South Carolina State Motto: Dum Spiro Spero

South Carolina is one of the few U.S. states with two official Latin mottos. Both were adopted on April 2, 1776, as part of the state seal — months before the Declaration of Independence. Animis Opibusque Parati appears on the obverse of the seal above a palmetto tree. Dum Spiro Spero appears on the reverse above the figure of Spes, the Roman goddess of hope.

The two mottos were designed by two different people, each given one side of the seal. William Henry Drayton, a delegate to the Continental Congress, chose Animis Opibusque Parati for the obverse. Arthur Middleton, who later signed the Declaration of Independence, chose Dum Spiro Spero for the reverse.

The standard English translation of Animis Opibusque Parati is Prepared in mind and resources. Some sources also render it as Prepared in minds and resources, since animis is an ablative plural. South Carolina's official sources use Prepared in mind and resources as the primary form.

The standard English translation of Dum Spiro Spero is While I breathe, I hope. The Latin is straightforward: dum means while, spiro means I breathe, and spero means I hope. No significant translation dispute exists for this phrase.

The South Carolina General Assembly authorized the state seal on April 2, 1776. Two members divided the design work: William Henry Drayton took the obverse, and Arthur Middleton took the reverse. Each designer chose his own motto and visual composition independently, which is why the two sides of the seal reflect different themes.

Drayton built the obverse around the Battle of Fort Sullivan, fought on June 28, 1776, almost three months after the seal's authorization. British warships attacked the incomplete fort on Sullivan's Island; its palmetto-log walls absorbed cannon fire rather than shattering, and the fleet withdrew. Drayton placed the palmetto above a fallen oak to record that outcome, and set Animis Opibusque Parati above it to claim that South Carolina had been ready.

Middleton designed the reverse around the figure of Spes walking over discarded British weapons at dawn, with Dum Spiro Spero on a ribbon above. A Charles Town engraver completed the original coin-silver seal, which President John Rutledge used officially for the first time on May 22, 1777. Both mottos have appeared on the seal continuously since.