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Georgia Symbols, State Mottos
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"Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation"
"Agriculture and Commerce"
Adopted in 1799; 1914 .
Language: English
Focus: Progress and Prosperity and Justice
These mottos appear on the great seal of the state: one on the obverse, the other on the reverse.
- Obverse: "Wisdom, justice, and moderation"
- Reverse: "Agriculture and commerce"
The Georgia General Assembly has never adopted an official motto as such. However, in 1799, when the legislature adopted a new state seal, it provided for an arch containing the word "Constitution" supported by three pillars. The legislation specified that the three pillars represented the three branches of government. Appearing on a banner that encircling the three pillars were the words "Wisdom," "Justice," and "Moderation"--with each word associated with one pillar. This later led one historian to conclude that "Wisdom" was to apply to the legislative branch in making the laws, "Justice" to the judicial branch in their decisions, and "Moderation" to the executive branch to administer laws in moderation. [Lawton B. Evans, A History of Georgia for Use in Schools (New York: American Book Co., 1898, 1908), p. 152]
"Agriculture and commerce" on the reverse describe the mainstay of Georgia's economic well-being. In 1914, the date of 1799 was changed to 1776, the date of national independence rather than the date of Georgia's admission to the Union.
Actually, the qualities of wisdom, justice, and moderation with reference to government were first mentioned in chapter 4 of Plato's Republic. In that work, Plato analyzed four cardinal "virtues" associated with government: wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice. It is possible that the soldier with drawn sword standing between two of the pillars was meant as a symbolic representation of Plato's fourth virtuecourage. In any event, the 1799 law creating the state seal specifically provides that the man with drawn sword represents "the aid of the military in defense of the Constitution."
These state have mottos that reference justice:
- Georgia: "Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation"
- Louisiana: "Union, justice, and confidence"
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