Memento mori: remember death in order to live better

The Stoics

Stoic philosophers taught that one should think about death every day. Seneca wrote that one must live as though each day were the last, and the emperor Marcus Aurelius reminded himself in the Meditations that he might depart at any moment, and so he must act, speak, and think accordingly. It was not about fear, but about ordering one's priorities.

A whisper during the triumph

According to various accounts, including that of Tertullian, a slave stood behind the Roman general riding in triumph and whispered to him to remember that he was only a man. Historians are not certain of the exact words, but the scene became a symbol of humility at the moment of greatest glory.

Vanitas and skulls

In the seventeenth century, Dutch painters created vanitas still lifes: a skull, a burnt-down candle, an hourglass, wilting flowers, and soap bubbles. Every object served as a reminder of transience. Skulls also appeared on clocks, rings, and gravestones, and in Czermna in the Kłodzko Valley stands the Chapel of Skulls, whose walls are covered with thousands of bones.

Memento mori in everyday life

• Once a week, ask yourself: am I living in accordance with what matters to me?
• Do not put off important conversations, apologies, and expressions of gratitude.
• Write a letter to yourself ten years from now, or to someone close to you.
• Practise gratitude: write down three good things from the day each evening.

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You will find all 30 topics in the section Mysteries of life and death.

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Sources

Memento mori, Wikipedia · Vanitas, Wikipedia

Frequently asked questions

What does memento mori mean?

From Latin: "remember death." It is a reminder of transience, intended to help one live consciously and set priorities wisely.