Carpe diem (seize the day) is one of the oldest philosophical mottos in western history. 
First voiced by Horace (the Roman poet) more than 2,000 years ago, it retains an extraordinary resonance in popular culture.

Seizing the day

Self Improvement

<ul>
<li>Metallica (the band) has trilled audiences around the world with their song Carpe Diem Baby.</li>
<li>Carpe diem is a message found in Hollywood films such as Dead Poets Society.</li>
<li>Carpe diem relates tp one of the most successful brand campaigns (Just Do It); </li>
<li>Carpe diem is alsso related to the social media hashtag #yolo (you only live once).</li>
<li>This expression from a dead language returns more than 25m online search results.</li>
</ul>

Carpe diem and Pop culture

Carpe diem means different things to different people.
For some of us it may relate to taking a once in a lifetime opportunity, while for others it is about indulging in wild hedonism or living calmly in the present moment.

There is not one carpe diem, but many

<ul>
<li>It has been hijacked by consumer culture: Just Do It became Just Buy It.</li>
<li>The productivity obsession turned the spontaneity of Just Do It into the obsession of Just Plan It.</li>
<li>Digital entertainment is replacing real life events with screen-based pleasures. Just Do It became Just Watch It instead.</li>
<li> Mindfulness encourages the limited idea that seizing the day is mainly about living in the here and now. Just Do It has become Just Breathe.</li>
</ul>

Carpe diem has been hijacked

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<img alt="A scene from Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams holding an open book and sitting on a desk in a classroom surrounded by students" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c3fed12ef15081f3f52f58ae0e50ef298ad04fed/0_176_2798_1679/master/2798.jpg?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=0bb27fb4bf98d13595c34d8189b33fcf" width="700" height="420">
</picture><figcaption dir="auto"> New teachings: Robin Williams as John Keating in 1989’s Dead Poets Society Photograph: Moviestore/Rex Shutterstock</figcaption></figure>Carpe diem – seize the day – is one of the oldest philosophical mottos in western history. First uttered by the Roman poet Horace more than 2,000 years ago, it retains an extraordinary resonance in popular culture. The heavy metal band <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/metallica" title="" data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr">Metallica</a> has rocked audiences around the world with their song Carpe Diem Baby, while the actress <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/01/first-tattoo-later-in-life-judi-dench" title="" data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr">Judi Dench</a> had carpe diem tattooed on her wrist for her 81st birthday.&nbsp;It’s a message found in Hollywood films such as Dead Poets Society; in one of the most successful brand campaigns of the last century (Just Do It); and in the social media hashtag #yolo (you only live once).It is remarkable that an expression from a long-dead language generates more than 25m online search results.&nbsp;Yet just as striking is the fact that there is not one carpe diem, but many. While usually translated as “seize” the day, the original Latin is sometimes rendered as “harvest”, “pluck” or “enjoy” the day. These variations tell us that carpe diem means different things to different people. For some it’s about taking a&nbsp;once in a lifetime opportunity, while for others it is about indulging in wild hedonism or living calmly in the present moment. We might casually use the term carpe diem when chatting with a friend, but how aware are we of its many personalities hidden beneath the surface?In our age of distraction, where we are checking our phones an average of 110 times a day, grasping these different meanings is more important than ever. They are an antidote to the reality that we are, as Dead Poets’ Mr Keating (and also Shakespeare) put it, “food for worms”. Life is short and our time is running out.But here’s the problem: carpe diem has been hijacked, and the result is that its potential to transform our lives is rapidly slipping away from us. This hijacking is an existential crime of the century – and one we have barely noticed. Who, or what, are the hijackers? First, the spirit of “seize the day” has been surreptitiously hijacked by consumer culture, which has recast it as Black Friday shopping sprees and one-click buying: Just Do It has come to mean Just Buy It.Alongside this is the growing cult of efficiency and time management that has driven us towards hyper-scheduled living, turning the spontaneity of Just Do It into a&nbsp;culture of Just Plan It.A third hijacker is 24/7 digital entertainment that is replacing vibrant life experiences with vicarious, screen-based pleasures. Rather than Just Do It, we increasingly Just Watch It instead.Finally – and though it might seem counter-intuitive – carpe diem has been hijacked by the mindfulness movement. While mindfulness has many proven benefits, from reducing stress to helping with depression, one of its unintended consequences has been to encourage the narrow idea that seizing the day is primarily about living in the here and now. Just Do It has become Just Breathe.<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d119e44ed2dbecf09605c9ab2c4d1bf13a64ca50/128_0_3840_2304/master/3840.jpg?width=460&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=9f3c37eaff1ac9a85615ab097728b248" width="130" height="78">Confronted by these four hijackers, the art of seizing the day is vanishing and we urgently need to do something about it, or else risk losing touch with the carpe diem wisdom of humanity that has accumulated over the past two millennia.&nbsp;My hope is to wake us up to the promise of Horace’s maxim so we don’t reach our final days looking back on life with regret. The prize it offers is great: nothing less than the gift of radical aliveness or, to borrow a phrase from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/jun/26/classics" title="" data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr">Henry David Thoreau</a>, the possibility “to live deep and suck out all the marrow from life”.The time has come to reclaim carpe diem.Carpe Diem Regained by Roman Krznaric is published by Unbound at £14.99 (<a href="http://carpediem.click/" title="" data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr">carpediem.click</a>). To order a copy for £12.74, go to <a href="https://bookshop.theguardian.com/carpe-diem-regained.html" title="" data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr">bookshop.theguardian.com</a><h2>
 America faces an epic choice ...
 </h2>... in the coming year, and the results will define the country for a generation. These are perilous times. Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. Science and reason are in a battle with conjecture and instinct to determine public policy in this time of a pandemic. Partisanship and economic interests are playing their part, too. Meanwhile, misinformation and falsehoods are routine. At a time like this, an independent news organisation that fights for data over dogma, and fact over fake, is not just optional. It is essential.The Guardian has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Like many other news organisations, we are facing an unprecedented collapse in advertising revenues. We rely to an ever greater extent on our readers, both for the moral force to continue doing journalism at a time like this and for the financial strength to facilitate that reporting.We believe every one of us deserves equal access to fact-based news and analysis. We’ve decided to keep Guardian journalism free for all readers, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. This is made possible thanks to the support we receive from readers across America in all 50 states.As our business model comes under even greater pressure, we’d love your help so that we can carry on our essential work. Support the Guardian from as little as $1 - it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The spirit of this centuries-old philosophy has been hijacked. It’s time to get back to its original meaning, says Roman Krznaric

