![]() ![]() "So many deeds cry out to be done/Always urgently./The world rolls on./Time passes./Seize the day. The variations of ‘seize the day,’ ‘seize the hour,’ and ‘seize the moment’ have been used by powerful figures throughout history.įor example, Richard Nixon once quoted a Mao Zedong poem in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, which goes: However, some academics and scholars question whether the advice is to actually embrace life or if it is simply to return to the normal behaviors of Mesopotamian society. ![]() In this text, Siduri gives Gilgamesh advice, telling him to embrace life and forgo his mourning. It is thought that the first recorded expression of the idea is in the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is regarded as the second-oldest religious text and the earliest surviving notable literature in human history. Though the Latin phrase carpe diem is attributed to Horace, the concept was written down before the 23 BC poem. ![]() You can find more fascinating discussions on the topic in this JSTOR article: “How ‘Carpe Diem’ Got Lost in Translation.” Some argue that our ‘seize the day’ translation evokes a distinctly American reading that doesn’t capture the intended meaning of the phrase. There is actually a lot of interesting discussion about precisely the meaning of carpe diem as written by Horace. Seize the present trust tomorrow e'en as little as you may. In the moment of our talking, envious time has ebb'd away. Strain your wine and prove your wisdom life is short should hope be more? This, that makes the Tyrrhene billows spend their strength against the shore. Whether Jove has many winters yet to give, or this our last Mine and yours nor scan the tables of your Babylonish seers.īetter far to bear the future, my Leuconoe, like the past, We’ll spare you the original Latin version (considering it’s a dead language and all,) but here is an English translation of the section that includes carpe diem:Īsk not ('tis forbidden knowledge), what our destined term of years, The literal translation of carpe diem is ‘pluck (or harvest) the day (while it is ripe).’ This aphorism originates from book 1 of Odes, a work by the Roman poet Horace. It is also sometimes translated as ‘seize the present.’ This phrase is related to ‘seize the day,’ which is an English translation of the Latin term carpe diem. You might be able to twist their arm into having a little fun by saying something along the lines of “This is the first time they’ve ever played in our town, and they might never come here again! Why don’t you live a little and ‘seize the moment’ for once?” Where Does 'Seize the Moment' Come From? Their favorite band is playing in town tonight, but you still have difficulty convincing them to attend because they don’t want to stay out later than their usual bedtime. Other ways to explain this proverb are “to make the most of the moment” or “enjoy the present.”įor example, let’s say your friend is always uptight, planning for the future, and working too hard. ‘Seize the moment’ is a phrase that means “to live life to one’s full potential” and “to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by life whenever and wherever they show up.” Send us feedback about these examples.Other Ways to Say 'Seize the Moment' What Does 'Seize the Moment' Mean? These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in a moment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2023 See More 2023 Day by day and state by state, things can change in a moment. Justin George, Washington Post, 17 July 2023 The teen seemed to get lost in a moment while gazing at her new friend - a female bass player - on stage. 2023 Osorio stopped her, saying the elevator would return in a moment. 2023 Long the centerpiece of a profit-enhancing version of globalization, China has devolved into the ultimate wild card in a moment of extraordinary uncertainty for the world’s economy. ![]() 2023 Cloud landed the role in a moment of serendipity when he was spotted by casting scout Eléonore Hendricks – who referred him to casting director Jennifer Venditti – while walking down the street in New York. 2023 But in a moment when basketball fans needed to believe super teams were vulnerable, Nowitzki delivered. 2023 No one wants to see a colleague in a moment of frailty and vulnerability. Recent Examples on the Web On Monday, the lead disappeared in the fifth when Andrew Heaney couldn’t execute a big pitch (more in a moment) or a big fielding play, throwing wildly to first on Jose Altuve’s swinging bunt. ![]()
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