Latin Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==== Use of Latin for mottos ==== In the Western world, many organizations, governments and schools use Latin for their mottos due to its association with formality, tradition, and the roots of [[Western culture]].<ref>{{Cite web|title="Does Anybody Know What 'Veritas' Is?" {{!}} Gene Fant|url=https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2011/08/e2809cdoes-anybody-know-what-veritas-ise2809d|access-date=2021-02-19|website=First Things|date=August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> Canada's motto {{lang|la|[[A mari usque ad mare]]}} ("from sea to sea") and most [[list of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|provincial mottos]] are also in Latin. The [[Victoria Cross (Canada)|Canadian Victoria Cross]] is modelled after the British [[Victoria Cross]] which has the inscription "For Valour". Because Canada is officially bilingual, the Canadian medal has replaced the English inscription with the Latin {{lang|la|Pro Valore}}. Spain's motto {{Lang|la|[[Plus ultra]]}}, meaning "even further", or figuratively "Further!", is also Latin in origin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/espana/simbolosdelestado/Paginas/index.aspx|title=La Moncloa. Símbolos del Estado|website=www.lamoncloa.gob.es|language=es|access-date=2019-09-30}}</ref> It is taken from the personal motto of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain (as Charles I), and is a reversal of the original phrase {{lang|la|Non terrae plus ultra}} ("No land further beyond", "No further!"). According to [[legend]], this phrase was inscribed as a warning on the [[Pillars of Hercules]], the rocks on both sides of the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] and the western end of the known, Mediterranean world. Charles adopted the motto following the discovery of the New World by Columbus, and it also has metaphorical suggestions of taking risks and striving for excellence. In the United States the unofficial national motto until 1956 was ''[[E pluribus unum]]'' meaning "Out of many, one". The motto continues to be featured on the [[Great Seal of the United States|Great Seal]], it also appears on the flags and seals of both houses of congress and the flags of the states of Michigan, North Dakota, New York, and Wisconsin. The motto's 13 letters symbolically represent the original Thirteen Colonies which revolted from the British Crown. The motto is featured on all presently minted coinage and has been featured in most coinage throughout the nation's history. Several states of the United States [[list of U.S. state and territory mottos|have Latin mottos]], such as: * [[Arizona]]'s {{lang|la|Ditat deus}} ("God enriches"); * [[Connecticut]]'s {{lang|la|Qui transtulit sustinet}} ("He who transplanted sustains"); * [[Kansas]]'s {{lang|la|[[Per aspera ad astra|Ad astra per aspera]]}} ("Through hardships, to the stars"); * [[Colorado]]'s {{lang|la|Nil sine numine}} ("Nothing without providence"); * [[Michigan]]'s {{lang|la|Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice}} ("If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you"), is based on that of Sir [[Christopher Wren]], in [[St. Paul's Cathedral]]; * [[Missouri]]'s {{lang|la|[[Salus populi suprema lex esto]]}} ("The health of the people should be the highest law"); * [[New York (state)]]'s {{lang|la|[[Coat of arms of New York|Excelsior]]}} ("Ever upward"); * [[North Carolina]]'s {{lang|la|[[Esse Quam Videri]]}} ("To be rather than to seem"); * [[South Carolina]]'s {{lang|la|[[Dum spiro spero]]}} ("While [still] breathing, I hope"); * [[Virginia]]'s {{lang|la|[[Sic semper tyrannis]]}} ("Thus always to [[tyrant]]s"); and * [[West Virginia]]'s {{lang|la|[[Montani Semper Liberi]]}} ("Mountaineers [are] always free"). Many military organizations today have Latin mottos, such as: * {{lang|la|[[Semper Paratus]]}} ("always ready"), the motto of the [[United States Coast Guard]]; * {{lang|la|[[Semper Fidelis]]}} ("always faithful"), the motto of the [[United States Marine Corps]]; * [[Semper supra|''Semper Supra'']] ("always above"), the motto of the [[United States Space Force]]; * {{lang|la|[[Per ardua ad astra]]}} ("Through adversity/struggle to the stars"), the motto of the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF); and * {{Lang|la|Vigilamus pro te}} ("We stand on guard for thee"), the motto of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]]. A law governing body in the Philippines have a Latin motto, such as: * {{lang|la|Justitiae Pax Opus}} ("Justice, peace, work"), the motto of the [[Department of Justice (Philippines)]]; Some colleges and universities have adopted Latin mottos, for example [[Harvard University]]'s motto is {{lang|la|[[Veritas]]}} ("truth"). Veritas was the goddess of truth, a daughter of Saturn, and the mother of Virtue. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page