MORE HISTORIC SUNDIAL MOTTOES
Historically, sundials have been the centerpieces of gardens throughout the world, and their mottoes have reflected philosophies of life; emotional, relational and value questions; and the eternal questions of life and death. Below are examples of sundial mottoes that have graced sundials from times before the American Republic was born.
FUGIT · IRREPARABILE · TEMPUS Time flies, never to be recalled
THE · DAY · IS · THINE
HINCE · VIVERE · DISCE · ILLINC · DISCE · MORI Learn to live, and be ready to die
THAT · SOLAR · SHADOW · AS · IT · MEASURES LIFE IT · LIFE · RESEMBLES · TOO
HORA · QUASI · UMBRA Time is but a shadow
TIME · WASTED · IS · EXISTENCE · USED · IS LIFE
AS · A · SHADOW · SUCH · IS · LIFE
A · SPAN · IS · ALL · THAT · WE · CAN · BOAST AN · INCH · OR · SO · OF · TIME MAN · IS · BUT · VANITY · AND · DUST IN · ALL · HIS · FLOWER · AND · PRIME
HORA · PARS · VITAE Every hour shortens life
BE · THANKFUL · WATCH · PRAY · WORK
HORAM · QUAM · PETIS · REDIMITE Make hay while the sun shines
AS · THE · SHADE · IS · SO · IS · LIFE
SHADOW · AND · SUN · SO · TOO · OUR · LIVES ARE · MADE YET · THINK · HOW · GREAT · THE · SUN · HOW SMALL · THE · SHADE
HOC · TUUM · EST The present only is thine own
HEU · QUAERIMUS · UMBRAM We pursue a shadow
HOC · AGE This do
I · BIDE · MY · TIME · I · STAY · FOR · NO · MAN
MEN · DO · BLAME · TIME · WHILE · IT · THEY SPEND UNTO · NO · PURPOSE · OR · TO · A · BAD · END
HODIE · MIHI · CRAS · TIBI To-day is mine: To-morrow may be thine
THERE · IS · A · SEASON · FOR · EVERYTHING
THE · GAY · WHO · WOULD · BE · COUNTED · WISE THINK · ALL · DELIGHT · IN · PASTIME · LIES NOR · HEED · THEY · WHAT · THE · WISE · CONDEMN WHILST · THEY · PASS · TIME · TIME · PASSES · THEM
TIME’S · GLASS · AND · SCYTHE THY · LIFE · AND · DEATH · DECLARE SPEND · WELL · THY · TIME AND · FOR · THY · DEATH · PREPARE
INTER · CAESAREM · ET · GALBAM · SOL MINISTRAT · UMBRAM The Sun shines alike on beggars and kings
IMMOTUM · IN · MOTU Ever the same
SENZA · PALAR · DA · TUTTI · SON · INTESO SENZA · PALESO · FAR · RUMOR · L’ORA Without speaking I am understood by all Without a noise I reveal the hour
INGRAVANTIBUS · ANNIS Our years multiply
LABOR · IPSE · VOLUPTAS Even toil itself is pleasant
IT · IS · LATER · THAN · YOU · THINK
LEX · DEI · LUX · DIEI God’s Law may be read in the light of the Sun
LET · YOUR · LIGHT · SO · SHINE · THAT · MEN MAY · SEE · YOUR · GOOD · WORKS
READ · ON · THIS · DIAL · HOW · THE · SHADOWS DEVOUR MY · SHORT-LIVED · WINTER’S · DAY · HOUR EATS · UP · HOUR ALAS · THE · TOTAL’S · BUT · FROM · EIGHT · TO FOUR
MAKE · THE · PASSING · SHADOW · SERVE THY · WILL
LUCE · LABORANDUM Work for the Night cometh
THOU · BY · THY · DIAL’S · SHADY · STEALTH MAYST · KNOW TIME’S · THIEVISH · PROGRESS · TO · ETERNITY Shakespeare’s Sonnet LXXVII
LUCEO · ET · LATEO I shine and set
LUX · VENIT · AB · ALTO The light cometh from on high
