Origins:
This quote is attributed to early imperial poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, or Horace, in his Book 1 of his Odes. The full line reads “carpe diem, quam minimum credulo postero”, which translates to “Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future”. Horace wrote this to a woman called Leuconoe, advising her not to worry about the future, however, these two words became idealized in our society, warning us to not squander away our time.
Historical Context:
Horace lived through troublesome times, in the dawn of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Empire. He lived through the civil wars and political instability that the Republic wrought - in fact, he fought in the war at Philippi against Octavian and Antony. After the ascension of Augustus to the position of Princeps, Horace benefitted from the patronage through Maecenas, and wrote prolific volumes of poems. The Odes were written in this time of peace (the Pax Romana), where Rome was redefining itself culturally, economically, and politically.
Horace’s works blend Greek poetic forms (e.g. Sappho) with Roman sentiments, expounding on Epicurean philosophy, a popular philosophical belief in Rome at that time.
Reflection:
“Carpe diem” endured because it whispers to a timeless human paradox: the desire to control our future versus the reality of its uncertainty. Today, it’s often interpreted as a call to action: to chase our dream, to bring visions into reality, inspiring us to act rather than squander. The enduring legacy of this quote proves the timelessness of Horace’s poems, and the timelessness of classicical concepts that we still herald to this day.