Missouri State Motto: Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto
Fact-checked • Updated December 3, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto"
The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law
About This Motto
Missouri's state motto is Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto, adopted on January 11, 1822, as part of the Great Seal legislation. This Latin phrase translates to The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law. Judge Robert William Wells designed the seal and proposed the motto. The phrase comes from Cicero's De Legibus, written around 50 BCE. Missouri became the 24th state when admitted to the Union on August 10, 1821.
What the Motto Means
Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto translates to The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law. Missouri's Secretary of State provides this official translation in the 2019-2020 Manual. Wells offered a different version in 1847: Let the good of the people be the supreme law. Both capture the same core idea about government priorities.
Latin word salus carries multiple meanings. You find welfare, safety, health, and wellbeing all packed into one term. Populi means of the people. Suprema translates to supreme or highest. Lex means law. Esto is a command form meaning let it be or shall be. The phrase instructs government to prioritize public welfare above all else.
Wells explained his choice in 1847. He noted the motto appears on the scroll beneath the bears' feet. This placement was deliberate. The foundation of state government rests on public good, Wells wrote. Government exists to serve people's welfare. That principle undergirds Missouri's entire political structure.
Ancient origin matters here. Cicero wrote this maxim in his work on laws and governance. Roman philosopher composed De Legibus around 50 BCE as a companion to his political writings. The phrase appears in Book III discussing magistrates and their duties. John Locke later used a shortened version as the epigraph for his Second Treatise on Government. Political philosophers across centuries embraced this principle.
Historical Background
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Missouri Statehood
Congress admitted Missouri as the 24th state on August 10, 1821, after contentious debate over slavery expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state. Missouri's first constitution was drafted in 1820. The new state needed official symbols. Legislature turned to creating a great seal in early 1822.
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Great Seal Creation
Missouri General Assembly authorized design of the Great Seal in late 1821. Legislature appointed Judge Robert William Wells to create the design. Wells was born in Maryland in 1795 and moved to Missouri Territory in 1818. He served as state circuit judge and brought classical learning to the task. Wells completed his design in early 1822. Legislature approved the Great Seal on January 11, 1822.
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Wells Design Philosophy
Wells crafted detailed heraldic specifications. The seal features a shield divided into two parts. Right side shows a grizzly bear. Left side displays the U.S. coat of arms. Two bears support the shield on either side. They stand on a scroll containing the motto. Wells chose each element deliberately to convey meaning about Missouri's government and relationship to the federal union.
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Motto Never Separately Adopted
Legislature approved the motto only as part of the Great Seal description. No standalone statute designates Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto as Missouri's official motto. State law describes the entire seal design including motto text. This pattern mirrors many other states. The motto functions officially despite lacking separate statutory designation. You find it on government documents, official seals, and state publications.
Meaning & Significance Today
Missouri still uses the Great Seal Wells designed in 1822. You find the seal on official state documents, legal papers, and government correspondence. The Governor's office displays the seal. State agencies incorporate it into letterhead. Legislature chambers feature the seal prominently. Two centuries later, Wells' design remains Missouri's primary visual symbol.
Translation debate continues in academic circles. Scholars discuss whether salus means welfare, safety, health, or something broader. Some argue the term encompasses all these concepts simultaneously. Wells himself used good in 1847. Missouri's current official translation prefers welfare. The state settled on this version for consistency in modern documents.
Other governments adopted this Ciceronian maxim. Several English towns feature it on their coats of arms. The phrase appears in Latin legal tradition across centuries. Missouri joined this long line of governments embracing public welfare as the highest principle. The motto connects Missouri to classical political philosophy and broader Western governmental thought.
Roman numerals MDCCCXX appear below the motto scroll on the seal. This translates to 1820, the year Missouri began functioning as a state under its first constitution. The date placement reinforces the motto's message. Government began in 1820. Public welfare principle was baked into state governance from day one.
Cultural Context in Missouri
Classical Education in 1820s
Early 19th century American leaders typically studied Latin and Greek. Classical education formed the core curriculum for lawyers and judges. Wells received this traditional training. He knew Cicero's works intimately. Educated Missourians in 1822 would recognize the motto's source. Latin phrases carried authority and gravitas in legal contexts. Wells assumed his audience understood classical references.
Robert William Wells
Wells served Missouri in multiple capacities beyond seal design. Born 1795 in Maryland, he arrived in Missouri Territory at age 23 in 1818. He practiced law and served as circuit judge. Wells also wrote historical essays about early Missouri. His 1847 explanation of the seal design provides the most detailed account of his reasoning. He died in 1864 after decades of public service.
Cicero in American Politics
Founders and early American leaders quoted Cicero frequently. His political writings influenced American constitutional thought. Cicero argued for mixed government balancing different elements. He emphasized law as foundation of legitimate authority. His maxim about public welfare fit perfectly with American democratic ideals. Wells drew from a well of classical wisdom already familiar to American political culture.
State Seal Usage
Missouri law requires the Great Seal on specific documents. Official state proclamations must bear the seal. Legal documents from state government include seal impressions. Secretary of State serves as official keeper of the seal. The office maintains plates for printing seal images. You see the seal on state building facades, official publications, and government websites.
Current Law
Missouri Revised Statutes govern the Great Seal design. State statute describes the complete heraldic achievement including all design elements. The law specifies a shield divided into two parts with a grizzly bear on one side and U.S. arms on the other. Two bears stand as supporters on either side. They rest on a scroll inscribed with Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto. Roman numerals MDCCCXX appear below the scroll.
Statute provides detailed heraldic language describing colors and arrangement. The law hasn't changed substantially since 1822 adoption. Legislature occasionally updates language for clarity but keeps Wells' original design intact. No separate statute exists for the motto apart from the seal description. The motto's legal status derives entirely from its inclusion in the Great Seal statute.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 15
Missouri's motto comes from Cicero's De Legibus, written around 50 BCE.
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.
Official state documentation of motto history, translation, and Robert William Wells' role in design. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Complete guide to Missouri state symbols including detailed Great Seal description and motto context. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Full statutory text describing Missouri's Great Seal design including motto placement and heraldic specifications. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Historical overview of motto adoption and translation variations with statutory references. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Detailed history of the Ciceronian maxim, its use in political philosophy, and adoption by various governments. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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