South Carolina State Motto: Dum Spiro Spero
Fact-checked • Updated December 5, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Dum Spiro Spero"
While I Breathe, I Hope
About This Motto
The South Carolina state motto is Dum Spiro Spero, a Latin phrase meaning While I Breathe, I Hope. This ancient expression appears on the Great Seal alongside the Roman goddess Spes. South Carolina has two official mottos, both adopted in 1776 during the Revolutionary War.
What the Motto Means
Dum means while or as long as. Spiro comes from the Latin verb meaning to breathe. Spero derives from the verb meaning to hope. Put together: While I Breathe, I Hope. The phrasing links life itself with optimism about the future.
Colonial leaders picked this wording during the Revolutionary War when independence seemed uncertain. As long as patriots remained alive, they would keep fighting for freedom. The motto matched perfectly with the image of Spes walking at dawn over discarded weapons.
Historical Background
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March 26, 1776 - Provincial Congress
South Carolina's Provincial Congress ratified a new state constitution and established independent government. John Rutledge became president. This came months before the Declaration of Independence.
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April 2, 1776 - Great Seal Authorized
The General Assembly passed a resolution directing President Rutledge and the Privy Council to design and create a Great Seal. Two designers took charge of the project: William Henry Drayton, a Privy Council member, and Arthur Middleton. Drayton designed the obverse showing the palmetto tree. Middleton created the reverse with the goddess Spes and the motto.
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May 22, 1777 - First Use
President Rutledge used the completed Great Seal for the first time. An engraver in Charles Town had crafted a circular seal four inches in diameter. The reverse featured Spes walking on a beach at dawn, holding a laurel branch, with discarded British weapons at her feet. Dum Spiro Spero appeared on a ribbon above.
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Historical Connections
The phrase wasn't invented for South Carolina. Over fifty British families used it as their motto. King Charles I adopted it during the English Civil War. Greek poet Theocritus wrote a similar sentiment in the 3rd century BC.
Where You See It Today
Walk into any South Carolina government building and you'll find the Great Seal prominently displayed. Both mottos appear on official documents, legislative proclamations, and executive orders. The seal's two elliptical areas are linked by palmetto branches, with Dum Spiro Spero on the right side beneath the goddess Spes.
Visit the State House in Columbia to see the seal used in official proceedings. Historical markers across South Carolina reference the motto when explaining Revolutionary War sites. The phrase shows up in state publications and educational resources.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 7
South Carolina has two official state mottos. The other is Animis Opibusque Parati (Prepared in Mind and Resources).
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 symbols documentation. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
General reference on state seal history. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
South Carolina history and facts. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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