Memento Mori and Memento Vivere are two Latin phrases that approach the same subject from very different directions.
Memento Mori is commonly translated as “remember that you must die.”
Memento Vivere means “remember to live.”
One draws attention to the fact that our time is limited.
The other reminds us what we should do with that time.
At first, the phrases can sound almost contradictory.
One focuses on death. The other focuses on life.
But when considered together, they form a much more complete message about mortality, time and how we choose to spend our lives.
Jump To
- What Does Memento Mori Mean?
- What Does Memento Vivere Mean?
- Memento Vivere vs Memento Mori: The Core Difference
- Remembering Death vs Remembering Life
- Why the Two Ideas Complement Each Other
- The Skull and the Tree of Life
- The Memento Vivere Skull Coin
- Memento Vivere as the Response to Memento Mori
- Is Memento Vivere More Positive Than Memento Mori?
- Why These Ideas Continue to Resonate
- Two Coins, Two Sides of the Same Idea
- Which Message Speaks to You More?
- The Meaning Behind the Symbols
- Final Thought: Remember Both
What Does Memento Mori Mean?
Memento Mori is a reminder of mortality.
Its message is straightforward: you will die, and your time is therefore limited.
That may sound dark at first, but the idea isn't necessarily intended to be depressing.
Throughout history, reminders of mortality have been used to put everyday concerns into perspective.
Problems that feel enormous in the moment can look different when viewed against the much larger reality that our time is finite.
That is one reason symbols such as skulls, hourglasses, wilting flowers and the Grim Reaper appear so frequently in Memento Mori artwork.
They all communicate the same underlying idea in different ways:
Time passes, and none of us has an unlimited supply of it.
If you want to explore the idea in more detail, read What Does Memento Mori Mean? The Stoic Reminder to Remember You Must Die.
What Does Memento Vivere Mean?
Memento Vivere takes the awareness of mortality and turns the focus back towards life.
Its literal meaning is “remember to live.”
Rather than simply reminding us that life ends, it asks us to consider what we're doing with the time we have before that happens.
That doesn't necessarily mean living recklessly or trying to make every day extraordinary.
It can mean appreciating ordinary experiences, making time for people who matter, pursuing interests we enjoy and not constantly postponing life for some supposedly better moment in the future.
The message is simple:
Don't become so focused on tomorrow that you forget to live today.
That's why Memento Vivere works so naturally as a counterpoint to Memento Mori.
Memento Vivere vs Memento Mori: The Core Difference
The simplest way to understand the difference is to think about where each phrase directs your attention.
Memento Mori points towards the end of life.
Memento Vivere points back towards life itself.
One says, in effect, remember that your time will run out.
The other says, remember to use the time you have.
That makes them less like opposing philosophies and more like two sides of the same idea.
Memento Mori
Remember that life is temporary.
Memento Vivere
Remember to live while you have it.
Remembering Death vs Remembering Life
At first, Memento Mori can seem like an unusually dark message to carry around.
But its purpose isn't necessarily to make someone dwell on death.
Instead, mortality can provide perspective.
If our time is limited, then the way we spend that time becomes more significant.
That naturally leads towards Memento Vivere.
Once you've acknowledged that you won't have forever, another question follows:
Why the Two Ideas Complement Each Other
Memento Mori without Memento Vivere could become overly focused on the ending.
Memento Vivere without Memento Mori could become a vague reminder to enjoy yourself without considering why time matters in the first place.
Together, they create a more balanced perspective.
Mortality gives urgency to life.
Life gives meaning to the reminder of mortality.
This is why the phrases work particularly well when represented together through art, jewellery, keepsakes and collectibles.
The imagery can be dark while the underlying message is surprisingly positive.
The Skull and the Tree of Life
Some Memento Mori artwork uses a skull as the central symbol of mortality, while other designs deliberately place symbols of life alongside it.
The contrast is powerful.
A skull represents the unavoidable end.
A tree represents growth, life, continuity and renewal.
Put them together and the message becomes less about death alone and more about the relationship between mortality and life.
That symbolism can be seen particularly clearly in the Memento Mori Skull Tree of Life Coin.
The skull and tree of life create a visual contrast between mortality and the life that exists alongside it.
The design doesn't need a complicated explanation to communicate the basic idea.
Life grows.
Time passes.
Eventually, life ends.
And precisely because it ends, the time in between has meaning.
The Memento Vivere Skull Coin
The Memento Vivere Skull Coin approaches the same subject from a slightly different direction.
The skull immediately establishes the Memento Mori connection, while the words “MEMENTO VIVERE” and “REMEMBER TO LIVE” change the emphasis.
Instead of simply looking at mortality, the design asks what we do with the knowledge that our time is limited.
It turns a symbol of death into a reminder about life.
For someone drawn to Gothic artwork, philosophy, Stoic ideas or meaningful collectibles, that contrast is what makes the design particularly interesting.
Memento Vivere as the Response to Memento Mori
Perhaps the most useful way to look at these two phrases is not to ask which one is more positive or negative.
Instead, consider them as a sequence.
Memento Mori creates awareness.
Memento Vivere creates a response.
Once we recognise that our time is limited, it becomes natural to ask whether we're spending that time on the things that actually matter.
That doesn't mean every moment needs to be productive, exciting or meaningful in some grand philosophical sense.