LUX · POST · UMBRAM After darkness light
IN · HIS · OWN · IMAGE · THE · CREATOR · MADE HIS · OWN · PURE · SUNBEAM · QUICKENED THEE · O · MAN THOU · BREATHING · DIAL · SINCE · THY · NAME BEGAN THE · PRESENT · HOUR · WAS · EVER · MARKED BY · SHADE
WHEN · THOU · DOST · LOOK · UPON · MY · FACE TO · LEARN · THE · TIME · OF · DAY THINK · HOW · MY · SHADOW · KEEPS · ITS · PACE AS · THY · LIFE · FLIES · AWAY TAKE · MORTAL · THIS · ADVICE · FROM · ME AND · SO · RESOLVE · TO · SPEND THY · LIFE · ON · EARTH · THAT · HEAVEN · SHALL · BE THY · HOME · WHEN · TIME · SHALL · END In County Kerry, Ireland
I · NOTE · THE · TIME · THAT · YOU · WASTE
LUX · UMBRA · DEI Light in the shadow of God
LOOK · FORWARD
NOW · IS · YESTERDAY’S · TO-MORROW
WHILST · PHOEBUS · ON · ME · SHINES THEN · VIEW · MY · SHADE · AND · LINES
LIFE’S · BUT · A · SHADOW MAN’S · BUT · DUST THIS · DIALL · SAYS DY · ALL · WE · MUST
MORA · TRAHIT · PERICULUM Delay is dangerous
ME · ORTUM · VIDES · FORSAN · NON · OCCASUM Thou hast seen me rise but mayst not see me set
MIND · YOUR · BUSINESS
MEMOR · ESTO · BREVIS · AEVI Be mindful that life is short
IO · VADE · E · VENGO · OGNI · GIORNO MA · TU · ANDRAI · SENZA · RITORNO I go and come everyday But thou shalt go without returning (in a Riviera garden)
A · MOMENT · MARK · HOW · SMALL · A · SPACE THE · DIAL · SHOWS · UPON · THE · FACE YET · WASTE · BUT · ONE · AND · YOU · SEE OF · HOW · GREAT · MOMENT · IT · CAN · BE At Oxford, on a dial bearing the arms of the Earl of Wharton
MORS · ULTIMA · POENA · EST Death is the last great penalty
WHAT · THOU · SEEKEST · IS · A · SHADOW
MORS · OMNIA · VINCIT Death conquers all
MORS · DE · DIE · ACCELERAT Every day brings Death nearer
MORS · NOBIS · QUOTIDIE · IMMINET To-morrow I may be Myself with Yesterday’s Sev’n Thousand Years
MARK · THE · MOMENTS · TROD · FOR · GOOD OR · ILL On Warwick Priory
I · STAND · ON · EARTH
MORIENDO · VIVO Death is in Life
METAM · PROPERAMUS · AD · UNAM All must die
I’M · GOING · WHERE · TIME · FOLLOWS · NOT WHERE · IS · ETERNITY
EVERY · ONE · HATH · EVERY · ONE · ONE SHADE AND · YOU · BUT · ONE · CAN · EVERY · SHADOW LEND Shakespeare’s Sonnet LIII
REDEEM · YE · TIME
WE · MAY · NOT · STAY
REMEMBER · THOU · ART · MORTAL
MENTIRI · NON · EST · MEUM I do not lie
THE · SILENT · SHADOW · SPEAKS DOST · THOU · HEED
NEMO · SINE · CRIMINE · VIVIT The brightest day has its shadows
NIL · DAT · QUOD · NON · HABET Of nothing, nothing can come
NON · SEMPER · ERUNT · SATURNALIA Fill the Cup Before Life’s Liquor in its Cup be dry
ALLEZ · VOUS Pass on
NON · SINE · LUMINE Not without light
NULLA · DIES · SINE · LINEA Live every day
NASCIMUR · ET · MORIMUR Born and dead
NOLI · CONFIDERE · NOCTI Thou mayest never see to-night
NON · MOROR I do not stop
SEE · THE · LITTLE · DAY-STAR · MOVING LIFE · AND · TIME · ARE · WORTH · IMPROVING SEIZE · THE · MOMENTS · WHILE · THEY · STAY SIEZE · AND · USE · THEM LEST · YOU · LOSE · THEM AND · LAMENT · THE · WASTED · DAY
