esse quam videri
Latin phrase
es·se quam vi·de·ri
ˈe-sā-ˌkwäm-wi-ˈdā-rē 
: to be rather than to seem
—motto of North Carolina
Cite this Entry
“Esse quam videri.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/esse%20quam%20videri. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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