''Esto perpetua'' is a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

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

motto A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...

. 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 "''Esto perpetua''" reportedly in reference to his beloved

Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

(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 Emma Edwards Green, born Emma Sarah Etine Edwards (1856-1942), later known as Mrs. Emma Green, was an American painter and designer. She designed the State Seal of Idaho, used also on the Flag of Idaho, and is the only woman to have designed a st ...

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 president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as a ...

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 Grange, 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 political well-being of the community and ...

, a farm organization constituted in

Washington D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...

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 Chatham Hall is a grades 9-12 girls' boarding school in Chatham, Virginia, United States, founded in 1894 as Chatham Episcopal Institute. Tuition for the 2022-2023 school year is $25,725 (day students), $53,025 (5-day boarding), and $61,425 (7 ...

School, Chatham, Virginia, translated as "She will live forever" * Three of the four Thomian Schools in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

: those in

Mount Lavinia Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia ( si, දෙහිවල-ගල්කිස්ස, translit=Dehivala-Galkissa; ta, தெஹிவளை-கல்கிசை, translit=Tehivaḷai-Kalkicai), population 245,974 (2012) is the largest suburb of the City of ...

Gurutalawa Gurutalawa (ගුරුතලාව) is a rural town in Sri Lanka. It is located in Badulla District of Uva Province Uva Province ( si, ඌව පළාත, Uva Paḷāta, ta, ஊவா மாகாணம், Uvā Mākāṇam) is Sri Lanka's s ...

and

Bandarawela Bandarawela ( Sinhala : බණ්ඩාරවෙල, pronounced ; Tamil: பண்டாரவெல) is the second largest town in the Badulla District which is away from Badulla. Bandarawela is away from Colombo and about away from Kand ...

, 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.

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