in our hearts (Die Zukunft liegt in unseren Händen, Österreich liegt in unseren Herzen ).Previously, one of the possible meanings was:
Latin: Austriae est imperare orbi universo (Austria's destiny is to rule the world).
Azerbaijan: No official motto. Unofficial: The Land of Fire (
Azerbaijani: Odlar Yurdu)
Long live the People's Republic of China, Long live the Great People's Unity of the World! (
Mandarin Chinese: 中华人民共和国万岁,世界人民大团结万岁) is the motto inscribed onto the
Tiananmen, the symbol of the PRC.
Eritrea: Victory to the Masses! (
Arabic: انتصار للجماهير,
Tigrinya: ዓወት ንሓፋሽ!, also in English).
Estonia: No official motto. Unofficial motto: Long live Estonia! (
Estonian: Elagu Eesti!) or Long live the Republic of Estonia! (
Estonian: Elagu Eesti Vabariik!)
Ethiopia: Currently no official motto. Formerly: Ethiopia First (
Amharic: ኢትዮጲያ ትቅደም; "Ethiopia Tikdem"), and prior to that: Ethiopia holds up her hands unto God (
Ge'ez: ኢትዮጵያ ታበድ አደዊሃ ሃበ አግዚአብሐር; Itiyopia tabetsih edewiha habe Igziabiher), taken from
Psalm 68:31.[45]
Fiji: Fear God and honour the King (
Fijian: Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui)[46]
Honduras: Free, sovereign and independent (Spanish: Libre, Soberana E Independiente)[59]
Hungary: Currently no official motto. Formerly With God for Homeland and Freedom (
Latin: Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate),
battle cry of Prince
Francis II Rákóczi in the early 18th century.
Iran: God is the Greatest (
Persian: الله اكبر;
Allahu Akbar). De facto motto: Independence, freedom, the Islamic Republic (
Persian: استقلال، آزادى، جمهورى اسلامى; Esteqlāl, āzādī, jomhūrī-ye eslāmī).[62][63]
Lithuania: No official motto. Freedom, Unity, Prosperity (
Lithuanian: Laisvė, vienybė, gerovė) used on coins since 2015. May unity bloom! (
Lithuanian: Vienybė težydi!) from the
national anthem.
Montenegro: No official motto. Unofficial motto: May Montenegro be eternal! (
Serbo-Croatian: Da je vječna Crna Gora! / Да је вјечна Црна Гора!). From the
national anthem.
Morocco: God, the Country, the King (
Arabic: الله، الوطن، الملك; Allāh, Al-Waṭan, Al-Malīk,
Berber languages: ⴰⴽⵓⵛ, ⴰⵎⵓⵔ, ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ; Akuc, Amur, Agellid).[84] Sovereign's motto: If you aid God, He will aid you (
Arabic: إن تَنصُروا اللهَ ينصُرُکُمʾIn tanṣurū 'Ilaha yanṣurukum)[85]
Poland: No official motto.
Unofficial mottos of Poland include: For our freedom and yours (
Polish: Za wolność Naszą i Waszą); For Faith, Law and the People (
Latin: Pro Fide, Lege et Grege), and God, Honour, Fatherland (
Polish: Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna).[citation needed]
Portugal: This is my blissful beloved homeland (Esta é a ditosa Pátria minha amada)
Romania: No official motto. Formerly Nothing without God (
Latin: Nihil sine Deo), which has been proposed to return.[102] Before Nihil sine Deo, Unul pentru toți și toți pentru unul ("
One for all and all for one") was used as the motto of Romania for a short period of time, still being a popular patriotic phrase to this day and an unofficial motto.[103]
Russia: No official motto at sovereignty level.
Tatarstan Unofficial: We can! (
Tatar: Без Булдырабыз!, romanized: Bez Buldırabız!).[104]
Asturias: Hoc Signo Tuetur Pius, Hoc Signo Vincitur Inimicus With this sign thou shalt defend the pious, with this sign thou shalt defeat the enemy (
Latin)
Azores: Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos Rather die as free men than be enslaved in peace (Portuguese)[145]
Easter Island: Traditional motto / unofficial; He hanga te Atu'a he pakea te ma'eha ote mori nei ite he nua ta'atoa (
Rapa Nui: "May God let the clarity of this vital light be extended to all peoples")
Puerto Rico: Joannes est nomen ejus (
Latin: "John is his name"). Taken from the
Vulgate translation of
Luke 1:63, referring to the fact that the island's former name was "San Juan" (now the
capital's name) in honour of Saint
John the Baptist.[157]
Ethiopian Empireሞዓ አንበሰ ዘአምነባደ ይሁዳ (Moa Ambassa ze Imnegede Yehuda) (
Ge'ez: Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah).[45]
Republic of Florence: Regna cadunt luxu surgunt virtutibus urbes! (
Latin: Fall, you kingdoms of luxury, for the cities of virtue shall thrive!)
