Carpe diem

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This article is about the Latin phrase. For the webcomic, see Carpe Diem (comic).

Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace (Odes 1.11). It is usually translated "seize the day".

One interpretation of the phrase might be as an existential cautionary term, much like "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" with emphasis on making the most of current opportunities because life is short and time is fleeting. It has some connections with another Latin phrase, Memento mori.

Tu ne quaesieris, scire nefas, quem mihi, quem tibi	Leuconoe, don't ask--it's forbidden to know--
finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios	what end the gods will give me or you. Don't play with Babylonian
temptaris numeros. ut melius, quidquid erit, pati.	fortune-telling either. Better just deal with whatever comes your way.
seu pluris hiemes seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam,	Whether you'll see several more winters or whether the last one
quae nunc oppositis debilitat pumicibus mare	Jupiter gives you is the one even now pelting the rocks on the shore with the waves
Tyrrhenum: sapias, vina liques et spatio brevi	of the Tyrrhenian sea--be smart, drink your wine. Scale back your long hopes
spem longam reseces. dum loquimur, fugerit invida	to a short period. Even as we speak, envious time
aetas: carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.	is running away from us. Seize the day, and trust as little as possible in the future.

1 In literature
2 On television
3 In movies
4 In music
5 Others
6 References

[edit] In literature

This idea was popular in 16th and 17th-century English poetry, for example in Robert Herrick's To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time, which begins "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" [1]. It is interesting to note that the following Chinese couplet attributed to a poetess in the Tang Dynasty, which has entered the realm of proverbs, strikingly resembles Herrick's line: "Pluck the flower when it has blossomed; don't wait until there are no flowers with only branches to break."
This theme is also recalled in the verses of English Victorian poet Tennyson, and in Andrew Marvell's famous To His Coy Mistress.
A song in William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night has been referred to as "Carpe diem", although the phrase itself is not mentioned in it.
"Carpe diem" is also used to denote the theme of Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love".^[2]
In the modern poem "You Would" by A. Kefalas, the phrase is used in reference to seizing the day: "Carpe diem, damnit."
Saul Bellow's Novella Seize the Day deals with this idea of living for the moment vs. worrying about the future.
The phrase "Carpe diem" inspired the title of Terry Pratchett's 1998 book Carpe Jugulum.^[3]
Title of a story by Argentinian writer Abelardo Castillo in the volume "Las maquinarias de la noche", (1992).

[edit] On television

"Carpe diem" is used by Charlie in Lost in the episode Homecoming, when told his heroin supply was running out.
Bully Jimbo Jones from "The Simpsons" can be seen tagging "Carpe Diem" on a wall in the Season Five episode "Homer The Vigilante".
On ABC's Grey's Anatomy , in the Episode : "Let it be" (Season 2 , episode 8). George tells a patient who just survived a 5 story fall to : "Seize the day".
"Carpe diem" is used by Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry in an episode of "Sister Sister".
"Seize the day, for tomorrow you might be dead." - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
"Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" is used by Captain Sheridan on Babylon 5, to which the Minbari Delenn replies "You humans are such a depressing people".
In Zoey 101 in the Spring Break special, Michael says "Carpe Doom" and "seize the day" to Chase when Chase wouldn't admit to Zoey that he loves her. Chase points out that it was "Carpe Diem", and "Carpe Doom" meant stupid.

