7. Booth’s Famous Shout: ‘Sic Semper Tyrannis’
After shooting President Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth leapt onto the stage and shouted “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” a Latin phrase meaning “Thus always to tyrants.” This phrase is the state motto of Virginia and suggests that tyrants will inevitably meet a just end. Booth’s choice of this phrase reflected his belief that he was avenging the South and delivering justice (merriam-webster.com).
