Oklahoma State Motto: Labor Omnia Vincit
Labor Omnia Vincit
Labor Omnia Vincit
The motto appears on the state seal of Oklahoma
- Motto
- Labor Omnia Vincit
- Language
- Latin
- Translation
- Labor Conquers All Things
- On seal since
- 1893
- State constitution
- 1907
Oklahoma State Motto
Oklahoma's state motto is Labor Omnia Vincit, a Latin phrase meaning Labor Conquers All Things. The phrase is part of the Great Seal of Oklahoma and is written into the state constitution.
The motto predates statehood by fourteen years. It first appeared on the official seal of Oklahoma Territory in 1893, adopted by the Second Territorial Legislature meeting in Guthrie. When Oklahoma entered the Union in 1907, the phrase carried over into the new state's founding documents.
Translation of "Labor Omnia Vincit"
The three Latin words translate directly. Labor means work or toil. Omnia means all things. Vincit comes from vincere, meaning to conquer or overcome. Together: Labor conquers all things.
Some sources render it as Work Conquers All or Labor Overcomes All Things. The meaning is the same across all versions: persistent effort wins out in the end.
Oklahoma State Motto Meaning
The phrase comes from the Roman poet Virgil. In the Georgics, Book I, line 145, written around 29 BCE, Virgil wrote Labor omnia vicit improbus — relentless toil overcame all things. The word improbus, meaning persistent or relentless, was part of the original but is not included in Oklahoma's version.
Virgil wrote the Georgics to celebrate farming and agricultural work, in support of Augustus Caesar's effort to bring Romans back to the land. The idea behind the phrase — that sustained hard work can overcome any obstacle — suited a newly settled territory built by homesteaders and farmers.
History of Oklahoma's State Motto
When the Second Territorial Legislature of Oklahoma met in Guthrie in January 1893, Frank Greer — a journalist and politician — promoted a design for the Grand Seal of Oklahoma Territory. His design, described in House Bill 66, included the Labor Omnia Vincit motto. The legislature passed the bill and the territorial seal became official on March 10, 1893.
Oklahoma entered the Union on November 16, 1907, as the 46th state. The motto carried over from the territorial seal and was incorporated into the Oklahoma Constitution, Article VI, Section 35, which describes the design of the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma.
"Labor Omnia Vincit" on the Oklahoma State Seal
The motto appears on the Great Seal of Oklahoma. The seal shows a five-pointed star at its center, with each point containing a symbol of one of the Five Civilized Tribes: the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations. An eagle at the center holds a shield with these symbols.
Labor Omnia Vincit runs along the bottom of the seal. The design descends directly from the 1893 territorial seal that Frank Greer introduced in Guthrie.
Oklahoma State Motto Facts
- "Labor Omnia Vincit" is Latin for "Labor Conquers All Things."
- The phrase comes from Virgil's Georgics, Book I, line 145, written around 29 BCE.
- Virgil's original included the word improbus (relentless) — Oklahoma's version uses the shorter form.
- The motto appeared on the Oklahoma Territory seal in 1893, fourteen years before statehood.
- Frank Greer, a journalist from Guthrie, introduced the territorial seal design in House Bill 66.
- The territorial seal became official on March 10, 1893.
- The motto was written into the Oklahoma Constitution when the state entered the Union in 1907.
Can You Match All 50 State Mottos?
Some questions show the original motto — Latin, Italian, Chinook — and ask which state it belongs to. Others give you the English translation and ask you to work backward. Both directions are harder than they look.
Take the State Mottos QuizQuick Answers
What is Oklahoma's state motto?
What does "Labor Omnia Vincit" mean?
What is the English translation of "Labor Omnia Vincit"?
Where does Oklahoma's motto come from?
When did Oklahoma adopt its state motto?
Sources
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture — State Emblems
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture — Frank Hilton Greer
- Wikipedia — Labor omnia vincit
Oklahoma State Symbols
Show more (2)
Related States
Compare all 50 states by population, land area, statehood date, and more.
Themed lists - states sharing the same bird, oldest symbols, flags with bears, and more.
Side-by-side comparison of population, area, income, taxes, climate, and more.
Top 20 most common surnames per state - with origins, meanings, and heritage context. Is yours on the list?
You Might Also Like
Serial Killers by State
Alaska has the highest serial killer rate at 0.867 per 100,000 residents. Hawaii is lowest, and California has the highest raw count at 128.
Flag of Arkansas
Arkansas had no state flag until 1913. Its white diamond marks the only diamond-producing state. A fourth star marks Confederate membership.
Flag of Arizona
Arizona's flag was sketched on an envelope in 1910 for a rifle team. Adopted in 1917, it became law without the governor's signature.
Flag of Alaska
Benny Benson designed Alaska's flag at 13. Eight gold stars on navy blue, the Big Dipper pointing to Polaris, adopted in 1927 and kept at statehood.
Alabama State Flag
Alabama's crimson cross on white was adopted in 1895, likely modeled after the Confederate Battle Flag. The state's first flag was destroyed by a storm one month after raising.
Flag of California
Brown grizzly on white, adopted in 1911, traces to settler William Todd's handmade flag raised at Sonoma on June 14, 1846.
Rainwater Harvesting Laws by State
Rainwater harvesting is legal in all 50 states. Colorado caps residential storage at 110 gallons, while Utah allows up to 2,500 gallons.
Weird Laws in Arkansas
Weird laws in Arkansas include a repealed statewide tattoo ban, a 145-year-old pronunciation law, and a Sunday car sales rule that is still enforced today.