{"id":9362,"date":"2023-10-26T18:25:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T17:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9362"},"modified":"2023-10-26T18:25:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T17:25:11","slug":"what-is-yolo-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-is-yolo-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Yolo In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
Yolo, or ‘You Only Live Once’, is a current catch phrase often used to capture a moment or a feeling of being ‘in the moment’ – living life to the fullest. It is a useful phrase, perhaps one of the most popular catch phrases we use today. But, it is only recently that it has appeared in everyday language. <\/p>\n
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The idea of carpe diem, or ‘seize the day’ was used by the ancient Romans to present the same idea: to live life to the fullest and think about what is important in life. Yolo is simply the modern version of the same philosophy. The terminology might not have been the same, but the idea of living life to the fullest and ‘seizing the day’ goes back at least two millennia. <\/p>\n
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The ancient Romans were known for their passion for life. They believed in following their own ambitions and desires and wanted to experience every moment to its fullest. This meant that they threw caution to the wind and that they often took risks and decisions that could have long lasting effects on their lives. <\/p>\n
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The phrase ‘YOLO’ was often used by the ancient Romans when they wanted to express the idea of living life to the fullest or ‘seizing the day’. One classic example of YOLO in action was the Roman Emperor Nero. Nero was known for his extravagant lifestyle and his passion for the arts. He often took risks and tried out new ideas, something which ultimately led to his downfall. <\/p>\n
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YOLO can still be seen today in Roman culture. The phrase is often used to express a sense of freedom, of being unconstrained by the status quo and of taking risks. For instance, a 2006 movie called ‘The Conquest of Rome’ is set in the time of Nero and it uses the phrase ‘YOLO’ to express a sense of freedom and of taking a chance on life. <\/p>\n
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The idea of YOLO had a profound influence on Roman culture. It encouraged the pursuit of life’s passions and the exploration of new ideas. The idea of YOLO was closely linked to Roman religion and was used to describe the journey of life. For instance, the gods were seen as provocateurs who encouraged people to make their own decisions and to take risks. There was also great reverence for the gods and for their will, and the idea of YOLO was used to explain both the positive and negative consequences of taking a chance on life. <\/p>\n
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The phrase YOLO was also often used in Ancient Roman literature and poetry. Horace, a well known poet and philosopher, wrote a famous poem called ‘Carpe Diem’ which contained the phrase YOLO. The poem talks about the importance of making the most of one’s life and seizing the day. Similarly, the philosopher Cicero wrote ‘Quam Breve Tempus’ which contained the phrase YOLO in it. The poem talked about the length of life and the importance of making the most of it. <\/p>\n
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The phrase YOLO was also used to explain the way in which the Ancient Roman society operated. The Roman society was an hierarchical one, with the emperor at the top and the plebeians at the bottom. YOLO was used as a way of motivating people to strive for success and to not be afraid to take risks. People were encouraged to make the most of their lives and to not waste their opportunities. <\/p>\n
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The phrase YOLO was also used in Ancient Roman politics. The Senate, the governing body of Rome, and the powerhouses of Caesar and Pompey both looked to YOLO as a way of motivating their followers. They would often casually refer to the phrase in order to capture a moment of ‘in the moment’ living or to encourage their followers to take risks. The phrase was so deeply imbedded in Roman politics, that many Roman statesman and politicians would use it when moving into new territories or declaring war. <\/p>\n
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It was also used as a way to remind people of the importance of taking a chance and seizing the day. Julius Caesar himself was reported to have said “Veni, vidi, YOLO” – ‘I came, I saw, I seized the day’ – upon victorious military campaigns. The phrase was also used to describe the importance of making decisions with confidence and of having faith in oneself. <\/p>\n