Carpe Diem
Carpe diem is Horace's instruction to take hold of today's pleasure because tomorrow is not yours to bank on — and 'seize' is a translator's decision, not what the Latin says.
Full definition of Carpe Diem →:: COMPARE ::
Carpe diemvsYOLO
The short answer
Dictionaries cross-reference the two, and both say make the most of today. They part on scale: YOLO gets used to license the big risky gesture, while Horace's ode counsels pruning your expectations and enjoying a strained cup of wine tonight, because forecasting is futile.
Side by side
| Aspect | Carpe diem | YOLO |
|---|---|---|
| Recommends | Enjoying today | Risking today |
| Attitude to future | Don't forecast it | Don't count it |
| Scale | Small, domestic | Large, dramatic |
| Verb | Pluck | Seize |
What each one means
YOLO
The contrast above sets out how YOLO differs from Carpe Diem on the points that actually matter.