Memento mori

… the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.

A poignant moment. A few months after this speech, an assassin's bullet took Kennedy's life.

Why do we waste our precious time? Because, says Seneca, people forget that their lives are limited.

You live as if you were destined to live forever. No thought of your frailty ever enters your head, of how much time has already gone by you take no heed. You squander time as if you drew from a full and abundant supply, though all the while that day which you bestow on some person or thing is perhaps your last.

According to another Stoic philosopher, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the secret to living a committed and meaningful life is to remind ourselves of death as often as possible. "You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think."

Marcus Aurelius's admonishment was not intended to make people fear death but motivate them to live fully. Remembering our mortality invigorates life by reminding us to not waste time on insignificant, trivial, or vain pursuits. In this way, thinking about death gives life its zest.

Historians say that, after a military victory, it was common to treat victorious Roman generals to parades in which they received the people's adoration. All the while, just behind the general was a person whispering, "Remember thou art mortal. Remember, thou must die!" Our modern political leaders could benefit from similar advice. Thinking about one's death is an antidote to arrogance and hubris.

Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and the other Stoics believed that mortality gives us the nerve to live a courageous life. This belief was amplified in modern times by Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple, who died from cancer at age 56.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Almost everything-all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

What is the best way to keep death in mind? Some monks face their mortality every night by sleeping in their coffins. Religious rituals can serve a similar purpose. For example, on Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent), the priest reminds the faithful to "Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return."

Some people rely on literature and art to remind them of death. The Latin term memento mori (Remember, you must die) is the title of a novel, the name of a rock recording, and a feature in prayers and poems. In cultural history, numerous paintings, medallions, sculptures, and pendants have sought to remind people of their death. These creations are called memento mori. To make their point, they feature a skull, an hourglass, or both.