Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem is a Latin passage and the official motto of the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The phrase is often loosely translated into English as "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." The literal translation, however, is "she seeks with the sword peaceful repose under liberty." The "she" in question refers to the word manus from the full phrase manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem, which means "this hand, an enemy to tyrants, seeks with the sword peaceful repose under liberty."
It was written c. 1660 by English soldier-statesman Algernon Sidney, who was an opponent of Charles II and who was later executed for treason. The motto was first adopted in 1775 by the Massachusetts General Court (the official name of the state legislature) and applied to the temporary seal of Massachusetts. On December 13, 1780, the legislature approved its application to the current Great Seal of Massachusetts.
Crampton, William G. Webster's Concise Encyclopedia of Flags & Coats of Arms. Crescent Books: 1985. ISBN0-517-49951-7.
Zieber, Eugene, Heraldry in America: The Civic Armorial Bearings of American States. Greenwich House: 1976.
External linksEdit
The History of the Arms and Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
October 24, 2023
ense, petit, placidam, libertate, quietem, latin, passage, official, motto, commonwealth, massachusetts, university, massachusetts, amherst, phrase, often, loosely, translated, into, english, sword, seek, peace, peace, only, under, liberty, literal, translatio. Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem is a Latin passage and the official motto of the U S Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts Amherst The phrase is often loosely translated into English as By the sword we seek peace but peace only under liberty The literal translation however is she seeks with the sword peaceful repose under liberty The she in question refers to the word manus from the full phrase manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem which means this hand an enemy to tyrants seeks with the sword peaceful repose under liberty Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem used on the coat of arms of MassachusettsIt was written c 1660 by English soldier statesman Algernon Sidney who was an opponent of Charles II and who was later executed for treason The motto was first adopted in 1775 by the Massachusetts General Court the official name of the state legislature and applied to the temporary seal of Massachusetts On December 13 1780 the legislature approved its application to the current Great Seal of Massachusetts See also Edit nbsp United States portalList of Massachusetts state symbols Flag of Massachusetts List of U S state and territory mottosReferences EditCrampton William G Webster s Concise Encyclopedia of Flags amp Coats of Arms Crescent Books 1985 ISBN 0 517 49951 7 Zieber Eugene Heraldry in America The Civic Armorial Bearings of American States Greenwich House 1976 External links EditThe History of the Arms and Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem amp oldid 1175870750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
