Motto
- For suggestions of an official (or unofficial) Wikipedia motto, see Wikipedia:Official Wikipedia motto.
A motto is a Phrase or a short list of words meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. Many countries, cities, universities, and other institutions have mottos, as do families with coats of arms.
Mottos are traditionally written in Latin or Romance languages, as well as in English or German. There are many exceptions, particularly in modern Heraldry: for examples, the mottos of the State of Hawai'i and the University of Hawai'i are in Hawaiian, and the motto of Nunavut is in Inuktitut, while in England the motto of the County of Somerset is written in Anglo-Saxon.
A canting motto is one that contains wordplay. For example, the motto of the Earl of Onslow is Festina lente, punningly interpreting on-slow.
In Heraldry, a motto is often depicted in a coat of arms, typically on a scroll under the arms, or else above it as in Scots heraldry.
In musical usage, a motto is a melodic section larger than a motif and may appear at the beginning and often just before the end of a Musical composition.
Motto may also refer to a short Quotation, Joke, or an anecdotal message printed on a piece of paper inside a Christmas cracker.
Ships and subs in the Royal Navy each have a crest and motto, as do units of the Royal Air Force.
Individual mottos
- Alea jacta est
- All for one, and one for all
- Annuit Cœptis
- Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
- E pluribus unum
- Eleutheria i thanatos
- Ex astris, scientia
- Fiat lux
- Je me souviens
- Liberté, égalité, fraternité
- Nemo me impune lacessit
- Only Unity Saves the Serbs
- Peace, order and good government
- Semper fidelis
- Unite or Die
- Who Dares Wins
Lists of mottos
- List of state mottos
- List of mottos
- List of U.S. state mottos
- List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols
- Royal mottos of Swedish monarchs
- Unofficial national mottos of Poland
See also
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