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Help me create a free thinking family motto

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  • 19-05-2015 9:03pm
    #1
    54and56
    Registered Users Posts: 7,646 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    I'm an Athiest but from a traditional Roman Catholic family i.e. parents, siblings etc.

    My wife is pretty agnostic (goes to mass at Xmas etc) and my son is in an RC school and has been baptised and confirmed etc but we don't go to mass or pray etc and we discuss whether there is a God or not quite openly. I know it's a bit hypocritical but we're using the RC infrastructure as its the only practical education option available to us. I spent 5 years in a RC boarding school and saw their best work first hand so I'm not losing any sleep over using their school as a trojan horse to secure an education for my son, at least now there are no nuns/priests teaching him :D

    Anyway, I have a nice watch I want to bequeath to my son when he turns 30 (17 years from now) which I hope he'll pass to his eldest and so on and I would like to engrave something on the base of the watch which will act as a positive reinforcement type family motto which promotes free thinking and trusting your own judgement. It's a relatively small space so I need something which will be no more than 6 words max.

    I'm thinking of something like

    "Think Freely
    Trust Yourself
    Carpe Diem!"

    Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?


«13

Comments

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    #2
    lazygal
    Registered Users Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    Don't Give Into
    Religion Like We Did.

    Don't Baptise
    It Might Change
    The System.


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    #3
    54and56
    Registered Users Posts: 7,646 ✭✭✭54and56


    lazygal wrote: »
    Don't Give Into
    Religion Like We Did.

    Don't Baptise
    It Might Change
    The System.

    Love it, pity it's too big though!! ;)

    FYI I didn't give any thought to my own position in relation to religion until a few years ago. I knew I wasn't a card carrying RC but I also hadn't spent any time thinking about or researching the subject until I read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and started watching debates by Hitchens, Sam Harris and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I am now clear in my own mind and an affirmed Athiest (not yet an Anti Theist though) and as my son matures I'm discussing these issues with him but my wife is agnostic so I want the motto to be open minded rather than prescriptive or anti anything so that it is as relevant in 100 years time as it is today.


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    #4
    Brian Shanahan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Brian Shanahan


    Je_suis_Jean wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I'm an Athiest but from a traditional Roman Catholic family i.e. parents, siblings etc.

    My wife is pretty agnostic (goes to mass at Xmas etc) and my son is in an RC school and has been baptised and confirmed etc but we don't go to mass or pray etc and we discuss whether there is a God or not quite openly. I know it's a bit hypocritical but we're using the RC infrastructure as its the only practical education option available to us. I spent 5 years in a RC boarding school and saw their best work first hand so I'm not losing any sleep over using their school as a trojan horse to secure an education for my son, at least now there are no nuns/priests teaching him :D

    Anyway, I have a nice watch I want to bequeath to my son when he turns 30 (17 years from now) which I hope he'll pass to his eldest and so on and I would like to engrave something on the base of the watch which will act as a positive reinforcement type family motto which promotes free thinking and trusting your own judgement. It's a relatively small space so I need something which will be no more than 6 words max.

    I'm thinking of something like

    "Think Freely
    Trust Yourself
    Carpe Diem!"

    Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

    I'm quite partial to the old Pratchettian stand by "Primitive and Outmoded Concept on a Crutch!"


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    #5
    T-K-O
    Registered Users Posts: 6,309 ✭✭✭T-K-O


    Winter is coming


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    #6
    L1m1tless
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 2,164 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1m1tless


    Wear Sunscreen


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    #7
    54and56
    Registered Users Posts: 7,646 ✭✭✭54and56


    Neo_Ninja wrote: »
    Wear Sunscreen

    Best one yet!


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    #8
    jank
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 13,018 ✭✭✭✭jank


    "Be brave in the search for truth"


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    #9
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

    Anyway, I have a nice watch I want to bequeath to my son when he turns 30 (17 years from now) which I hope he'll pass to his eldest and so on and I would like to engrave something on the base of the watch

    Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

    Son, this watch was your birthright.
    I'd be damned if any slope's gonna put their greasy, yellow hands on this boy's birthright
    So I hid it in one place he knew he could hide something -
    My ass.


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    #10
    Sofiztikated
    Registered Users Posts: 6,995 ✭✭✭Sofiztikated


    Carpe Jugulum.


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    #11
    Cork boy 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,324 ✭✭✭Cork boy 55


    Take your magic elsewhere holyman!


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    #12
    SmilingLurker
    Registered Users Posts: 222 ✭✭SmilingLurker


    Think and be free.


