North Carolina's state motto is "Esse Quam Videri." It's a Latin phrase that roughly translates to "to be rather than to see." The state bird of North Carolina sticks out amongst the rest.

Alabama's state motto is "Audemus jura nostra defendere," a Latin phrase that translates to "We dare maintain our rights." Alaska's state motto is "North to ... also has an official Latin motto ...

Esse quam videri. Popularized by the ancient Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, who likely first read the Greek version ...