How Many U.S. State Mottos Can You Identify?

New York state's motto, "Excelsior," means "ever upward." The one-word adage suggests that excellence is the state's prime attribute. Yale University's Brasher Doubloon is a rare coin that features the motto on its obverse side.

"Fatti maschii, parole femine" is an old Italian phrase that means "manly deeds, womanly words." Marland's controversial adage was borrowed from the family crest of the Calverts, who established the U.S. state.

Starting in January 1999, the U.S. Treasury Department commenced production of new U.S. state quarters. Georgia's approved design featured an oak tree and the state's maxim, "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation."

Maine's healthcare plan is named after the state's motto, "Dirigo," which is Latin for "I lead." In 2003, Maine made a shift to universal health coverage that was crafted to grant access to some 180,000 residents who could not afford coverage.

In 1989, the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation publicized a new design for the state's license plate to include the phrase, "The Friendship State." Many Texans quickly rejected the new illustration.

Louisiana adopted its state flag in 1912, but the banner had been used informally for many years before that time. The flag features the state bird, the pelican, as well as the state's platitude, "Union, Justice, Confidence."

North Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 37th state. The western meadowlark is the state bird, the wild prairie rose is the state flower and the North Dakota Hymn is the state song.

The Idaho State Historical Society honors organizations and individuals with the Esto Perpetua Award in recognition of public service, philanthropy or volunteer work that benefits the preservation of Idaho's heritage. The awards program began in 1999.

A rough translation for Massachusetts' state motto is "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." The phrase is borrowed from mid-17th century English soldier Algernon Sydney.

Nevada is nicknamed the "Battle Born State.". Every October 31, Nevada celebrates "Nevada Day" to commemorate statehood. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation admitting it as the 36th state into the Union.

In 1863, French-born American artist Joseph H. Diss Debar proposed the state motto for West Virginia, which means "Mountaineers Are Always Free." Debar also created the design for the state's seal.

Wyoming's state motto, "Equal Rights," served as an advertisement to attract more women to the state. As a territory, Wyoming did not have enough people to petition for statehood.

In 2015, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles introduced the new design for the state's license plate that includes the English version of the state's motto, "While I breathe, I hope." The state retired the old tag amid complaints that it promoted the school colors of Clemson University.

In 2000, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, ruled that Ohio's motto, "With God, All Things Are Possible," referenced the Bible, and therefore was a violation of First Amendment rights. However, various federal courts allowed the state to retain the quote, ruling that since it did not name a specific God, it did not violate the First Amendment. The quote was borrowed from the New Testament in the Christian Bible.

New Hampshire adopted its state motto, "Live Free or Die," in 1945. In 1970, the adage replaced the words, "Scenic New Hampshire," on the state's license plate. In 2006, state legislators resolved to include the saying on highway signage.

The U.S. state of Colorado adopted its state flag on June 5, 1911. Then, in 1929, the General Assembly of Colorado specified that the red and blue colors of the state flag match the red and blue on the United States flag.

Iowa adopted the motto when it joined the Union on December 28, 1846. The motto is also placed on the state's official seal and it's said it was inspired by the difficulties Iowa faced when it tried to establish itself as a state.

The blue background of Delaware's state flag symbolizes General George Washington's uniform. The state's bird is the blue hen chicken, and poultry, corn and wheat are the state's biggest exports.

Kentucky's Latin motto translates in English to "Let us be grateful to God." The state's more conventional motto is "United we stand, divided we fall. FUN FACT: The Chevrolet Corvette is Kentucky's official sports car.

The Keystone State's U.S. Mint quarter also includes as a background the state's keystone outline. "Commonwealth" is the name of the statue propped on top of the Pennsylvania Capitol dome in Harrisburg.

SustiNet is the name of Connecticut's health care plan that the state's legislature passed in 2009. The English translation of the state's Latin motto is "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains."

"Gold and silver" is the English translation of Montana's Spanish motto. The state's phrase is in sync with its rich mining history. For a time, the state reaped millions of silver quarters by way of its​ video gaming industry in the 1980s.

Translated into English, the Hawaiian state phrase means "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." Only 171,214 acres of the 4 million total acres that comprise the state's six main islands are designated for urban use.

Although the state of Indiana has more miles of interstate highway than any other state, Indiana has struggled to repair neglected roadway and other infrastructure in the past. In 1987, the Build Indiana Council was launched to support rehabilitation projects.

"By virtue and arms" is Mississippi's English-version motto. The state doesn't have a football team, boasts 359 miles of shoreline, seceded from the Union once and is the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

"The welfare of the people should be the supreme law" is the English translation of the Latin phrase. In 1987, Missouri's General Assembly approved the fiddle as the official state musical instrument.

Alaska adopted "North to the Future" as its state motto in 1967. One hundred years prior to this, the Alaskan Territory was purchased by the United States from Russia for $7.2 million.

In the state of Michigan, hunting the white-tailed deer, the state's official game mammal, generates several hundred million dollars in state revenue yearly. Michigan's Latin phrase means "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."

The winning state quarter design was of a wagon with the Chimney Rock landmark in the background. Another losing quarter illustration depicted the State Capitol and the phrase, "Home of the Unicameral."

In the mid-18th century, University of Wisconsin C​hancellor John Lathrop wished to use the Wisconsin Territory's Latin phrase, "Civilitas Successit Barbaruin," which means "Civilization Succeeds Barbarism." Before setting the Latin phrase in stone, Dewey and Ryan chose the "Forward" axiom instead.

Vermont's Latin motto went into effect on July 1, 2015. It means "May the fourteenth star shine bright" and used to appear on the state's coins. Vermont is the 14th state of the Union.

"Labor Conquers All Things" is the meaning of Oklahoma's motto, which the state supposedly had not legally adopted. The phrase was incorporated into Oklahoma's state seal in 1907.

"Alki" is an indigenous word that also implies the meanings "sooner or later" or "in a little while." The ambitious early settlers of Seattle, Washington, named their territory "New York-Alki."

Florida borrowed its state motto from the United States' national adage, "In God We Trust." South Dakota's state flag also includes the motto-bearing state seal, as well as the year it achieved statehood, 1889.

Ohio's motto, "With God, all things are possible," was restored in 2001 after a federal court ruled that the motto held more historical significance than religious meaning. The English translation of Arizona's Latin motto is "God enriches."​