Maryland State Motto: Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine
Fact-checked • Updated December 2, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine"
Strong Deeds, Gentle Words
About This Motto
Maryland's motto Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine (Strong Deeds, Gentle Words) comes from the Calvert family who founded the colony. George Calvert made it his family motto in 1622. When Cecilius Calvert sent a seal to Maryland in 1648, it included this Italian phrase. Maryland remains the only state with a motto in Italian.
What the Motto Means
Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine translates literally as deeds are males, words are females in archaic Italian. Maryland's official translation is Strong deeds, gentle words, adopted during the 2017 legislative session to provide a gender-neutral interpretation.
Earlier translations varied across centuries. Original versions used Manly deeds, womanly words or Deeds are manly, words are womanly. These reflected seventeenth-century views about gender characteristics that modern Marylanders found dated.
What did the Calvert family intend by this phrase? In seventeenth-century England, the motto suggested that effective action speaks louder than eloquent speech. Bold deeds carry more weight than fine words. This interpretation matched the Calverts' need to establish a colony through practical work rather than just promises.
The motto appears on a ribbon at the feet of two supporters on Maryland's seal. A plowman holding a spade stands on one side. A fisherman holding a fish stands on the other. These figures demonstrate the practical work of building a colony through agriculture and fishing.
Historical Background
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George Calvert Adopts Motto 1622
George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, made Fatti maschii, parole femine his family motto in 1622. Born in 1579, Calvert served as Secretary of State to King James I. He converted to Catholicism in 1625, which ended his political career in Protestant England. This conversion motivated his quest to establish a colony where Catholics could practice their faith freely.
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Maryland Charter Granted 1632
King Charles I granted the Maryland charter to George Calvert in 1632, shortly after Calvert's death in April that year. His son Cecil (Cecilius) Calvert became 2nd Baron Baltimore and received the actual charter. The colony would be named Maryland in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria, Charles I's wife.
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First Seal Stolen 1645
Maryland's first provincial seal arrived with early colonists. During Richard Ingle's rebellion in 1645, this original seal was stolen. Ingle, a Protestant supporter of Parliament during the English Civil War, attacked St. Mary's City and seized government property including the seal.
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Cecilius Sends Replacement 1648
After Ingle's theft, Cecilius Calvert sent a replacement seal from England in 1648 for use by the Maryland Chancellor. This seal featured the Calvert family coat of arms with the Italian motto on a ribbon. Except during crown rule from 1692 to 1715, Maryland continued using this provincial seal design.
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Convention of 1776 Adopts Seal
When Maryland declared independence from Britain, the Convention of 1776 faced a practical problem. Creating an entirely new seal would take time. The Convention voted to adopt the Great Seal of the Province as the Great Seal of the State until a new design could be developed. This meant the Calvert arms and Italian motto continued serving the new state government.
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New Seal and Motto 1794
On February 5, 1794, Governor and Council adopted a completely new seal with republican imagery. Artist Charles Willson Peale designed this version. The new motto read Industry the Means and Plenty the Result, dropping the Calvert motto entirely. This seal emphasized American republican values rather than colonial proprietorship.
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United States Arms 1817
Legislature adopted another new seal in 1817. This design featured the coat of arms of the United States encircled by words Seal of the State of Maryland. Federal imagery replaced both the Calvert arms and the republican allegory. The Italian motto disappeared again.
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Return to Calvert Design 1874
By 1874, after 57 years of use, the 1817 seal was worn out and needed replacement. Governor Enoch Louis Lowe suggested restoring the Calvert arms on the new seal. Legislature approved this change through joint resolutions in 1874 and 1876. Maryland readopted the reverse of the original Calvert seal, bringing back Fatti maschii, parole femine.
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Current Seal Codified 1959
Legislature adopted the seal by statute in 1959, providing detailed description in law. Later revisions occurred in 1969. The statute specifies the Calvert and Crossland arms, the plowman and fisherman supporters, and the Italian motto on a ribbon. This remains Maryland law today.
Meaning & Significance Today
Maryland's seal appears on official documents, the state flag, and government buildings throughout the state. You see the Italian motto whenever you see the seal. The phrase connects modern Maryland to its colonial origins under the Calvert proprietorship.
Only one American state has an Italian motto. This unique status makes Maryland's choice memorable. Most states picked Latin for classical gravitas. Maryland kept its founding family's Italian phrase, maintaining historical continuity across nearly four centuries.
Translation debates emerged in recent decades as gender-neutral language became more common. The 2016 legislative session saw proposals to update the official English version. Senator Bryan Simonaire introduced Senate Bill 88 to adopt Strong deeds, gentle words as the legal translation. The bill passed in 2017, establishing this gender-neutral interpretation in statute.
Marylanders interpret the motto through their own experiences. Some emphasize the value of action over rhetoric. Others see wisdom in balancing forceful deeds with diplomatic communication. The motto's flexibility allows different communities to find personal meaning in these four Italian words.
Cultural Context in Maryland
Catholic Haven in Protestant England
George Calvert's conversion to Catholicism in 1625 ended his political career in England where Catholics faced severe restrictions. He envisioned Maryland as a place where Catholics could worship freely while living alongside Protestants. His son Cecilius continued this vision, instructing settlers to practice religious tolerance.
Palatinate Powers
The Maryland charter granted the Calvert family palatinate powers nearly equal to those of an independent state. They could wage war, collect taxes, and establish colonial nobility. This extraordinary authority meant the Calverts governed Maryland almost as their own principality. Their family motto naturally became the colony's motto.
English Civil War Impact
Maryland's early history unfolded during England's turbulent 1640s. Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 and ruled alone for eleven years. Civil war erupted in 1642 between Royalist and Parliamentary forces. These conflicts reached Maryland when Protestant Parliamentarian Richard Ingle attacked St. Mary's City in 1645, stealing the seal and taking Catholic leaders prisoner.
Religious Tolerance Legacy
Despite being Catholic proprietors, the Calverts appointed Protestant governors to help protect their colony. William Stone, a Protestant, became governor in 1648. This pragmatic approach helped Maryland weather England's religious upheavals. The colony's religious tolerance attracted diverse settlers seeking freedom from persecution.
Seal Design Elements
Maryland's seal shows a plowman and fisherman as supporters flanking the shield. The plowman wears a high-crowned, broad-brimmed beaver hat and holds a spade. The fisherman wears a knitted cap resembling a stocking cap and holds a heraldic fish. These figures represent the practical work of establishing a colony through agriculture and maritime commerce.
Modern Debates
Twenty-first century Marylanders questioned whether Manly deeds, womanly words fit modern values. Historian and columnist Rob Etgen wrote about finding wisdom in the motto despite its outdated language. He described Eastern Shore watermen who worked hard physically while maintaining gentle communication with family and friends. For Etgen, the motto became aspirational when interpreted as balancing strength with kindness.
Current Law
Maryland Code Title 13 (Emblems, Commemorative Days, Manual) governs state symbols. The seal description appears in sections 13-101 through 13-105. Statute specifies the obverse shows Lord Baltimore as a knight in full armor mounted on a charger. The reverse displays the Calvert coat of arms with supporters and motto.
Legislature established the official translation in 2017. Senate Bill 88 defined the meaning of Fatti maschii, parole femine as generally meaning Strong deeds, gentle words. This law replaced earlier statutory references to masculine/feminine translations. The Italian phrase itself remains unchanged on the seal.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 20
Maryland is the only state with a motto in Italian.
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.
Comprehensive history of Maryland's seal designs, motto translations, and evolution from 1648 to present. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Official description of Maryland's Great Seal including the motto and heraldic elements. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Legislation establishing the official translation 'Strong deeds, gentle words.' • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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