[edit] In movies

"Carpe Diem! Seize the day, lads! Make your lives extraordinary!" was used in the hit movie, "Dead Poets Society", a film that explores the idea of "Carpe Diem" from the viewpoint of a classroom of young men at an all boys boarding school. It is said by Robin Williams' character, Professor Keating, in the hope that the students will learn to do what they want to do. The film explores the various ways in which the students seize the day and the consequences they face.
Also seen in "Clueless" when Cher is shopping with Christian and he asks again whether the jacket he bought looked good or not. She replies with "Carpe Diem! OK? You looked hot in it!"
Also in Out Cold, on the scene after Pig Pen is dreaming with the gold dancers he is in a car with Luke and Rick, Rick tells him the story about his long lost love Anna and Luke tells him to stop whinning and run the mountain as he is supposed, to what Pig Pen replies "Carpe Diem....seize the..carp".
In the Australian animated movie Harvie Krumpet, the line is used to motivate the main character, Harvie Krumpet, with a voice over saying "seize the day! Carpe diem..."
In the disney movie musical "Newsies" the newsboys proudly sing "Seize the day!" as they fight against the Newspaper owners, Pulitzer and Hearst.
In the film Mrs Doubtfire, Robin Williams playing Mrs Doubtfire wears a set of false teeth. At one point, these fall out into a glass of water, prompting him/her to say, in a parody of his use of the phrase in Dead Poets Society, "Carpe Dentum... seize the teeth"
Carpe Diem is used in the movie The Poseidon Adventure. Minutes before the ship was struck by a rogue wave a gentleman states the phrase in regard to a comment that the bottle of wine he ordered was too expensive.
In the film (Waiting), The manager yells out, "Seize the day!" while Dane Cook replies, "Carpe dees nuts!"
In the film Torque, the main character Ford wears a jacket that has Carpe Diem stitched on.

[edit] In music

One of the last lines of "Tripping Billies" by Dave Matthews Band is "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die".
In the chorus of "Seize the Day" by Freya: Carpe Diem! One Run Straight Through, and Then it is All Over! Carpe Diem! Live Now This Time, May Never Come Again!
Lara Fabian, the international French-language singer, released her "Carpe Diem" album in 1994.
A song by Goth Band "Visions Of Vespertina" sings a song in chorus called "Carpe diem", repeating over and over the words, and saying after "Seize the day".
From Metallica's 'Re-Load' album the 7th song is titled 'Carpe Diem Baby'. The lyrics of which read, 'So wash your face away with dirt, it don't feel good until it hurts. So take this world and shake it. Come squeeze and suck the day, come carpe diem, baby.'
Dream Theater has a section of their song "A Change Of Seasons" called Carpe Diem — actually referring to the film Dead Poets Society^{[citation needed]}. The song itself mainly hangs around the theme of "Seize the day". Part of the song also cites and makes lyrical references to the poem To the Virgins, to make much of Time (Robert Harrick^[1])
Jin's hip-hop underground album, Jin Presents The Emcee's Properganda, features the song Carpe Diem.
In Zebrahead's 'Anthem' from their latest album 'Broadcast to the World'(2006). The lyrics are, 'I wanna break out, Carpe Diem, I know, but all this doubt in my head, It won't let me go.'
A Norwegian rap group, Karpe Diem, got their name from Carpe diem.
German singer Nena performed "Carpe Diem".
The Nerve Agents have a song entitled "Carpe Diem".
Finnish metal band, Sentenced, start their song "Neverlasting" with the phrase "Carpe Diem, seize the day before your life fades away".
Heavy Metal band "Will Haven" released an album called "Carpe Diem", track three on this album is called "Carpe Diem"
Elena Paparizou, in 2006 released her English Album, "The Game of Love", which contains the song "Carpe Diem (Seize The Day)"
One of Avenged Sevenfold's hits is called "Seize The Day".
YeLLOW Generation, the female JPop group, has a song entitled "Carpe Diem," which references the title of Robert Herrick's poem, "To the Virgins, To make much of time."

[edit] Others

A variation of the phrase, Carpe Viam ("Seize the Road"), is the motto of the online running club Dead Runners Society.
The popular school paper in La Chataigneraie, Switzerland, is called Carpe Diem.
The game Carpe Diem, which is currently in open beta phase can be found using the this link: [4]
The Carpe Diem Trust is a charity aimed at helping ordinary people to 'seize the day' and achieve something extraordinary. [5] [6]
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant's recent number change to #24 (24 hours in a day, 24 minutes in an NBA Half, 24 seconds on the shot clock, etc) includes a new logo featuring his initials, the number and "Carpe Deim."
When a fisher catches a carp in the video game Animal Crossing, the player comments "Carp diem!"
A popular nightclub in Hvar is named "Carpe Deim"
Popular Australian cricketer "Michael Clarke" has a tattoo in his hand which reads "Carpe Deim"