Latin mottos

As I researched a name for this blog, I came across a great Latin motto, "Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora." Roughly translated, it means "Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow," which is another way of saying "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Last night I re-watched a favorite film of mine, "Marie Antoninette," the 2006 version, directed by Sofia Coppola, not the 1938 version, directed by W.S. Van Dyke. I am reminded of how unfortunate the situation before the "Madame Deficit." The people of France were already cautious as to anyone of Austrian roots 

and looking for an easy target to w

hich to affix blame for the country's horrid financial situation. Although she had little to do with the country's finances, (her own husband wouldn't take her advice when it came to running the country), she was pegged as the woman who ruined France. The true fault did not fall on the French royal family, who, in its enormous size, had spent the vast wealth nearly into the ground. 

If only Marie had been less concerned with maintaining her image and went to the people and explained what she was truly about, would she have suffered the same awful fate? 

It also reminds me of J

ay Gatsby, the magnificent "Oxford" man, who, in his desire for Daisy, poured—what must have been—millions into trying to get her attention. Rather than taking a boat across the bay to East Egg, Gatsby hosts dozens of parties in anticipation that she will randomly one day come to one of his magnificent bashes and he will romance her out of Tom's clutches. But, alas, she never comes. 

If only we were to grasp what we have before us, to quote another Latin phrase "Carpe diem," or "seize the day," we would find better use out of our eggs in our hands today, than we could make use out of possible chickens tomorrow. We simply need to identify what instances we can utilize this mindset, and begin.

The Greeks spent hours each day philosophizing their lives: Should we do this? Is it ethical? Is it right? What are the repercussions of doing it? 

Rather than doing things, the Greeks famously spoke of things. I say we should do the opposite. Let's live life. Abundance isn't necessarily something measured in monetary numbers, but rather in memories and experiences. 

I love a good Latin motto, it seems nowadays that every University and non-profit has one. Brown's is "In Deo speramus," or "In God we hope." Columbia's is: "In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen," translated as "In Thy light shall we see light." Yale's is: "Lux et veritas," which means "Light and truth." I think that all the thinking we should ever need to undertake regarding living a measured life can come directly from the ancient civilizations of the Greeks and Romans. 

I will be using this blog to rant, at times, about current events—from the political, ethical, education, business and financial, and even international worlds. I will post musings I come across, facts and trivia bits that intrigue me, deep theological and ethical debates, book and movie reviews, and other cultural exploits. I encourage you to check back. I am using this blog to make an examined look at my previously unexamined life. 

As Socrates would say, "the unexamined life is not worth living."