What Portuguese motto is written on the flag of Brazil?

The Portuguese motto written on the flag of Brazil is Ordem e Progresso.

The phrase translates as “Order and Progress” and appears in green lettering on the curved white band crossing the flag’s blue celestial globe. Brazil adopted the design on 19 November 1889, four days after the monarchy was overthrown and the republic was proclaimed. The flag retained the former imperial flag’s green field and yellow diamond while replacing the imperial coat of arms with a starry sky.

The motto was inspired by the positivist philosophy of French thinker Auguste Comte. It is a shortened form of a longer positivist expression that presents love as a principle, order as the foundation and progress as the goal. Brazilian republican leaders considered the words suitable for a new political era based on science, civic order and national development.

The stars on the globe represent Brazil’s federal units and depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on 15 November 1889. The flag originally had 21 stars; additions for new states brought the total to 27 in the current version, but the motto itself has remained unchanged.