Quick Answer

Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning "remember that you will die." It's an ancient philosophical practice of reflecting on mortality to gain perspective, reduce anxiety, and live more intentionally. The Stoics used it not as morbid dwelling, but as a tool for appreciating life.

The Latin Meaning

"Memento mori" translates literally as "remember that you will die" or "remember death." The phrase comes from ancient Rome, where it served as a reminder that earthly glories are temporary.

Legend has it that when a Roman general celebrated a triumph—a grand parade through Rome following a military victory—a slave would stand behind him in the chariot, whispering "Memento mori" to prevent the general from being overcome by pride.

Key Takeaway

Whether historically accurate or not, the story captures the essence of the practice: using mortality awareness as a grounding force, not a source of despair.

Stoic Philosophy Connection

The Stoics elevated memento mori from a simple reminder to a sophisticated philosophical tool. For Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, contemplating death wasn't morbid—it was essential for living well.

Marcus Aurelius

“

You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.

Marcus Aurelius — Meditations

The Roman Emperor wrote extensively about mortality in his private journal, now known as Meditations. For Marcus, death awareness was a practical tool: it helped him prioritize, forgive, and act with integrity.

Seneca

“

Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life's books each day... The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.

Seneca — Letters to Lucilius

Seneca, a Roman statesman and philosopher, wrote extensively about using death contemplation to overcome procrastination and fear. His letters to Lucilius contain some of the most practical wisdom on the subject.

Epictetus

“

Keep death and exile before your eyes each day, along with everything that seems terrible—by doing so, you'll never have a base thought nor will you have excessive desire.

Epictetus — Discourses

Born a slave, Epictetus taught that mortality awareness was liberating. When you accept that life is temporary, you stop clinging to things that don't matter.

Memento Mori in Art and History

Throughout history, memento mori has appeared in art, architecture, and daily life:

Medieval art

Skulls, hourglasses, and decaying flowers appeared in paintings to remind viewers of mortality

Vanitas paintings

Dutch Golden Age artists created still lifes with symbols of death alongside wealth

Trappist monks

Some monastic orders greet each other with "memento mori" as a daily reminder

Victorian jewelry

Mourning jewelry and death-themed accessories were fashionable memento mori objects

Día de los Muertos

Mexican cultural celebration that embraces death as part of life

Modern Applications

Today, memento mori has experienced a renaissance in productivity and wellness communities. Modern practitioners use various tools to maintain death awareness:

Digital Memento Mori

Life calendars — Visual grids showing weeks lived and remaining, like WeeklyDots
Countdown apps — Apps that show estimated time remaining
Daily reflection apps — Tools that prompt mortality-based journaling

Physical Reminders

Memento mori coins — Pocket tokens with skull imagery
Skull rings and jewelry — Wearable reminders
Death clocks — Clocks that count down rather than up

Try a digital memento mori

WeeklyDots shows your life in weeks on your iPhone lock screen. A gentle daily reminder.

Create your life calendar

The Psychological Benefits

Research in psychology supports what the Stoics knew intuitively. Studies on "mortality salience" show that gentle reminders of death:

Increase gratitude

People become more appreciative of daily experiences

Improve relationships

Mortality awareness reduces pettiness and increases forgiveness

Reduce materialism

People care less about status and possessions

Enhance meaning

People report clearer sense of purpose

Decrease procrastination

Finite time becomes more precious

Key Takeaway

The key finding: these benefits come from gentle reminders, not anxiety-inducing confrontations with death. A life calendar that updates quietly each morning works better than graphic imagery.

How to Practice Memento Mori Daily

You don't need complex rituals to benefit from memento mori. Here are simple ways to incorporate it into daily life:

Morning Practice

When you wake up, take a moment to acknowledge: "This could be my last day." Not with anxiety, but with intention. Ask yourself: "If it were, how would I want to spend it?"

Visual Reminder

Keep a memento mori object where you'll see it daily. A life calendar wallpaper serves this purpose perfectly—every time you check your phone, you see your weeks laid out.

Evening Review

Before sleep, review the day as if it were your last. Did you act according to your values? Did you treat others well? Did you avoid wasting time on trivial concerns?

The Negative Visualization

Occasionally imagine losing what you have—health, relationships, possessions. Not to create anxiety, but to renew appreciation. The Stoics called this "premeditatio malorum."

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Isn't thinking about death unhealthy?

It depends on how you do it. Ruminating on death with fear and avoidance is harmful. But contemplating mortality with acceptance and perspective is beneficial. The Stoic approach treats death as a natural fact, not a threat.

How is this different from being morbid?

Morbid fascination with death focuses on the negative—decay, loss, suffering. Memento mori focuses on the positive—using awareness of ending to enhance appreciation of living. It's life-affirming, not death-obsessed.

Can memento mori cause anxiety?

For some people, direct confrontation with mortality triggers anxiety rather than acceptance. If you find death contemplation distressing, start gently. A life calendar provides a mild, visual reminder that tends to inspire reflection rather than fear.

What's the connection to life calendars?

A life calendar is a modern memento mori tool. By visualizing your finite weeks, it provides the same perspective shift the Stoics achieved through contemplation— but in a form that fits into daily life without requiring active effort.

Memento Mori: The Stoic Philosophy That Inspired Life Calendars