My friend wants to get a tattoo in English. He's very specific about what he wants it to express, but for both of us English is a foreign language and we're not quite sure how to say that using a short but aesthetic phrase. The closest I can get as far as the meaning is concerned is this:
Live for the moments that make life worth living
but that's too long and I guess not very elegant. Is there a good succinct way to express something like that in English?
"Seize the day".
Drew commented with "Carpe Diem" which seems apt, but if you want English not Latin use the English translation. From wikipedia, the English version is an expression in its own right nowadays, and is used for various bands, songs, films and even tattoos!
Seize the day is the translation of the Latin saying Carpe diem.
Live life! (Also, check the synonyms below.)
ODO:
live VERB
1.7 Have an exciting or fulfilling life: he couldn’t wait to get out of school and really start living
Maybe you should start living instead of just watching everyone else.
The voice is calling us to leave our foolish fears behind, to take risks, to trust, to begin to really live.
Get out there and start living, you never know how much longer it is all going to last.
Synonyms: enjoy oneself, enjoy life, have fun, be happy, live life to the full; flourish, prosper, thrive, make the most of life
