In which we talk mottoes
I am intrigued by the notion of mottos--the words we would use to describe our intentions or our values. If this were the fourteenth century, we might carve them on the lintels of our stately manors or embroider them onto banners to carry into battle. Today we tattoo them on our bodies or use them as signatures in our web postings--a trifle less impressive, but more accessible to the general public. (Did serfs have mottoes, I wonder? BTW, I have pluralized it as "mottos" and "mottoes" while writing this. AskOxford claims both are correct, but both look impossibly stupid.)
My family--the Mackintoshes--have a motto, "Touch not the cat bot a glove", which is a variation on the ever-popular "Nemo me impune lacessit" when you think about it. (If you've forgotten your Poe, that motto is the one he trots out in "The Cask of Amontillado". It translates to "no one touches me with impunity" and, if memory serves, is also the motto of the city of Edinburgh.) But while I do like the quirkiness of the Mackintosh motto, and it is understandable that the Scottish clans would need to take a firm stand with one another, it does seem a trifle unfriendly in this day and age, don't you think?
I have a few mottoes of my own and they vary depending upon my mood and situation, but there is one that rather neatly packages up the bits and bobs of my life and ties the whole thing in a pretty bit of Latin--"specto subitus", which is a welcome reminder to "expect the unexpected". I have toyed with the notion of having it discreetly tattooed someplace, but I could just as easily paint it above the door of my study or have it engraved on notecards--less expensive, less painful, and less permanent.
And I wonder, what is your motto? And how would you choose to proclaim it?
My family--the Mackintoshes--have a motto, "Touch not the cat bot a glove", which is a variation on the ever-popular "Nemo me impune lacessit" when you think about it. (If you've forgotten your Poe, that motto is the one he trots out in "The Cask of Amontillado". It translates to "no one touches me with impunity" and, if memory serves, is also the motto of the city of Edinburgh.) But while I do like the quirkiness of the Mackintosh motto, and it is understandable that the Scottish clans would need to take a firm stand with one another, it does seem a trifle unfriendly in this day and age, don't you think?
I have a few mottoes of my own and they vary depending upon my mood and situation, but there is one that rather neatly packages up the bits and bobs of my life and ties the whole thing in a pretty bit of Latin--"specto subitus", which is a welcome reminder to "expect the unexpected". I have toyed with the notion of having it discreetly tattooed someplace, but I could just as easily paint it above the door of my study or have it engraved on notecards--less expensive, less painful, and less permanent.
And I wonder, what is your motto? And how would you choose to proclaim it?
Comments
Isn't it? I have that and I
Isn't it? I have that and I think one other. I'm behind!
Deanna, I've been drooling
Deanna, I've been drooling over those trade reissues. That NINE COACHES WAITING cover is lovely.
I rather like some of Anne
I rather like some of Anne Boleyn's mottoes:The Most HappyGrumble all you like, this is how it is going to be (attributed)
I proclaim mine as my email
I proclaim mine as my email signature. It's a quote from Bono (aka Paul Hewson, the lead singer of U2): "Sing the melody line you hear in your own head... Remember you don't owe anybody any explanations." My interpretation: have the courage to be yourself and stay true to your goals, aspirations and dreams, and don't get bogged down with what other people think of you.And just for kicks, supposedly the motto for my family name is "virtutis gloria merces" or glory is the reward of valor. Personally, that sounds very unlike my family! :)
Oh I love latin mottoes! I
Oh I love latin mottoes! I loved "Audeo" from your books, Deanna and have kind of adopted it for myself. I tend to get locked up in fear sometimes and it helps me to remember that I can be bold.
Ha, Nancy--I love "just keep
Ha, Nancy--I love "just keep swimming". And I use it too!I have read it, Angiegirl. I LOVE the Mary Stewart Gothics! They're being reissued one by one in trade paperback, and I'm so happy to have new copies.
There are a few that I stick
There are a few that I stick by rather well and some I just thing are useful. "What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger.""I gave you my heart, please do not throw it away.""Carpe Diem." (Seize the day)"If you come in half the conversation, do not ask any questions if you do not know what we are talking about.""There are more important things effecting people in the world than your relationship status." That's about it...lol!
