Connecticut State Motto

"Qui Transtulit Sustinet"

(He who transplanted continues to sustain)

Adopted in 1788 .

Language: Latin

Focus: Religious

See Connecticut State Seal

"Qui Transtulit Sustinet" has been translated as: "He who transplanted continues to sustain." The motto, has been associated with the various versions of the seal from the creation of the Saybrook Colony Seal. While the origin of the motto is uncertain, the late Charles J. Hoadly, a former State Librarian, suggested in an article entitled "The Public Seal of Connecticut," which appeared in the 1889 edition of the Connecticut State Register and Manual, that we look to the 80th Psalm as a possible source. "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it."

The article,The Public Seal of Connecticut, stated:

"The vines [on the State Seal] symbolize the Colony brought over and planted here in the wilderness. We read in the 80th Psalm: 'Thou has brought a vine out of Egypt: Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it':--In Latin, 'Vineam de AEgypto transtulisti, Ejicisti gentes et Plantasti eam'; and the motto expresses our belief that He who brought over the vine continues to take care of it--Qui transtulit sustinet."

Connecticut State Motto:
"Qui Transtulit Sustinet"

The motto of Connecticut, "Qui Transtulit Sustinet," means (He who transplanted continues to sustain.) It is an adaptation of Psalms 79:3 of the Latin Vulgate Version of the Bible, which reads, 'Thou has brought a vine out of Egypt: Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it':--- In Latin, 'Vineam de AEgypto transtulisti, Ejicisti gentes et Plantasti eam';

There are four states with mottos that mention "God." Most people would probably regard them as being religious mottos:

1. Arizona: "Ditat Deus" This means "God Enriches in Latin."
2. Florida: "In God We Trust." - identical to the current national motto
3. Ohio: "With God, All Things Are Possible." This is a direct biblical quotation from the King James Version of Matthew 19:25-26: "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
4. South Dakota: "Under God, The People Rule."

There are three other states with mottos that make reference to "God."

1. Colorado: "Nothing Without Providence"
2. Connecticut: "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains"
3. Maine: "I Direct"

Connecticut Law

The law designating the official Connecticut state motto is found in the Connecticut Statutes, Title 3, Chapter 33, Sections 3-105 and 3-106.

This statute describes the Connecticut State Coat of Arms. The motto is specified within this description.

TITLE 3. STATE ELECTIVE OFFICERS.
CHAPTER 33. SECRETARY.
SECTION. 3-105.

Sec. 3-105. Arms of the state. The following-described arms shall be the official arms of the state: A shield of rococo design of white field, having in the center three grape vines, supported and bearing fruit. The vine located in the center of the shield and the vine located on the right side of the shield shall ascend in a counterclockwise manner. The vine located on the left side of the shield shall ascend in a clockwise manner. The bordure to the shield shall consist of two bands bordered by fine lines adorned with clusters of white oak leaves (Quercus alba) bearing acorns. Below the shield shall be a white streamer, cleft at each end, bordered with two fine lines, and upon the streamer shall be in block letters the motto "QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET". A drawing of said arms, made in conformity herewith and filed in the office of the Secretary, shall be the official drawing of the arms of the state.

(1949 Rev., S. 178; 1953, S. 61d; 1959, P.A. 328, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 76, S. 1; P.A. 90-156, S. 1.)


Sec. 3-106. Seal. The great seal of the state shall conform to the following description: It shall be a perfect ellipse with its major axis two and one-half inches in length and its minor axis two inches in length, the major axis being vertical. Within such ellipse shall appear another ellipse with its major axis one and fifteen-sixteenths inches in length and its minor axis one and one-half inches in length. The inner ellipse is separated from the outer ellipse only by a line two points one-thirty-sixth of an inch in width and with the space between the two ellipses, being seven-thirty-seconds of an inch, forming a border. In said space shall appear, letter spaced and in letters one-eighth of an inch in height and of twelve point century Roman, the words "SIGILLUM REIPUBLICAE CONNECTICUTENSIS", beginning and ending one and one-sixteenth inches apart in the lower space along such border. In the center of the inner ellipse shall be three grape vines, two above and one below, each with four leaves and three clusters of grapes intertwined around a support nine-sixteenths of an inch high, and the base of the supports of the two upper vines one inch from the base of the inner ellipse and eleven-sixteenths of an inch apart. The base of the lower support shall be nine-sixteenths of an inch from the base of the inner ellipse and halfway between said bases shall appear the motto "QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET", in number three, six point card Roman letters, or engraver's Roman letters, on a ribbon gracefully formed, with the ends of the ribbon turned upward and inward and cleft. A drawing of said seal shall be filed in the office of the Secretary and shall be its official drawing.

(1949 Rev., S. 179, 8490; 1953, S. 3280d; 1959, P.A. 328, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 76, S. 2.)