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The Philosopher's Shirt

Carpe The Fucking Diem - Embroidered

Two thousand years of gentle reinterpretation have turned carpe diem into wall art. The added word puts the deadline back into it.

Stitched compactly, so people have to commit to reading it. The full range, in every format we make it in, all printed to order as you buy it. A Stoic philosophy gift for bold thinkers. Tomorrow is unpromised. Act like it.

Questions about this design

What does the Carpe the fucking diem design show?
A small embroidered chest motif – the words Carpe Diem with “the fucking” stitched in between in cursive, under two little palm trees. The Latin phrase has softened into a poster slogan over two thousand years; the added word puts the urgency back in. Today, not someday.
What does carpe diem mean?
Literally “pluck the day” – the verb carpere means to pick or harvest, as you would pick ripe fruit. It is usually translated as “seize the day”. The idea is to use and enjoy the present instead of postponing life in favour of an uncertain future.
Who said carpe diem and what is the full quote?
The Roman poet Horace, in Odes 1.11, published in 23 BC. The poem ends with “carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero” – pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in tomorrow. It is addressed to a woman called Leuconoe who asks astrologers how long she and the poet will live.
Does carpe diem mean partying and living without limits?
Not really. Horace was shaped by Epicurus, for whom the best pleasure was calm – freedom from pain and anxiety, friendship, simple food – rather than excess. Carpe diem advises not to waste today worrying about a future you cannot control, which is closer to moderation than to a binge.
What is the difference between carpe diem and memento mori?
Memento mori – remember that you will die – is the reminder; carpe diem is the conclusion drawn from it. Because life is short and the future uncertain, the present deserves your attention. Both ideas run through ancient philosophy, from Epicurus to the Stoics.
What did Seneca say about wasting time?
In On the Shortness of Life (around 49 AD) Seneca argues that life is not short but that we waste much of it – “life is long if you know how to use it”. His first letter to Lucilius opens with the advice to claim yourself back and hold on to every hour, since time is the only thing truly ours.
How do you pronounce carpe diem?
In classical Latin roughly KAR-peh DEE-em, with a hard c. In English you will also hear KAR-pay DEE-em; both are understood everywhere. Diem is the accusative of dies, day, and carpe is the imperative – an instruction, not a wish.
Which products have the Carpe the fucking diem design and who is it for?
It is embroidered on a classic t-shirt, a sweatshirt and a premium hoodie, and on a cap. A good gift for chronic procrastinators, Latin and classics students, graduates and anyone who needs a gentle but firm reminder. Note that the swear word is part of the design.