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National and Cantonal Mottos (Switzerland)

Last modified: 2026-03-07 by martin karner
Keywords: switzerland | motto |
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[national motto] (instagram.com/parlch)
National motto in the Dome of the Federal Palace, Bern

Switzerland as a whole as well as several of the cantons have their traditional mottos.
The national motto, "One for all, all for one"¹, came into use in Switzerland in the 1830s. It has been made famous worldwide by Alexandre Dumas' book The Three Musketeers (1842): "All for one, one for all, that is our device." Shakespeare thought of it before Dumas, but had it the other way round in The Rape of Lucrece (1594): "One for all, all for one we gage." In its Latin form, "Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno", it was adopted as the unofficial motto of Switzerland in the latter half of the 19th century. The fact that it exists in Latin indicates that it might be a lot older, but no ancient Latin citation has been found. Therefore, Shakespeare continues to take credit for its origin (Sources: idiomorigins.org, de.wikipedia.org).

¹ German: Einer für alle, alle für einen; French: Un pour tous, tous pour un; Italian: Uno per tutti, tutti per uno; Romansh: In per tuts, tuts per in


See also:

Cantonal Mottos

About two thirds of the Swiss cantons have a motto (mostly in Latin), which have been placed on flags, beside arms, on public buildings, on coins etc.
Here a list of the mottos with their English translation and source (as far as known), followed by some pictorial examples.

  • Zurich: DOMINE CONSERVA NOS IN PACE (Lord, keep us in peace)
  • Bern: DEUS PROVIDEBIT (God will provide); from Genesis 22:8
  • Lucerne: DOMINUS ILLUMINATIO MEA (The Lord is my enlightenment); from Psalms 27:1
  • Uri: SOLI DEO GLORIA (Glory to God alone)
  • Schwyz: TURRIS FORTISSIMA NOMEN DOMINI (The name of the Lord is a mighty tower); from Proverbs 18:10
  • Obwalden: DILEXIT DOMINUS DECOREM IUSTITIAE (The Lord loves the beauty of justice); from Psalms 99:4
  • Nidwalden: PRO FIDE ET PATRIA (For faith and fatherland)
  • Zug: CUM HIS QUI ODERANT PACEM ERAM PACIFICUS (I was peaceful with those who hated peace); from Psalms 119:7 (Vulgate | Psalms 120:7 KJV)
  • Fribourg: ESTO NOBIS DOMINE TURRIS FORTITUDINIS A FACIE INIMICI (Be to us, O Lord, a tower of strength from the face of the enemy); from Missa Latina (10th c.)
  • Solothurn: CUNCTA PER DEUM (All through God)
  • Basel-City: DOMINE CONSERVA NOS IN PACE (Lord, keep us in peace)
  • Schaffhausen: DEUS SPES NOSTRA EST (God is our hope); from Psalms 61:9 (Vulgate | Psalms 62:8 KJV) | article
  • Appenzell Inner-Rhodes: SUPER OMNIA LIBERTAS (Freedom above all)
  • Appenzell Outer-Rhodes: JEDEM DAS SEINIGE (To each his own)
  • Grisons: HIE ALT FRY RHAETIA (Here old free Raetia)
  • Vaud: LIBERTÉ ET PATRIE (Freedom and fatherland)
  • Geneva: POST TENEBRAS LUX (After darkness light); from Job 17:12 (Vulgate | Job 17:12 KJV) | article



    Zurich

              
    Laufen Castle (source)

     

              
    Ducat, 1709 (source)


    Bern

              
    Duplone, 1793 (source)

    Schwyz

              
    Batzen, 1622 (source)


    Obwalden

              
    ½ Batzen, 1812 (source)

    Zug

              
    Thaler, 1565 (source)


    Solothurn

              
    10 Batzen, 1788 (source)

    Basel-City

              
    4 Ducats, 1740 (source)


    Schaffhausen

              
    Dragoon standard, 1713 (source: [b7b42])

     

              
    Baroque stucco, 1733, City Church Schaffhausen (source)


    Appenzell Inner-Rhodes

              
    15 Kreuzer, 1738 (source)

    Appenzell Outer-Rhodes

              
    4 Francs, 1816 (source)


    Grisons

              
    Boundary stone, 1735 (source)


    Vaud

              
    Cantonal flag (source)

     

              
    Shako fusilier officer, 1838 (1er-empire.com)


    Geneva

              
    Prospect, 1638 (source)

     

              
    Wine label, 2023 (source)

    Martin Karner, 1 March 2026