LIVE · IS · A · VAIN · SHADOW
SHORT · THE · DAY · AND · GREAT · THE · WORK
SHADOW · AND · SHINE · IS · LIFE
NON · REDIBO I shall not come again
AMENDE · TO-DAY · AND · SLACK · NOT DETHE · COMETH · AND · WARNETH · NOT TYME · PASSETH · AND · SPEKETH · NOT
NEC · SOL · IN · SUMMO · MANET The Sun hath its share of gloom
TIME · WAS · IS · PAST · THOU · CANST · NOT · IT RECALL TIME · IS · THOU · HAST · EMPLOY · THE · PORTION SMALL TIME · FUTURE · IS · NOT · AND · MAY · NEVER BE TIME · PRESENT · IS · THE · ONLY · TIME · FOR THEE
A · CLOCK · THE · TIME · MAY · WRONGLY · TELL I · NEVER · IF · THE · SUN · SHINES · WELL
TIME · FLIES · LINES · RISE · AND · SHADOWS · FALL LET · IT · PASS · BY LOVE · REIGNS · FOR · EVER · OVER · ALL
LIVE · TODAY
I · WAKEN · WITH · THE · RISING · SUN AND · SLEEP · WHEN · HIS · LONG · COURSE · IS RUN
NIL · BONI · HODIE · DIEM · PERDIDI Count that day lost whose low descending sun Views from thy hand no noble action done
NEQUE · LUX · SINE · UMBRA Light cannot be without shade
THERE · IS · NO · ARMOUR · AGAINST FATE DEATH · LAYS · HIS · ICY · HAND · ON · KINGS
NOS · UT · UMBRA We are as a shadow
NESCITIS · HORAM Ye know not the hour
THE · UTMOST · FOR · THE · HIGHEST The motto on the sundial belonging to the late G. F. Watts, R.A., at his residence, Limnerslease, Compton
NOSTRA · LATET Our time lies hid
THY · DIAL · WILL · SHOW · HOW · THY PRECIOUS · MINUTES · WASTE Shakespeare’s Sonnet LXXVII
SHINING · SPOT · FOR · EVER · SHINING BRIGHTEST · HOURS · HAVE · NO · ABIDING USE · THY · GOLDEN · MOMENTS · WELL LIFE · IS · WASTING DEATH · IS · HASTING DEATH · CONSIGNS · TO · HEAVEN · OR · HELL
NON · METUIT · MORTEM · QUI · SCIT CONTEMNERE · VITAM He fears not Death who has learnt to despise Life
EVERY · DAY · BRINGS · DEATH · NEARER
NON · QUANTUM · SED · QUO · MODO The manner, not the matter
WHAT · IS · YOUR · SUBSTANCE · WHEREOF · ARE YOU · MADE THAT · MILLIONS · OF · STRANGE · SHADOWS ON · YOU · TEND Shakespeare’ Sonnet LIII
NIHIL · VELOCIUS · ANNIS Nothing is fleeter than Time
NON · REGO · NISI · REGAR As I am directed I direct
RETAIN · YOUR · LOYALTY · PRESERVE · YOUR RIGHTS
C’EST · L’HEURE · DE · BOIRE ‘Tis time to drink (On an inn at Lilbourne)
‘TIS · NOTHING · BUT · A · MAGIC · SHADOW SHOW PLAYED · IN · A · BOX · WHOSE · CANDLE · IS · THE SUN ROUND · WHICH · WE · PHANTOM · FIGURES COME · AND · GO
OMNEM · CREDE · DIEM · TIBI · DILUXISSE SUPREMUM So act as if every day were thy last
AH · WHAT · IS · HUMAN · LIFE HOW · LIKE · THE · DIAL’S · TARDY · MOVING SHADE DAY · AFTER · DAY · GLIDES · BY · US UNPERCEIVED YET · SOON · MAN’S · LIFE · IS · UP · AND · WE · ARE GONE
OMNIA · FALCE · METIT · TEMPUS Nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defence
VIVI · BREV’ ORE · INDI · A · SERRAR · VAI · GLI OCCHI Live your brief hour, then for ever close your eyes
OMBRA · FALLACE · QUE · MENTRE · S’APPRESSA FUGGE Delusive Shadow, so speedy in thy flight!
