We explain what carpe diem is and what is the origin of this phrase. Also, how is the lifestyle based on carpe diem.
"Take advantage of each day, don't trust tomorrow."What is Carpe Diem?
The expression carpe diem comes from Latin and was first written by the Roman poet Horace. If we translate this phrase literally we will see what it means "harvest the day”And it has to do with taking advantage of the life in the present. For carpe diem it is important not to waste a second of our lives and make the most of our weather.
This significance is related to the idea that we do not know exactly what will happen tomorrow. The future is improbable and inaccurate, that is why the present must be enjoyed and taken advantage of.
The poet's complete phrase was "carpe diem quam minimum credulous postero" which, if we translate it into Spanish, would be something like "take advantage of every day, don't trust tomorrow." Horacio considers that the only thing necessary is the death, the only thing we are sure of. That is why it is necessary to take advantage of life while it lasts.
Carpe diem as a lifestyle
Today this concept has been taken as the leitmotif of the lives of many persons. These people who take carpe diem as a way of life consider that we have to live each day as if it were the last day of our lives. Time is running out and we must live the moments here and now.
Many consider this conception of life erroneous and little responsible. Those who affirm this consider that not thinking about the future is not correct, since we must think and consider what will become of us when we are old, ensure a quiet life without work or responsibilities.
Carpe diem is an invitation to enjoy the present, this moment, without creating unnecessary worries about the future. The only thing we have in concrete is the present.
The movie The death poet Society (released in 1989 and directed by Peter Weir) took this concept into its history. In it a teacher of literature urges his students to follow the mandate of carpe diem, change their attitude facing life based on this principle.
Carpe Diem as a literary topic
This phrase has taken the form of a literary topic, that is, a recurring theme in universal literature of all times. Carpe diem can be considered as an exhortation not to waste time and for another to enjoy the present time and every moment of our lives without stopping to think about the future, since it is uncertain.
Carpe diem was of greater importance in the Baroque and in the Romanticism, although it also had its importance during the Renaissance.
It is important to mention that this concept is closely related to another Latin topic, the memento mori, which tells us, remember that you are going to die. The only thing we know exactly is that we are going to die and we must live remembering this, because if not, life slips out of our hands, time passes and we have not enjoyed anything.