I wish it were profound in
I wish it were profound in the literarty or historical sense but I have found a life raft in Dori's words: Just keep swimming.
Sadly, my family motto is not
Sadly, my family motto is not so profound but rather apt given the nature of our lack of grace and tendency to leap before we look: "If you're going to be dumb, you'd better be tough."Leading the family in bones broken and total number of stitches (538), needless to say, I find 'tough' to be relative and 'dumb' to be fairly universal.
Given your family motto, I
Given your family motto, I have to ask if you've read Mary Stewart's TOUCH NOT THE CAT? The whole mystery sort of revolves around that motto. :)
When I was a Latin student we
When I was a Latin student we had to pick our defining Latin quote and proclaim it in from of the whole school as part of our honor society duties. At the time I spent a good deal of time agonizing over it not wanting to say something stupid (in retrospect I'm sure no one was even listening, but try telling that to your teenage self) so I neatly solved the problem by choosing 'in omnia paratus', ready for all things. Because if you're not, you better be quick, they'll catch up with you either way.Elizabeth
Mine isn't so much of a motto
Mine isn't so much of a motto as an affirmation, I think. I was reading some of Nathaniel Hawthorn's correspondence, and this jumped out at me:"[I do not] pretend to be very good; there are hundreds of kinder and better people in the world; but such as I am, I am genuine, and in keeping with myself."I like the thought of being genuine and who you are instead of trying to be someone you're not (even if you truly admire that other person). It's a comforting feeling to know that it's OK to be yourself, even if you're not perfect.
I have lived long enough to
I have lived long enough to know that: Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit.Or: Perhaps one day we will look back on even these things and laugh.A bumper sticker at the very least . . .
My motto is a funny little
My motto is a funny little slogan from the '70's that says, "Bloom where you are planted." Life is not going to go as you have planned, and you may not have the career or the life that you have envisioned. However, that doesn't mean that you can't do good or make a difference wherever you're at. If I can leave wherever I'm at better than it was when I arrived, then I consider my mission accomplished.
I've adopted two Italian
I've adopted two Italian mottos for myself: "Tutto e possibile," everything is possible, which just reminds me to keep positive and to be open. "Non e dato a noi di sapere tutto," it is not given to us to know everything, which reminds me not to be such an overachiever all the time and let things be.
Butterflies are almost cliche
Butterflies are almost cliche ... and yet, it is also my symbol-as-motto at this time in my life ... I am having it tattoed on my left shoulder this weekend - with the closed eyes of a woman as part of its wing pattern (this is after a great deal of thought).Why my left shoulder? When I was living/taking care of my brother as he was dying with colon cancer, one day - while he was sleeping - I went out into the yard to pull weeds, reconnect with the earth, and maybe burying some of the sadness and exhaustion.As I kneeled in the dirt of a much-neglected flower bed in the July sun, a butterfly landed on my left shoulder and remained there for about 15 minutes, walking around, fanning its wings, and unrolling its long tongue to sip the sweat off of me. It then lifted off and landed on my hand for another five minutes, walking around, fanning its wings, and sipping with its curly tongue.When it flew away, I was left with a sense of peace that I hadn't felt for a long while, and a calm that allowed me to re-enter that sad house and take care of my brother again.So I guess the motto would be a combination of "have the courage to be as beautiful as you are" with "take the joy that is offered" and "I believe in Magic"Journey
Mine is "If you don't ask,
Mine is "If you don't ask, the answer is always 'no.'" I ask for a LOT of things, and get far more of them than I'd ever expect!
I have three that I try to
I have three that I try to live by, from serious to silly-and needlepoint pillows are my "flags" to present them. "Specto Subitus" is next up-I have been looking for a new project. (Thanks Deanna)"It Is What It Is"- in other words, play the hand you are dealt. Mourning what "might have been" is a waste of time in many situations, and blocks appropriate or productive action. Pull up my socks and get on with it-fix it or learn to live with it, whatever "it" is.Thomas Jefferson once said (or wrote, probably) "I cannot live without books." And the last: "Life is too short to drink cheap wine."