USA GiftsContact State Symbols USAHome PageAbout State Symbols USA

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
USA

North Carolina State Motto:

To be, rather than to seem

Photo from Blowing Rock, North Carolina - Blue Ridge Mountains
Blowing Rock, North Carolina - Blue Ridge Mountains in the foreground and Grandfather Mountain (the highest point in the Blue Ridge Mountains) in the extreme background - photo by Zainubrazvi on Wikipedia - published
under terms of the GNU Free Documentation License Version 1.2 or later

Esse quam videri
(To be, rather than to seem)

In 1893 the North Carolina General Assembly adopted the Latin words "Esse Quam Videri" as the state motto and directed that these words be placed with the state's Coat of Arms and the date "20 May, 1775" (see great seal page) upon the Great Seal. Until the act of 1893 North Carolina had no motto, one of the few states without one (and the only one of the original thirteen).

picture of North Carolina's state seal with state motto
North Carolina's great seal has the state motto on it

The motto is a literal translation of a phrase from a sentence in Cicero's "On Friendship" (De Amicitia, chapter 26). The complete sentence in Latin is: "Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt ."

Translations (from North Carolina State Library):

"Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it."

"The fact is that fewer people are endowed with virtue than wish to be thought to be so."

"Not nearly so many people want actually to be possessed of virtue as want to appear to be possessed of it."

"The Numbers of the really virtuous are not so great, as they appear to be."

 

Source:
State Motto: North Carolina State Library
Links:
State Mottos - 50 States
Google

What are your State Symbols?

State Symbols USA is a nonprofit organization promoting
appreciation for our natural treasures and cultural heritage.

Home | About | Donations | E-mail | Copyright | Gifts

© Copyright 2004 State Symbols USA
Website design by Pixel Perfect

North Carolina Symbols:

mammal - dog
bird - reptile
flower - plant
insect - shell
fish 1 - 2
tree 1 - 2
wildflower - soil
rock - stone
fruit - vegetable
berries: red blue  
 

flag - seal
colors - motto
language - toast
name - nickname
pottery - boat
song - theater
dance 1 - 2
tartan - beverage
academy
festivals


State Symbols | National Symbols