INJURE · NO · MAN
ORIENS · SOL · ADORNATUR Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught The Sultan’s turret in a Noose of Light
AVOID · ANGER
IN · GOD’S · GOOD · TIME
OTIUM · FUGE
Fly idleness
ONLY · AS · I · ABIDE · IN · THE · LIGHT · OF
HEAVEN
DO · I · FULFIL · THE · WILL · OF · MY · MAKER
WITH · MY · SHADOW · MOVES · THE · WORLD
OMNIA · FERT · AETAS
Time brings all things to pass
PEREUNT · ET · IMPUTANTUR
The hours vanish, yet are they recorded
POST · VOLUPTATEM · MISERICORDIA
Night treads upon the heels of Day
PEACE · LOVE · AND · UNITY · THRO’ · TIME · TO
ETERNITY
DIALL · · STAIE · PASSINGER
TELL · ME · MY · NAME
THY · NATURE
PASS · · THY · NAME · IS · DIE
ALL · I · AM · A · MORTALL
CREATURE
DIALL · · SINCE · MY · NAME
AND · THY · NATURE
SO · AGREE
THINK · ON · THY · SELFE
WHEN · THOU · LOOKST
UPON · ME
PRIZE · TIME
YESTERDAY’S · GONE · TO-DAY · IS · HERE
TO-MORROW · NEVER · MAY · APPEAR
OUR · LIFE’S · A · FLYING · SHADOW · GOD’S · THE
POLE
DEATH · THE · HORIZON · WHERE · OUR · SUN
IS · SET
THE · INDEX · POINTING · AT · HIM · IS · OUR
SOUL
AND · WILL · THROUGH · CHRIST · A
RESURRECTION · GET
Milton Church, Berks
PULVIS · ET · UMBRA · SUMUS
We are as dust and shadows
THE · HOURS · FLY · FAST · ON · WINGS · OF · LIGHT
REPOSE · AFTER · LABOUR · IS · SWEET
WHEN · THOU · DOST · GAZE · UPON · MY · FACE
THINK · THEN · OF · TIME · HOW · SWIFT · HIS
PACE
AND · THAT · WITH · EVERY · MOMENT · FLOWN
THE · OPPORTUNITY · IS · GONE
POST · EST · OCCASIO · CALVA
One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies:
The Flower that once has blown for ever dies
PROXIMA · NON · NOSTRA · EST
To-morrow may never come
QUOD · TIBI · FIERI · NON · VIS · ALTERI · NE
FECERIS
Do as thou wouldst willingly be done by
THE · SHADOW · FLIES · AND · IT · IS · SEEN
NO · MORE
QUALIS · VITA · FINIS · ITA
A virtuous Life, a peaceful Eternity
QUA · REDIT · NESCITIS · HORAM
Ye know not the hour of His coming again
QUID · CELERIUS · TEMPORE
What is swifter than Time?
