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Every single state in the US has its very own motto. I mean, New York's state motto is “Excelsior,” and “Eureka!” speaks of California. But what if we try calling the states by their very real names? After all, these do indeed sound a little outdated.
So when someone on r/AskReddit posted a question “If the US States had honest slogans, what would some of them be?” the level of hilarity reached up to the max, and we have some of the most painfully accurate suggestions down below.
We do suspect these will not be approved by the governors any time soon, but hey, we all secretly know that the “You can't afford to live here” motto for California would fit way better. No empty promises, no understatement, simply facts.
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The motto “In God we trust” is known to virtually every American, but do you know what’s the motto for the state of Florida? (This question is for Pandas living in different states.)
In fact, every single US state has its very own motto, a unifying pledge for its people which represents the nation’s common good. Interestingly, 24 of these mottos are in English, 20 in Latin, and the rest are in French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Hawaiian, and Chinook.
Mottos encapsulate the essence of every state and speak of religion, equality, history, patriotism, and other American values.
#4
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
If they would allow they same speeds as on the German autobahn it would attract a lot of tourists.
#5
MrTree1779 5 years ago
I lived in Arizona for 8 years. This is a perfectly accurate description of the heat.
But some states have more peculiar mottos than others. For example, Washington's state motto is "Alki" or "Al-ki" in the American indigenous language Chinook. It translates as "bye and bye," but can be interpreted to mean "Into the future."
According to Forbes, this peculiar motto can be traced back to JK Duncan of Governor Stevens’ state surveying expedition that designed its territorial seal in the 1850s.
“It refers to the forward-thinking nature of the west coast settlers who named their settlement New York when they built it at Alki Point.”
#7
Brandy Grote 5 years ago
Although millions do... We have the largest county in the US, but it is also one of the poorest.
Other interesting mottos include: "Live free or die" for New Hampshire, "To be rather than to seem" for North Carolina, and "Mountaineers are always free" for West Virginia.
One unique example is Alaska, which adopted the motto "North to the future," which speaks of Alaska as a land of promise since 1967’s Alaska Purchase Centennial.
#12
Mama Panda 5 years ago
Yes there is a tree but you can't see it because all of the dogs are lined up!
#13
MrTree1779 5 years ago
Better: "There's way more to us than NYC. But you'll probably never get the urge to find out."
#17
Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago (edited)
Nah, I was thinking of Maine. Maine isn’t a state you confuse with another state. That’d be like Wyoming or Montana or something. Maine stands out.
#21
Lizzie Robbins 5 years ago
Im 15 and one of the only black people here because me and my twin sister were adopted by white people. When I see a black person i do a double take 😂
#23
#28
#29
MrTree1779 5 years ago
Better: "We have more cows than people. And if you don't like football and beer, just leave."
#31
#37
Kevin Malone 5 years ago
Charleston is the best i've lived here my whole life and i have no complaints except when i go to the beach it is soooo touristy. and a lot of richer people from up north come down here.
#38
MrTree1779 5 years ago
Better: "We're located in the North, but we vote like we're in the South."
#40
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
I live in Virginia. I'd have said: "The Yankee South. Just ask the rest of the South."
#43
Luna Lovegood 5 years ago
Hey!! Georgia has excellent coastline! And Atlanta! And Savannah! And some hills! And small southern towns and... yeah that's all I got. And I grew up in Georgia.
#46
Malakai 5 years ago
Yep! LLCs have the greatest protections in Delaware vs any other state, and you can legally register a business in Delaware and operate it regardless of the actual state you're running it from--you just have to pay taxes if you make over a certain amount in sales, I believe.
#47
#48
Nathan Girard 5 years ago
All those cars and there's only one identifiable Subaru in the photo though
#50
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What do you think ?
