is a

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

phrase meaning "let it be perpetual". It is the

motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain states, Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington (state), ...

. The motto appears on the back of the 2007 Idaho quarter dollar coin. The words are traced back to the Venetian theologian and mathematician Paolo Sarpi (1552–1623), also known as ''Fra Paolo''. The day before his death he had dictated three replies to questions on affairs of state, and his last words were "" reportedly in reference to his beloved

Republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...

(of Venice), and translated as "Mayest thou endure forever!" These words were also repeated by

Henry Grattan Henry Grattan (3 July 1746 – 4 June 1820) was an Irish politician and lawyer who campaigned for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century from Britain. He was a Member of the Irish Parliament (MP) from 1775 to 18 ...

upon the achievement of Irish legislative independence in 1782. When the designer of the state seal Emma Edwards Green described the motto on the seal, she translated it as "It is perpetuated" or "It is forever". The phrase was used by

Jefferson Davis Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the only President of the Confederate States of America, president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the Unite ...

at the close of his book '' Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government'' in a wish that it may be "Written on the arch of the Union." Of his attempt to break up the Union, he said "I recognise the fact that the war showed it to be impractical". A list of places the motto was adopted by: * HMS ''Tireless'', Trafalgar Class Submarine Royal Navy *

The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry The National Grange, also known as The Grange and officially named The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, is a social organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and pol ...

, a farm organization constituted in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, on December 4, 1867 * The Pirates Rugby Football Club in Dunedin, New Zealand, which was formed in 1882 * The Sigma Phi Society * Phi Chi Fraternity of Young Harris College, established in 1891 * The Club * Chatham Hall School, Chatham, Virginia, translated as "She will live forever" * Three of the four Thomian Schools in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

: those in Mount Lavinia, Gurutalawa and Bandarawela, translated as "Be Thou Forever" * The motto of Springs Boys' High School, Springs, South Africa. "Esto Perpetua" has been the school's motto since it first opened in 1940. *The motto of Springs Girls' High School, Springs, South Africa. "Esto Perpetua" has been the school's motto since it first opened in 1959. * The Winyah Indigo Society, Georgetown, S.C., incorporated 1754. * The Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany incorporates the motto on its Grand Seal translated as "May it last forever" * Carron Phoenix Manufacturer of sinks in Carron, Scotland. * The Old Sydneians' Union, the alumni organisation of Sydney Grammar School. * The Union Arch over Cabin John Creek, Maryland, USA.

References

2. http://stcmount.edu.lk/the-college-song-flag-crest-motto-and-colours/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Esto Perpetua Latin mottos State mottos of the United States Symbols of Idaho