French First Republic: Various mottos ranging from "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death." (French: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité ou la Mort) to "Unity, indivisibility of the Republic; liberty, equality, brotherhood or death" (French: Unité, Indivisibilité de la République ; Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité ou la mort).[168]
Nazi Germany (1933–1945): Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer (German: One People, One Realm, One Leader.)[170]
Kingdom of Greece (1832–1924 and 1935–67): Ίσχύς μου ή άγάπη του λαού (Iskhis mou i ayapi tou laou) (
Greek: The love of the people is my strength)[171]
Habsburg Monarchy:
A.E.I.O.U. "All the world is subject to Austria" (German: Alles Erdreich ist Österreich untertan. Latin: Austria est imperare orbis universo)[172]
Hawaiian Kingdom: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono (
Hawaiian: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)[173]
Imperial State of Iran: مرا داد فرمود و خود داور است (Marā dād farmūd-o khod dāvar ast) (
Persian: Justice He bids me do, as He will judge me).[174]
Ancient Japan: 養正之心ヲ弘ム (Yōsei-no kokoro-wo hiromu) (Japanese: "spread the spirit of nurturing rightness"), 積慶重暉 (Sekkei Chōki) (Japanese, "accumulate joyousness and stack brightness"), 掩ヒテ㆓八紘ヲ㆒而為ス㆑宇ト (Ame-no-shita-wo ōhi-te ihe-to nasu) (Japanese, "cover eight crown cords and make it roof" aka
Hakkō Ichiu (八紘一宇))
Empire of Japan: 開国進取 (Kaikoku Shinshu) (Japanese: "Open nation and do enterprising")
Charter Oath (1868–) ->
大東亜新秩序建設 (Dai-tōa Shin-chitsujo Kensetsu) (Japanese: "Establishing of Great East Asian New Order", it means "東亜に於ける国際正義の確立、共同防共の達成、新文化の創造、経済結合の実現を期す" ("Hoping for establishing international righteousness, co-preventing communism, creating new culture and actualizing economic connection in East Asia"))
ja:基本国策要綱 (1940–)
Republic of Ragusa: Sloboda se ne prodaje za sve zlato svijeta (
Croatian: Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world)
Rhodesia: Sit Nomine Digna (
Latin: May she be worthy of the name)
Russian Empire: Съ нами Богъ! (S nami Bog!) (
Russian: God is with us!) and За Вѣру, Царя и Отечество! (Za Veru, Tsarya i Otechestvo!) (
Russian: For Faith, For Tsar, For Fatherland)
Russian State: Единая и Неделимая Россия! (Yedinaya i Nedelimaya Rossiya!) (
Russian: United and Indivisible Russia!) and Симъ побѣдиши! (Sim pobedishi!) (
Russian: In this, conquer!)
^Press reports have provided a variety of translations for the phrase. According to
Vatican Radio: "Pope Francis has chosen the motto Miserando atque eligendo, meaning lowly but chosen; literally in Latin by having mercy, by choosing him. The motto is one Francis used as bishop. It is taken from the homilies of the
Venerable Bede on
Saint Matthew's Gospel relating to his vocation: 'Jesus saw the tax collector and by having mercy chose him as an apostle saying to him: Follow me.'"[137]
^"National arms of Morocco". Retrieved 7 October 2015. The motto "ن تنصروا الله ينصركم" (If you glorify God, he will glorify you) is taken from the Qur'an (Verse 7, Sura 47).
^Gwenc'hlan Le Scouëzec, Guide de la Bretagne, page 40, Coop Breizh, Spézet, 1987; and Le Journal de la Bretagne des origines à nos jours, page 106, Larousse, Paris, 2001
^Joost Augusteijn, Storm. H. J., Region and State in Nineteenth-Century Europe: Nation-Building, Regional Identities and Separatism, Palgrave Macmillan, 2012,
p. 102.
^étrangères, Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires.
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
^Constitution de la République du Zaïre, article 5: "Sa devise est : Paix — Justice — Travail". Source: Journal Officiel de la République du Zaïre (N. 1 du 1er janvier 1983)