Tattoo

[amans]

saluete omnes

A forum member recently sent me a PM and requested that I translate a sentence into Latin for him. I was only happy to oblige, but as it was for a tattoo I thought we'd better get other opinions before settling the matter. The sentence is:

"The future is uncertain and the end is always near."

I suggested this translation:

futura incerta exitus semper imminens

I also said, that he could insert an et between the two parts, adding that this might not be necessary. I also said that he might want to use posteritas (posterity) instead of futura ("things to be") and propinquus (near) instead of imminens (imminent).

What do you think?


bonum diem uobis

[Cyborg]

saluete omnes
(...)
What do you think?

bonum diem uobis

salue!

the future is uncertain and the end is always near.
posterus incertus, finis semper prope.

I took "posterus" from "carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero".
A variant could be done by using "cras" but then I think "incertus" should go to the neuter. I really liked your "exitus", amans, I hadn't thought of it.

[amans]

saluete Cyborg et ceteri

I think prope is a good suggestion here, as the implied verb is est - perhaps this could be rendered in English by an adverbial phrase such as "at hand".

I also like the idea of posterus. One should perhaps use the neuter in the plural here: postera incerta? The postero in your Horace quote, which is great has an implied diei as credula takes a dative.

Perhaps one might also use a form of this word for "the end" . . .

2. Subst.: postumum , i, n., that which is last, the end, extremity: de postumo corporis, Tert. adv. Gnost. 1.

I am, however, not sure about the reference at the end.

[adz000]

It's late and I think that I may be striking the wrong tone. Nevertheless, my two-cent attempt:

latent futura, adest sua cuique dies

[Lucus Eques]

Our friend sent me a PM as well and asked for my opinion in addition, yet I can't come up with anything more direct and meaningful than amans' first idea. However! I do have a stylistic suggestion. Due to the stark nature of the tatoo desired, here is my idea for how it might look:

FVTVRA·INCERTA
EXITVS·SEMPER·IMMINENS

It recalls a little bit of the PER ME SI VA NE LA CITTÀ DOLENTE sort of doom and gloom that I've always been fond of.

[Rafael_]

Hi!

After talking to amans by PM, I thought of this:

FVTVRA•INCERTA•ET•FINIS•SEMPER•PROPINQVVS

Mostly thinking about the Carpe Diem way of life.
So, "the end" would mean death.

Thoughts?

Regards,