50 States and Their Mottos by Emily Wick

1. DaveL
   January 9th, 2009 at 2:46 am

   Be the first to collect all 50 and win Puerto Rico!

2. Nathan Miller
   January 9th, 2009 at 2:53 am

   I've always loved our state motto, but to see "Friendship" written so quaintly, leaving masses of land above and below almost brings a tear to my eye.

   God Bless Texas.

3. Evilbeagle
   January 9th, 2009 at 3:32 am

   I lived in both Florida and Texas, and definitely prefer Texas' motto, since Florida's does not represent anything I believe.

4. Tempscire
   January 9th, 2009 at 5:20 am

   Just going by the shrunk down version above, it looks for all the world like Oklahoma's motto is actually "Lazor conquers all things." (Sure, but you have to charge it, first.)

   I think I prefer my version over "labor."

5. Gauldar
   January 9th, 2009 at 9:28 am

   lazor pew pew pew!

6. Maxipad
   January 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am

   That's not the state motto in New Mexico. It's; " Come on Vacation, Leave on Probation."

7. Rocky Rook
   January 9th, 2009 at 10:34 am

   Looks like something out of the 70's

8. Craig
   January 9th, 2009 at 11:27 am

   Unfortunely, the Washington state motto may sound like "by and by" but it's a native term (alki) that translates to "bye and bye" or "hope for the future." (Straight from our state web site.)

   I'd prefer something colorful like the New Mexico optional offered by Maxipad. But our people take themselves a bit too earnestly for that...

9. artbot
   January 9th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

   "Equal Rights" for Wyoming??!! Maybe if you're white and male and Mormon - the others, not so much.

10. coraleaterlinda
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    friendship..so simple, so true.

11. Gauldar
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

    artbot, I was questioning that one myself. Ahh well, whatever it takes to convince themselves I guess.

12. Avery Montembeault
    January 9th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    Live Free or Die (NH), hands down best.

    Especially when all you can see in that print is DIE.

13. violet
    January 9th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    @Avery: Totally. It thrills me when major entities have kick ass mottos. Like in D.C., where I'm from, the license plates say "Taxation Without Representation" as protest against that long-standing injustice to residents of the District. Go!

14. Marilyn Terrell
    January 9th, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    @violet: speaking of kick-ass mottos, if you hop across the river you'll find "Thus Always to Tyrants!" (picture a stern Virtue standing on the neck of a recumbent Tyranny). Attributed to Brutus as he slew Caesar, suggested by George Mason as a good motto for Virginia, and shouted by John Wilkes Booth after he shot Lincoln.

    Thanks Alex for sharing this map.

15. Johnny Cat
    January 10th, 2009 at 12:34 am

    "Somewhere between 'Live Free or Die', and 'Famous Potatoes', is THE ANSWER." - George Carlin

16. maggie
    January 10th, 2009 at 5:18 am

    As someone currently living in Wyoming - "Equal Rights" refers to the fact that WY was the first state to give women the right to vote. WY was also the first to have a female governor. The reasons are debatable, what with us not having a whole lot of people in the first place, but now you know

17. violet
    January 11th, 2009 at 3:38 am

    Awesome, Marilyn.

18. gussie
    August 25th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    hey babe that was a nice job

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