English

Proverb

carpe diem

1. Seize the day, make the most of today, enjoy the present.
   • 1905, Chesterton, G. K., Heretics, New York: John Lane, OL 24174141M:

     It is the carpe diem religion; but the carpe diem religion is not the religion of happy people, but of very unhappy people.

   • 2007 July 30, Harris, Lee, “Can Carpe Diem Societies Survive?”, in The Suicide of Reason: Radical Islam's Threat to the West, New York: Basic Books, ISBN 9780465002030, LCCN 2007007954, OL 9697473M, page 241:

     Indeed, in an extreme carpe diem society, children are raised without being given any sense that they have a transgenerational duty to the as yet unborn— the duty to leave them a better world.

   • 2011 January 29, “Rollercoaster: The Musical!”, in Phineas and Ferb, season 2, episode 38, , “Carpe Diem” (song):

     Just grab those opportunities when you see 'em / Cause every day's a brand new day, you gotta carpe diem

Synonyms

• gather rosebuds, take the cash and let the credit go

Related terms

• carpe diem cras

Translations

See also

• take the bull by the horns
• the world is one's oyster
• YOLO
• Carpe diem on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons

Latin

Etymology

From Horace, Odes I.xi.8: Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, meaning “seize the day while trusting little on what tomorrow might bring”.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈkar.pe ˈdi.em/, [ˈkar.pɛ ˈdi.ẽ]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈkar.pe ˈdi.em/, [ˈkar.pe ˈdiː.em]

Phrase

carpe diem

1. carpe diem, seize the day

Portuguese

Proverb

carpe diem

1. seize the day (enjoy the present)