Virginia State Motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis
Fact-checked • Updated December 5, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Sic Semper Tyrannis"
Thus Always to Tyrants
About This Motto
The Virginia state motto is Sic Semper Tyrannis. The Virginia Convention adopted this Latin phrase on July 5, 1776, when approving the Great Seal of the Commonwealth. A committee including George Wythe, George Mason, Richard Henry Lee, and Robert Carter Nicholas created the design. The motto appears on Virginia's seal and flag, making a bold statement about freedom and rejection of tyrannical rule.
What the Motto Means
Sic Semper Tyrannis translates to Thus Always to Tyrants. Some people translate it as Thus Ever to Tyrants or This Be the Fate of Tyrants. The phrase comes from Latin. Sic means thus or so. Semper means always or ever. Tyrannis refers to tyrants or tyranny.
The motto makes a warning. It declares that tyrants will fall. The Virginia seal shows this visually. The goddess Virtus stands victorious over a fallen king. Her foot rests on his body. His crown lies on the ground. A broken chain sits in his left hand and a scourge in his right. The image and motto send one clear message about the fate of those who abuse power.
Historical Background
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1776 - Committee Appointed and Seal Adopted
The Virginia Convention met in Williamsburg during the spring and summer of 1776. On July 5, 1776, the convention ratified the Virginia Declaration of Rights, adopted Virginia's first constitution, elected Patrick Henry as first governor, and approved the Great Seal design. The committee to devise the seal consisted of Richard Henry Lee, George Mason, Robert Carter Nicholas, and George Wythe. George Mason made the formal report, but George Wythe likely did most design work.
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1776-1779 - Seal Production and Revision
After approval, George Wythe and John Page supervised getting the seal engraved. No suitable engraver could be found in Virginia. Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia and later William and Arthur Lee in Europe helped find artists. The seal dies were engraved in Paris. In 1779, the General Assembly changed the reverse side, replacing Deus nobis haec otia fecit with Perseverando, meaning persevering.
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1861 - Official Flag Adoption
The seal design appeared on flags in the early 1800s through common usage. Virginia did not officially adopt a state flag until April 30, 1861. The Virginia Convention that year passed an ordinance making the flag official. The flag features the obverse of the seal against a deep blue background. The design has remained largely unchanged since that time, though standardization efforts occurred in 1930 and 1949.
Where You See It Today
The motto appears on the Great Seal of Virginia. The seal shows Virtus dressed as an Amazon warrior. She holds a spear in her right hand with the point touching the ground. Her left hand holds a sheathed sword pointing upward. Her left foot stands on the fallen figure of Tyranny. Above the figures appears the word Virginia. Below them runs the motto Sic Semper Tyrannis.
Virginia's state flag displays this same design. The flag consists of the seal's obverse against a blue background. You'll see this flag at government buildings throughout Virginia. The motto also appears on official documents requiring the seal. The Secretary of the Commonwealth keeps the seal and affixes it to documents signed by the governor.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 8
Virginia is the only US state with a motto warning about the fate of tyrants.
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 Virginia's seal and motto. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Detailed information about Virginia's state symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Scholarly resource on George Wythe and Virginia's seal design. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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