What is the national motto of France often associated with Bastille Day?

The national motto of France often associated with Bastille Day is “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” — liberty, equality, fraternity.

The three-word motto expresses ideals strongly linked with the French Revolution and the republican tradition. The words appeared together in revolutionary political writing, including a 1790s proposal associated with Maximilien Robespierre, though their official status developed gradually.

France adopted the phrase as an official motto during the Second Republic in 1848. It was later reinforced under the Third Republic and is now stated in Article 2 of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic. The motto appears on public buildings and official documents.

“Fraternité” is often translated as “brotherhood,” but “fraternity” or “solidarity” can better convey its civic meaning. The phrase is not the same as France’s national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” which is a song rather than a motto.