Mainecoonsandhuskies 5 years ago (edited)
this was a good article and was a fresh change from all the disney princess stuff bored panda's been putting out lately
Malakai 5 years ago
Florida: We aren't really the Sunshine State. We're the "wait 5 minutes and it might turn sunny again" state
Nicole Tomme 5 years ago
I know! It is sunny one minute, pouring the next. I always remember that from summer vacations as a kid. Loved it. It wasn't a trip in Florida unless you drove through at least one rainstorm.
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Clara Knaub 5 years ago
Why did they shorten it to the top 30 though? The US has 50 states. 🤦♀️
Arcticflower170 5 years ago
And when you clicked the extension to see all the ones they did (52) they still didn't do every state.
Load More Replies...
Rachel Ashwell 5 years ago
Well thank goodness it wasn't in there as it would have just been stereotyped and trashed like all the other states.
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T.Milly 5 years ago
Connecticut: Where absolutely everything is taxed in an effort to raise money for all sorts of "improvements." I've lived in CT for 40 years & there are infrastructure "improvements," for example, that were started BEFORE I WAS BORN & are still not even remotely close to being finished.
Mohammad Ammar 5 years ago
Wow, the US is so diverse. I wonder how people manage to stereotype Americans.
Isabella R.W. 5 years ago
As a vermonter I must say : we have trees everywhere and a fair that only happens once a summer
David Redman 5 years ago
As a tourism person with 55 years in the industry, this was so refreshing. Added my own comments for each and hopefully I didn't offend anyone. Biggest surprise was how much land area NYC has compared to rest of state.
Charlotte Anderson [STUDENT] 5 years ago
Let me tell you a good reason to live right outside of Vegas. 1: On 4th of July the fireworks are beautiful from a certain view. 2: pretty lights at night. 3: Whn we are painting are house or some other thing then we could just drive down to a hotel and stay there for the night and trust me...THERE ARE SO MANY CASINOS/hotels
Arcticflower170 5 years ago
i read every one hoping to find my state but apparently we didn't get a spot - - _
Mainecoonsandhuskies 5 years ago (edited)
this was a good article and was a fresh change from all the disney princess stuff bored panda's been putting out lately
Malakai 5 years ago
Florida: We aren't really the Sunshine State. We're the "wait 5 minutes and it might turn sunny again" state
Nicole Tomme 5 years ago
I know! It is sunny one minute, pouring the next. I always remember that from summer vacations as a kid. Loved it. It wasn't a trip in Florida unless you drove through at least one rainstorm.
Load More Replies... Clara Knaub 5 years ago
Why did they shorten it to the top 30 though? The US has 50 states. 🤦♀️
Arcticflower170 5 years ago
And when you clicked the extension to see all the ones they did (52) they still didn't do every state.
Load More Replies... Rachel Ashwell 5 years ago
Well thank goodness it wasn't in there as it would have just been stereotyped and trashed like all the other states.
Load More Replies... T.Milly 5 years ago
Connecticut: Where absolutely everything is taxed in an effort to raise money for all sorts of "improvements." I've lived in CT for 40 years & there are infrastructure "improvements," for example, that were started BEFORE I WAS BORN & are still not even remotely close to being finished.
Mohammad Ammar 5 years ago
Wow, the US is so diverse. I wonder how people manage to stereotype Americans.
Isabella R.W. 5 years ago
As a vermonter I must say : we have trees everywhere and a fair that only happens once a summer
David Redman 5 years ago
As a tourism person with 55 years in the industry, this was so refreshing. Added my own comments for each and hopefully I didn't offend anyone. Biggest surprise was how much land area NYC has compared to rest of state.
Charlotte Anderson [STUDENT] 5 years ago
Let me tell you a good reason to live right outside of Vegas. 1: On 4th of July the fireworks are beautiful from a certain view. 2: pretty lights at night. 3: Whn we are painting are house or some other thing then we could just drive down to a hotel and stay there for the night and trust me...THERE ARE SO MANY CASINOS/hotels
Arcticflower170 5 years ago
i read every one hoping to find my state but apparently we didn't get a spot - - _
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