It can simply mean becoming more conscious of how easily time disappears.
What Are You Putting Off?
There is something particularly powerful about the word “remember” in both phrases.
Neither one is telling us something we don't already know.
We already know that everyone eventually dies.
We already know that we're alive right now.
The problem is remembering those facts when everyday life becomes busy.
It's easy to tell yourself you'll spend more time with someone later.
You'll start the hobby later.
You'll take the trip later.
You'll finally do something you've wanted to do when work becomes less demanding.
But the future is never completely guaranteed.
That's where the combination of Memento Mori and Memento Vivere becomes useful.
Remembering that time is limited can change the way we think about the time we're given.
Is Memento Vivere More Positive Than Memento Mori?
In everyday language, Memento Vivere certainly sounds more uplifting.
“Remember to live” naturally feels lighter than “remember that you must die.”
But the two phrases aren't really competing for the title of the more positive message.
Memento Mori can actually make Memento Vivere more meaningful.
If we had unlimited time, there would be far less urgency behind the instruction to live.
It's the fact that our opportunities are finite that makes them valuable.
A day matters partly because it cannot be repeated.
A conversation matters because that exact moment will never happen again.
Time with someone matters because neither person knows exactly how much of it remains.
In that sense, mortality doesn't necessarily diminish the value of life.
It can make us more aware of it.
Why These Ideas Continue to Resonate
It's easy to assume that ancient ideas about mortality belong to another world.
But the basic problem hasn't disappeared.
People still become distracted.
People still postpone things.
People still worry about problems that eventually seem much smaller with the benefit of time.
And people still need reminders that life isn't something that begins at some point in the future.
That is why Memento Mori and Memento Vivere continue to appear in modern art, jewellery, tattoos, home décor and collectible designs.
The imagery may change, but the underlying question remains remarkably familiar:
What are you doing with the time you've been given?
Two Coins, Two Sides of the Same Idea
That contrast is also what makes these two designs work well as companion pieces.
The Memento Vivere Skull Coin puts the words “Remember to Live” alongside the unmistakable imagery of a skull.
The Memento Mori Skull Tree of Life Coin combines mortality with the symbolism of the tree of life.
Neither design needs to be viewed simply as a decoration.
They can serve as physical reminders of two connected ideas:
Remember that life is temporary.
Remember to make something of it.
Remember to live.
That is ultimately where Memento Mori and Memento Vivere meet.
Which Message Speaks to You More?
There isn't necessarily a right answer.
For some people, the darker honesty of Memento Mori is what makes the message powerful. It provides perspective by reminding us that none of us has unlimited time.
For others, Memento Vivere is the message that resonates more. It takes that same awareness and turns it into something more uplifting: a reminder to appreciate the life that is happening now.
And for many people, the two ideas make the most sense together.
One reminds you of the boundary.
The other reminds you what exists within it.
Memento Mori and Memento Vivere approach mortality from opposite directions, but ultimately point towards the same finite resource: time.
The Meaning Behind the Symbols
The symbolism becomes particularly interesting when you look beyond the words themselves.
The skull is one of the clearest symbols of mortality. It immediately communicates the Memento Mori idea without needing an explanation.
The tree of life, on the other hand, represents growth, life, continuity and the cycle of existence.
Putting these ideas together creates a visual contrast that mirrors the relationship between Memento Mori and Memento Vivere.
Death and life.
Ending and beginning.
Mortality and the experience of being alive.
That symbolism is at the heart of the Memento Mori Skull Tree of Life Coin.
The Memento Vivere Skull Coin takes a different approach, putting the words “Remember to Live” directly alongside the skull.
Both designs therefore explore the same fundamental subject from different angles.
Final Thought: Remember Both
Perhaps the most useful conclusion isn't to choose between Memento Mori and Memento Vivere.
It's to remember both.
Remember that life is temporary.
Remember that your time is limited.
But also remember that you're here now.
There are people to spend time with, interests to pursue, places to see, experiences to have and ordinary moments worth appreciating.
Memento Mori gives us the perspective.
Memento Vivere gives us the reminder to act on it.
Memento Mori.
Remember that your time is finite.
Memento Vivere.
Remember to live while you have it.
Explore the Two Designs
If the contrast between mortality and life resonates with you, take a closer look at the two coins featured in this article.
👉 Memento Vivere Skull Coin — Remember to Live →
👉 Memento Mori Skull Tree of Life Coin →
For more dark, symbolic and philosophical designs, explore the Gothic Coins collection →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Memento Vivere and Memento Mori?
Memento Mori means “remember that you must die,” while Memento Vivere means “remember to live.” Memento Mori focuses on mortality, while Memento Vivere encourages us to appreciate and make use of the limited time we have.
Are Memento Vivere and Memento Mori opposites?
They can be viewed as contrasting ideas, but they complement each other particularly well. Memento Mori reminds us that life is finite, while Memento Vivere reminds us not to overlook the life we're living.
Why are skulls used in Memento Mori artwork?
The skull is a powerful visual symbol of mortality. Its presence immediately communicates the idea that human life is temporary, making it one of the most recognisable symbols associated with Memento Mori.
Continue Exploring
If you'd like to explore these ideas further, continue with the related guides:
👉 What Does Memento Mori Mean?