QUOD · PETIS · UMBRA · EST
Thou pursuest a shadow
MY · HOURES · ARE · MADE · OF · SUN · AND
SHADE
TAKE · HEDE · OF · WHAT · YOUR · HOURES · BE
MADE
LIFE · AS · THIS · SHADE
DOTH · FLY · AND · FADE
QUOD · VIDES · NON · DIU
Things seen are temporal
QUASI · UMBRA · TRANSIT · VITA
Life passes like the shadow
OUR · DAYS · DECLINE · LIKE · A · SHADOW
SO · GLIDE · THE · HOURS · SO · WEARS · THE
DAY
THESE · MOMENTS · MEASURE · LIFE · AWAY
WITH · ALL · ITS · TRAINS · OF · HOPE · AND · FEAR
TILL · SHIFTING · SCENES · OF · SHADE · AND
LIGHT
RISE · TO · THE · ETERNAL · DAY · OR · SINK · IN
ENDLESS · NIGHT
Dr Watts
LIFE · IS · SHORT · TIME · IS · SWIFT · MUCH · IS
TO · BE · DONE
THE · CARELESS · LOOK · AND · DO · NOT · HEED
THE · WISE · TAKE · NOTE · AS · ME · THEY · READ
TEMPUS · FUGIT
QUID · STAS · TRANSIT · HORA
What doest thou? Time is flying
REDIME · TEMPUS · NIL · PERPETUUM
Seize the flying hour: it will not come again
GOD · GIVETH · ALL
AS · TYME · DOTH · HASTE
SO · LIFE · DOTH · WASTE
REVOCABILE · TEMPUS
O stay the Sun in its march across the heavens
RESURGA
Awake to Life
RESURGAM
I shall rise again
OBSERVE · HOW · FAST · TIME · HURRIES · PAST
THEN · USE · EACH · HOUR · WHILE · IN · YOUR
POWER
FOR · COMES · THE · SUN · BUT · TIME · FLIES
ON
PROCEEDING · EVER · RETURNING · NEVER
REMEMBER
THE · SHADOWES · FLOWN · RETURN · NO · MORE
RELIGIONEM · COLE
Honor religion
OF · SHADE · AND · SUNSHINE · FOR · EACH · HOUR
SEE · HERE · A · MEASURE · MADE
THEN · WONDER · NOT · IF · LIFE · CONSIST
OF · SUNSHINE · AND · OF · SHADE
SIC · TRANSIT · GLORIA · MUNDI
So sinks the God of Day
THE · SUN · ON · ME · DOTH · SHADOW · THROW
WHAT · SHALL · THIS · DAY · THY · MORROW
SHOW
GIVE · GOD · THY · HEART · THY · HOPES · THY
SERVICE · AND · THY · GOLD
THE · DAY · WEARS · ON · AND · TIME · IS · WAXING
OLD
SOL · LUCET · CHARITUS · EXTENDIT
OMNIBUS
The Sun, like Charity, knows not distinctions of persons
SIC · PRAETERIT · AETAS
Old Time is still a-flying
SIC · HOMINIS · VITA
Such is the life of man
SEMPER · IN · MOTU
Ever moving
SO · FLIES · LIFE · AWAY
I · WISH · THE · SUN · WOULD · SHINE · ON · ALL
MEN’S · FRUITS · AND · FLOWERS · AS
WELL · AS · MINE
In the garden of Balcarres, Fife
SENSIM · SINE · SENSU
Ah, yet doth Beauty, like a dial-hand,
Steal from his figure, and no pace perceived
SENESCIMUS · EFFUGIT · AETAS
Like as the waves make toward the pebbled shore
So do our minutes hasten to their end
I · GIVE · MEN · WARNING · HOW · THE · HOURS
FLY
FOR · MEN · ARE · SHADOWS · AND · A · SHADOW · I
MY · HOURS · ARE · SUMMED · IN · SHINE · AND
SHADE
OF · JOY · AND · SADNESS · MAN’S · ARE · MADE
HE · THAT · WOULD · THRIVE · MUST · RISE · AT
FIVE
HE · THAT · HAVE · THRIVEN · MUST · STAY
TILL · SEVEN
HE · THAT · WILL · NEVER · THRIVE · MAY · LIE
TILL · ELEVEN
SIC · TIBI · TEMPUS · ERIT
Thy time cometh
SEMPER · PARATUM
Ever ready
I · HAVE · NO · VOICE · AND · YET · I · SPEAK
