# Memento Mori ## Definition(s) ### Philosophy >[! Definition] >_Memento Mori_ is a latin phrase that means "Remember you will die" >The phrase comes from ancient Rome where it was tradition that successful generals be accompanied by someone who would whisper in their ear something similar. The purpose of this is to remind the general not to succumb to their own hubris and to remember that they are just a man and are mortal. ## Examples ### Art In art, the ideas of Memento Mori are expressed in images or imagery of human mortality (skulls skeletons, or coffins), the progress of time (with an hourglass) and/or with wilting or dying flowers. There is a genre of art called [[Vanitas]] which can be viewed on this article on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanitas) ![[StillLifeWithASkull.jpg]] **Image:** _Vanitas_ by [[Philippe de Champaigne]] (c. 1671) ### Quotes >[! quote] You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think >[[Marcus Aurelius]] Meditations 2.11 >[! quote] You may delay but time will not. >[[Benjamin Franklin]] >[! quote] The Way of the Samurai is, morning after morning, the practice of death, considering weather it will be here or be there, imagining the most slightly way of dying, and putting one's mind firmly in death. Although this may be a most difficult thing, if one will do it, it can be done. There is nothing that one should suppose cannot be done. > [[Hagakure]] ## Related [[Stoicism]] [[The Daily Stoic]] ## Resources [Daily Stoic](https://dailystoic.com/you-could-leave-life-right-now-let-that-determine-what-you-do-and-say-and-think/) [Wikipedia article on Memento Mori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori)