Tar Heel state: a leaflet of interesting information about North Carolina

              STATE MOTTO
Nearly every State has adopted a motto, generally in Latin, for the reason that
Latin is more condensed and terse than English. The motto of North Carolina, "Esse
Quam Videri" means "to be rather than to seem." It is found in Cicero's essay on
Friendship (Chapter 26), where he says, "Virtue enim ipsa non tam multi prediti esse
quam videri," meaning when translated literally, "for indeed not so many wish to be
endowed with virtue as wish to seem to be."
STATE SEAL
The Great Seal of the State of North Carolina is two and one-quarter inches
i in diameter, and its design is a representation of the figures of Liberty and Plenty,
looking towards each other, but not more than half fronting each other, and other-wise
disposed as follows: Liberty, the first figure standing, her pole with cap on it
in her left hand and a scroll with the word "Constitution" inscribed thereon in her
right hand. Plenty, the second figure, sitting down, her right arm half extended to-ward
Liberty, three heads of wheat in her right hand, and in her left the small end of
her horn, the mouth of which is resting at her feet, and the contents of horn rolling
r out. In the exergue is inserted the words "May 20, 1775," above the coat of arms.
[Around the circumference is the legend: "The Great Seal of the State of North
Carolina," and the motto, "Esse Quam Videri."
STATE FLOWER
The dogwood was adopted as the official State flower of North Carolina by the
General Assembly of 1941.
STATE BIRD
By an act of the General Assembly of 19 43 the Cardinal was declared to be the
official State Bird of North Carolina. (Cover illustration courtesy N. C. Bird Club.)