C arpe diem – seize the day – is one of the oldest philosophical mottos in western history. First uttered by the Roman poet Horace more than 2,000 years ago, it retains an extraordinary resonance in popular culture. The heavy metal band <a data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr" href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/metallica" title="">Metallica </a>has rocked audiences around the world with their song Carpe Diem Baby, while the actress <a data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/01/first-tattoo-later-in-life-judi-dench" title="">Judi Dench </a>had carpe diem tattooed on her wrist for her 81st birthday.

It’s a message found in Hollywood films such as Dead Poets Society ; in one of the most successful brand campaigns of the last century (Just Do It); and in the social media hashtag #yolo (you only live once). It is remarkable that an expression from a long-dead language generates more than 25m online search results. Yet just as striking is the fact that there is not one carpe diem, but many. While usually translated as “seize” the day, the original Latin is sometimes rendered as “harvest”, “pluck” or “enjoy” the day. These variations tell us that carpe diem means different things to different people. For some it’s about taking a once in a lifetime opportunity, while for others it is about indulging in wild hedonism or living calmly in the present moment. We might casually use the term carpe diem when chatting with a friend, but how aware are we of its many personalities hidden beneath the surface?

In our age of distraction, where we are checking our phones an average of 110 times a day, grasping these different meanings is more important than ever. They are an antidote to the reality that we are, as Dead Poets’ Mr Keating (and also Shakespeare) put it, “food for worms”. Life is short and our time is running out.

But here’s the problem: carpe diem has been hijacked, and the result is that its potential to transform our lives is rapidly slipping away from us. This hijacking is an existential crime of the century – and one we have barely noticed. Who, or what, are the hijackers? First, the spirit of “seize the day” has been surreptitiously hijacked by consumer culture, which has recast it as Black Friday shopping sprees and one-click buying: Just Do It has come to mean Just Buy It.

Alongside this is the growing cult of efficiency and time management that has driven us towards hyper-scheduled living, turning the spontaneity of Just Do It into a culture of Just Plan It. A third hijacker is 24/7 digital entertainment that is replacing vibrant life experiences with vicarious, screen-based pleasures. Rather than Just Do It, we increasingly Just Watch It instead. Finally – and though it might seem counter-intuitive – carpe diem has been hijacked by the mindfulness movement. While mindfulness has many proven benefits, from reducing stress to helping with depression, one of its unintended consequences has been to encourage the narrow idea that seizing the day is primarily about living in the here and now. Just Do It has become Just Breathe.

Confronted by these four hijackers, the art of seizing the day is vanishing and we urgently need to do something about it, or else risk losing touch with the carpe diem wisdom of humanity that has accumulated over the past two millennia.  My hope is to wake us up to the promise of Horace’s maxim so we don’t reach our final days looking back on life with regret. The prize it offers is great: nothing less than the gift of radical aliveness or, to borrow a phrase from <a data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr" href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/jun/26/classics" title="">Henry David Thoreau </a>, the possibility “to live deep and suck out all the marrow from life”.

The time has come to reclaim carpe diem. Carpe Diem Regained by Roman Krznaric is published by Unbound at £14.99 ( <a data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr" href="http://carpediem.click/" title="">carpediem.click </a>). To order a copy for £12.74, go to <a data-link-name="in body link" dir="ltr" href="https://bookshop.theguardian.com/carpe-diem-regained.html" title="">bookshop.theguardian.com </a> ... in the coming year, and the results will define the country for a generation. These are perilous times. Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. Science and reason are in a battle with conjecture and instinct to determine public policy in this time of a pandemic. Partisanship and economic interests are playing their part, too. Meanwhile, misinformation and falsehoods are routine. At a time like this, an independent news organisation that fights for data over dogma, and fact over fake, is not just optional. It is essential.

The Guardian has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Like many other news organisations, we are facing an unprecedented collapse in advertising revenues. We rely to an ever greater extent on our readers, both for the moral force to continue doing journalism at a time like this and for the financial strength to facilitate that reporting.

We believe every one of us deserves equal access to fact-based news and analysis. We’ve decided to keep Guardian journalism free for all readers, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. This is made possible thanks to the support we receive from readers across America in all 50 states.

Bite‑sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

How do we really seize the day?

Seizing the day

Carpe diem and Pop culture

There is not one carpe diem, but many

Carpe diem has been hijacked

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Do what you love – and take it easy: eight ways to get back lost fitness and motivation

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Bite‑sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

How do we really seize the day?

Seizing the day

Carpe diem and Pop culture

There is not one carpe diem, but many

Carpe diem has been hijacked

Do what you love – and take it easy: how to get back lost fitness and motivation

Do what you love – and take it easy: eight ways to get back lost fitness and motivation

A dietitian's guide to 'clean eating': what it is and how to do it right

Bite‑sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career