Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
Encyclopedia
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 a quiet peace under liberty." The "she" in question is the state. The passage itself is an excerpt from a longer quotation "Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem," which means "this hand, hostile to tyrants, seeks with the sword a quiet peace under liberty."
It was written c. 1659 by English soldier-statesman Algernon Sidney, an opponent of Charles II
later executed for treason. The motto was first adopted by the Massachusetts General Court
(i.e. the state legislature) and applied to the a temporary seal of Massachusetts in 1775. On December 13, 1780 the legislature approved its application to the current Great Seal of Massachusetts.
The motto evokes the values of a peace-loving people, but a people who value liberty more than peace.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
passage and the official motto of the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
. 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 a quiet peace under liberty." The "she" in question is the state. The passage itself is an excerpt from a longer quotation "Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem," which means "this hand, hostile to tyrants, seeks with the sword a quiet peace under liberty."
It was written c. 1659 by English soldier-statesman Algernon Sidney, an opponent of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
later executed for treason. The motto was first adopted by the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
(i.e. the state legislature) and applied to the a temporary seal of Massachusetts in 1775. On December 13, 1780 the legislature approved its application to the current Great Seal of Massachusetts.
The motto evokes the values of a peace-loving people, but a people who value liberty more than peace.
See also
- List of Massachusetts state symbols
- Flag of MassachusettsFlag of MassachusettsThe commonwealth of Massachusetts' flag in the United States has been represented by official but limited-purpose flags since 1776, though until 1908 it had no state flag per se to represent its government. A variant of the white flag with blue seal was carried by each of the Massachusetts...