TAKE · HEED · WHEN · YOU · THE · TIME · DO · SEEK
SUPREMA · MULTIS · HORA · FORSAN · TIBI
‘Tis the Hour of Destiny for many, perhaps for thee
J’AVANCE
I move forward
SICUT · FLOS
Fragile as a flower
SOL · MINISTRAT · UMBRAM
The Sun causes the Shadow
IMPROVE · THE · PRESENT · HOUR · FOR · ALL
BESIDE
IS · A · MERE · FEATHER · ON · A · TORRENT’S
TIDE
COUNT · THE · HOURS · AS · ONE · BY · ONE
THEY · FLY
THE · MOMENT · PAST · LAID · MANY · FAST
SOL · GLORIA · SPHERAE
The Sun is the glory of the universe
SUMUS · FUMUS
We vanish like smoke
NOR · DO · I · BEG · THIS · SLENDER · NICHE · TO
WHILE
MY · TIME · AWAY · OR · SAFELY · TO · BEGUILE
MY · THOUGHTS · WITH · JOY · THERE’S · NO-
THING · WORTH · A · SMILE
SIC · IMUS · AD · ATRIA · LUCIS
AUT · UMBRAS · EREBI
Thus we pass on to the Halls of Light or to the
Dwelling of the Shades
SOL · SPLENDIT · OMNIBUS
The Sun shines for all
ICH · DIEN
I serve
I · MARK · NOT · THE · HOURS · UNLESS · THEY
BE · BRIGHT
I · MARK · NOT · THE · HOURS · OF · DARKNESS
AND · NIGHT
MY · PROMISE · IS · SOLELY · TO · FOLLOW · THE
SUN
AND · POINT · OUT · THE · COURSE · HIS · CHARIOT
DOTH · RUN
VEDI · L’ORA · MIA · E · L’ORA · TUA · NON · SAI
Thou seest my hour: beholdest thou thine?
SI · DEUS · NOBISCUM · QUIS · CONTRA · NOS
Our God and all things
SPECTATOR · FASTIDIOSUS · SIBI · MOLESTUS
He that searches too carefully is his own enemy
TEMPUS · AD · LUCEM · DUCIT · VERITATEM
Time brings Truth to light
SIC · TRANSIT · SAYEST · THOU · WELL · THEN
LET · IT · PASS
WOULD’ST · BE · A · GLUTTON · AT · THE · FEAST
OF · LIFE
AND · EAT · AND · EAT · AND · EVER · FILL · THY
GLASS
WELL · FED · CONTENT · LAYS · DOWN · HIS · FORK
AND · KNIFE
TEMPUS · OBIT · MORS · VENIT
Time dies, Death reigns
TEMPUS · VITAE · MONITOR
Time is the monitor of Life
TIME’S · A · TORRENT’S · RAPID · STREAM
TIME’S · A · SHADOW · TIME’S · A · DREAM
TIME’S · THE · CLOSING · WATCH · OF · NIGHT
DYING · AT · THE · RISING · LIGHT
TIME’S · A · BUBBLE · ON · TIME’S · SEA
USE · TIME · WELL · WHILE · TIME’S · WITH
THEE
THE · TIME · TO · COME · IS · NO · MORE · OURS
THAN · THE · PAST
TRANSIT · HORA · SINE · MORA
‘Tis impossible to stay the fleeting hour
TEMPUS · RERUM · IMPERATOR
Time commands all things
LIFE · IS · A · PASSING · SHADOW · THE · SHADOW
OF · A · BIRD · IN · HIS · FLIGHT
From the Talmud
TIME · FLEETETH · AWAY · WITHOUT · DELAY
TENERE · NON · POTES · PERDERE · POTES
Thou canst waste me: hold me back thou canst not
TEMPUS · EDAX · RERUM
Time brings all things to an end
TARDE · SED · CERTE
Slow but sure
LET · PLEASURE · BE · GRANTED · TO · YOUTH
BUT · SINCE · HUMAN · LIFE · IS · SOON · RUN
AND · HAS · BUT · TO · SPEAK · SOBER · TRUTH
TWO · MOMENTS · LET · WISDOM · HAVE · ONE
THE · TIME · THOU · KILLEST · WILL · IN · TIME
KILL · THEE
TRUE · AS · THE · DIAL · TO · THE · SUN
THINK · AND · THANK
TANQUAM · FUMUS
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