Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Book ·243 of 348
"Seize the day."
They never said that.
What people say
"Seize the day."
What was actually said
Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero — Pluck the day, trust as little as possible in the next. Horace — Horace, Odes 1.11 (23 BC)
Why it stuck
"Carpe" means "pluck" (as fruit) — a gentler image than "seize." The full line also carries a distrust of the future that the English tag drops.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.