We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Symbols

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the State Motto of New Mexico?

By Britt Archer
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 14,887
Share

A Republican senator so disliked the state motto of New Mexico that he introduced legislation to change it to something more meaningful. The measure failed, leaving Crescit Eundo to remain as of the official motto. In English the phrase means, “It Grows as it Goes.” Sen. Joseph J. Carraro, who represented Sandoval and Bernalillo counties when he introduced the change in 2005, preferred “Respect the Past, and Embrace the Future,” or Antiqua Suspice, Crastina Accipe in Latin.

Senator Carraro wanted to change the state motto of New Mexico because he didn’t think it made much sense. He told an interviewer that he didn’t understand the meaning behind the phrase, and when he questioned the state’s schoolchildren, they didn’t grasp the meaning either. The state motto of New Mexico derives its meaning from a poem written in the first century by Lucretius, and it refers to a thunderbolt streaking across the sky, growing bolder and mightier the longer its magnificent journey continues.

Legislators failed to pass the law that would have made Antiqua Suspice, Crastina Accipe the state motto, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have fun with the idea. Some senators proposed another motto, tongue in cheek: Gracias a Dios por Mississippi, or “Thank God for Mississippi." Mississippi is often the only state that scores lower than New Mexico in statistical reports regarding the economy and some social issues.

The state motto of New Mexico is engraved on the state’s official seal. The motto was an addition in 1882 to the original seal of the New Mexico Territory, designed in 1851. A large eagle sits in the center of the seal, with the state motto displayed below the eagle on a fluttering banner.

The official flag does not include the state motto of New Mexico, although many states incorporate their motto in their flags’ designs. The state flag has a golden or yellow background on which sits a red sun with many rays. The colors of red and yellow represent New Mexico’s Spanish heritage. Ancient Native Americans, known as the Zia, used this symbol of the sun with four sides of rays to portray the celestial body.

New Mexico gave another nod to the Zia when it designed its capitol building, which is also known as the Roundhouse. Located in the city of Santa Fe, the Roundhouse is unique in that it is the only round capitol created by any of the 50 states. If a person were able to view the Roundhouse from the sky, it would look like the Zia symbol for the sun which is used on the state flag.

Share
America Explained is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.americaexplained.org/what-is-the-state-motto-of-new-mexico.htm
Copy this link
America Explained, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

America Explained, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.