Origin of the phrase ‘carpe diem’: The phrase ‘carpe diem’ originates with the Roman poet Horace. The full name of this poet is Quintus Horatius Flaccus, and he used the phrase ‘carpe diem’ in his book ‘The Odes’.
Meaning of ‘carpe diem’: ‘Carpe diem’ is a Latin phrase that means ‘seize the day’. It means to make the most out of the present instead of looking forward to that which has not yet come. Grammatically, it is an imperative, which means that it is a command for someone to do something.
Further facts about ‘carpe diem’: In his poem, Horace was commanding the reader to make the most of life whilst they still can, particularly in the context of romantic love. ‘Carpe’ comes from ‘carpere’, which means ‘to pick’ or ‘to pluck’, often with the sense of picking flowers. So, the phrase is sometimes translated ‘gather rosebuds while you may’.
Importance: ‘Carpe diem’ has become a very widely used phrase. Even people who have never heard of Horace will use this phrase to express their desire to make the most of life.
- When you seize the day, you live life to the fullest and reduce the chances of having any regrets about missed opportunities or wasted moments.
- Living in the present moment can be wonderful.
- Some opportunities are only available for a limited period of time.
- Since the present is what we have, we should avoid wasting time and take full advantage of it.
Conclusion: From its origin in a classical Roman poem, the phrase ‘carpe diem’ has become a global catchphrase.