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    #13
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users Posts: 26,123 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    "Just because it's engraved on the back of a watch doesn't mean it's good advice".

    (OK, you'll need a very small font.)


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    #14
    Sofiztikated
    Registered Users Posts: 6,995 ✭✭✭Sofiztikated


    Peregrinus wrote: »
    "Just because it's engraved on the back of a watch doesn't mean it's good advice".

    (OK, you'll need a very small font.)

    Oooooohhhh, what's that in latin?


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    #15
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users Posts: 26,123 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Sofiztikated wrote: »
    Oooooohhhh, what's that in latin?
    Quod scriptum in horologio est, consilium bonum esse non debet.

    But don't take my word for it. It's been a while since Inter Cert. Latin.


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    #16
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses.


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    #17
    F1ngers
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 10,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭F1ngers


    Cunas, bothar, cailin, bainne.
    You'll need a few fadas.


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    #18
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users Posts: 26,123 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    robindch wrote: »
    Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses.
    = "You'd have done better to keep your gob shut."


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    #19
    Un Croissant
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,052 ✭✭✭Un Croissant


    E pluribus anus.


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    #20
    Sofiztikated
    Registered Users Posts: 6,995 ✭✭✭Sofiztikated


    Peregrinus wrote: »
    Quod scriptum in horologio est, consilium bonum esse non debet.

    But don't take my word for it. It's been a while since Inter Cert. Latin.

    Now doesn't that just look impressive.

    But Google translates it to
    Google Translate wrote:
    Reason why the writing on the dial of the counsel of the good is not to be

    I'm horrific at languages, so I don't know if thats the way Latin translates into English.


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    #21
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Peregrinus wrote: »
    robindch wrote:
    Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses.
    = "You'd have done better to keep your gob shut."
    To be used as follows:

    Passerby: What's your family motto?
    Upright citizen: Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses.
    Passerby: What does that mean?
    Upright citizen: You would have seemed a philosopher if you'd stayed quiet.


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    #22
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users Posts: 26,123 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Sofiztikated wrote: »
    Now doesn't that just look impressive.

    But Google translates it to



    I'm horrific at languages, so I don't know if thats the way Latin translates into English.
    I'm not great at Latin, but Google translate is worse.


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    #23
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users Posts: 16,115 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    Sum, ergo cogito


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    #24
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,993 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    "Semper fidelis"
    (always faithful)

    And this little speech to accompany the handover of the watch from father to son, throughout the generations;

    "I give unto you, my son and heir, this outmoded timepiece as a symbol of our family values. Although we now tell the time with our fablets, we faithfully retain this useless item to symbolise our family's refusal to give up outdated concepts in general; our family religion, male supremacy and primogeniture, and this ancient but dead language. Amen et Exitus."


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    #25
    HelgaWard
    Registered Users Posts: 568 ✭✭✭HelgaWard


    Lost time is never found again
    Benjamin Franklin


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    #26
    Turtwig
    Registered Users Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    "Test everything and hold onto the good."

    It's from Thessalonians though. :P


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    #27
    Brian Shanahan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Brian Shanahan


    Sofiztikated wrote: »
    Carpe Jugulum.

    Or, Fabricati Diem, Pvnc.


    From:
    "Fabricati Diem, Pvncti Agvnt Celeriter" ("Make the Day, the Moments Pass Quickly")


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    #28
    JaseBelleVie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 936 ✭✭✭JaseBelleVie


    Et infinitum ultra
    "To infinity and beyond"
    ;):D


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    #29
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users Posts: 16,115 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    recedite wrote: »
    "Semper fidelis"
    (always faithful)

    And this little speech to accompany the handover of the watch from father to son, throughout the generations;

    "I give unto you, my son and heir, this outmoded timepiece as a symbol of our family values. Although we now tell the time with our fablets, we faithfully retain this useless item to symbolise our family's refusal to give up outdated concepts in general; our family religion, male supremacy and primogeniture, and this ancient but dead language. Amen et Exitus."

    Or maybe:

    The way your dad looked at it, this watch was your birthright. He'd be damned if any slopes gonna put their greasy yellow hands on his boy's birthright, so he hid it, in the one place he knew he could hide something: his ass. Five long years, he wore this watch up his ass. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the watch. I hid this uncomfortable piece of metal up my ass for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you.

    Change relations to suit...


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    #30
    130Kph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 625 ✭✭✭130Kph


    3 suggestions:

    Attitude is Everything

    Suaimhneas sa bhuidéal

    Ni beidh aon badass sa teach seo!


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    #31
    endacl
    Registered Users Posts: 22,238 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Semper ubi sub ubi.


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