Salus populi suprema lex esto
“Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.”
Cicero, De Legibus 3.3.8
What does “Salus populi suprema lex esto” mean?
Salus populi suprema lex esto translates as “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.”
Government should above all serve the good of its citizens.
“Salus populi suprema lex esto” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Salus | welfare, well-being, safety | nominative singular feminine (subject) of salus, “health, safety, welfare” |
| populi | of the people | genitive singular masculine of populus, “people”; shows whose welfare it is |
| suprema | supreme, highest | nominative singular feminine of supremus, “highest”; agrees with lex |
| lex | law | nominative singular feminine of lex, “law”; the predicate noun |
| esto | let it be | future imperative (third person singular) of sum, “I am”; the formal, law-code form of command |
How to pronounce “Salus populi suprema lex esto”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no v. Stress the first syllable of salus, populi and esto, and the second syllable of suprema.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “the welfare of the people [is to be] the highest law”. The verb esto is a future imperative, the form Roman legal texts used for binding rules, which is why it is often translated “let it be”.
It comes from Cicero’s De Legibus (On the Laws), book 3, section 3.8, where he sets out laws for an ideal Roman state. This rule is part of the duties he lays down for magistrates, who were to put the public good first.
The line outlived its context and became a stock principle of political thought. John Locke quoted it, and it is the state motto of Missouri, where it appears on the state seal.
How to use “Salus populi suprema lex esto”
A fitting motto for a civic group, a campaign, a law or politics essay, or a speech about public duty. It also works as a tattoo or print for anyone who values public service.
- Latin
- Salus populi suprema lex esto
- English
- Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.
- Source
- Cicero, De Legibus 3.3.8
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Society
Common mistakes
- Salus here means welfare or safety, not “salvation” in a religious sense and not “greeting”, although the greeting salve is a related word.
- Populi is genitive (“of the people”), not nominative. “The people” as a subject would be populus.
- The quote is sometimes shortened to “Salus populi suprema lex”, dropping esto. That is common, but the full classical form includes esto.
- It does not give anyone a right to override the law in the name of the public. In Cicero it is a guide for officials, so reading it as a loophole is a modern gloss.
Questions about “Salus populi suprema lex esto”
What does “Salus populi suprema lex esto” mean literally?
“Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.” Esto is a command form, so the sentence reads as a rule rather than a statement of fact.
Who said “Salus populi suprema lex esto”?
It comes from Cicero’s De Legibus 3.3.8, written in the first century BC. Later writers such as John Locke quoted it.
How do you pronounce “Salus populi suprema lex esto”?
In Classical Latin: SAH-loos POH-poo-lee soo-PREH-mah leks EHS-toh. The Church pronunciation sounds the same for this phrase.
Is “Salus populi suprema lex esto” the motto of Missouri?
Yes. It is the state motto of Missouri and appears on the state seal.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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