Georgia State Motto: Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation
Fact-checked • Updated December 1, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation"
Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation
About This Motto
Georgia's state motto is Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation. Legislature added it to the state seal on February 8, 1799. Never formally adopted as standalone motto.
What the Motto Means
Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation. Three virtues. Each one inscribed on a pillar supporting the Constitution arch. Legislature never voted on this as official motto.
Why three virtues? Plato's Republic listed four cardinal virtues for government. Wisdom, courage, moderation, justice. Georgia picked three for the pillars. Soldier with drawn sword represented the fourth virtue.
Historian Lawton B. Evans interpreted their meaning in 1898. Wisdom guides the legislative branch making laws. Justice applies to judicial branch decisions. Moderation helps executive branch administer laws fairly. Each pillar matched one government branch.
Historical Background
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First State Seal (1777)
Georgia's first seal came from State Constitution of 1777. Description included scroll with The Constitution of the State of Georgia and motto Pro bono publico (For the public good). Reverse showed buildings, fields of corn, sheep, cattle, river with ship, motto Deus nobis haec otia fecit (God has given us this ease).
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1799 Redesign
Legislature passed new seal design on February 8, 1799. Replaced Latin mottos with English virtues. Three pillars supporting Constitution arch became central image. Wisdom, Justice, Moderation inscribed on scrolls wrapping each pillar.
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Seal Description Details
Legislation specified precise layout. First pillar engraved with Wisdom. Second with Justice. Third with Moderation. Between second and third pillars, man with drawn sword representing military defense of Constitution. Reverse side showed agricultural and commercial scenes with motto Agriculture and Commerce, 1799.
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1914 Date Change
August 17, 1914 brought one modification. Changed date from 1799 (year of seal adoption) to 1776 (Declaration of Independence year). No other changes to design. Reverse motto became Agriculture and Commerce, 1776.
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Never Officially Adopted
General Assembly never passed standalone motto statute. Virtues appear only in seal description. Georgia Code, Title 50, Chapter 3, Section 50.3.30 specifies seal design. No separate motto law exists.
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Popular Recognition
People call it Georgia's motto anyway. Appears on state flag adopted 2001. Shows on Georgia quarter. Legislature refers to it as state motto despite lacking formal statute. Usage made it de facto official.
Meaning & Significance Today
State seal uses these three virtues everywhere. Government documents, driver's licenses, official buildings. Most Georgians recognize the words without thinking about their philosophical roots.
2001 brought new state flag design. Seal became central element. Wisdom, Justice, Moderation gained visibility. Flag referendum approved it. Previous flag designs caused controversy.
State pledge mentions the virtues. Legislature recently added courage to pledge in 2022. Senate Bill 152 passed. Now pledge includes all four Platonic virtues. Seal itself remained unchanged.
Cultural Context in Georgia
1799 Political Context
Georgia redesigned its seal after Constitution ratification. Federal government structure influenced state design. Separation of powers became central principle. Three branches needed visual representation.
Classical Education Influence
Founding generation studied Greek and Roman classics. Plato's Republic taught at universities. Legislators knew cardinal virtues well. Applying them to government seemed natural.
Three Branches Symbolism
Each pillar stands for one government branch. Legislative, judicial, executive. Constitution arch rests on all three equally. Remove one pillar, government falls. Balance matters.
Military Protection Element
Soldier stands between Justice and Moderation pillars. Drawn sword ready. Shows Georgia militia defending Constitution. Civilian-soldier concept from Revolutionary War era. Courage shown through military readiness.
2001 Flag Controversy Resolution
Previous Georgia flags caused heated debate. Confederate battle emblem created division. 2001 design featured state seal prominently. Referendum approved it. Seal's three virtues became unifying symbol.
Reverse Side Meaning
Agriculture and Commerce, 1776 appears on seal's back. Shows ship receiving tobacco and cotton. Man plowing field. Sheep grazing. Economic foundations of Georgia displayed visually.
Current Law
Georgia Code, Title 50, Chapter 3, Section 50.3.30 describes the state seal. Wisdom, Justice, Moderation appear as required elements within seal description. No standalone motto statute exists. Legislature never formally adopted these words as official motto separate from seal.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 10
Georgia never officially adopted Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation as standalone motto.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Authoritative information about Georgia's state motto and Plato's Republic connection. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Official statute describing Georgia's state seal (Title 50, Chapter 3, Section 50.3.30). • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Historical context for Georgia motto adoption and classical philosophy origins. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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