Gold Cup Fly

Latin phrase tattoos; yea or nay?

I was thinking about getting a Latin phrase tattooed on my wrists, instead of some of my other ideas, because it's smaller and cheaper for a first tattoo. I think they're cool...but what do you guys think? Are they overdone or cheesy, or something?

Also, here are some I'm thinking of. Which one do you like best (if any)?

Ab hinc - From here on
Carpe diem - Seize the day. (this one might be a little cliche...)
Magnus frater spectat te - Big Brother is watching you
Bibere venenum in auro - Drink poison from a cup of gold
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam - I will either find a way or make one
Quaere verum - Seek the truth
Nascentes morimur - From the moment we are born, we begin to die
Alis volat propiis - She flies with her own wings
Oh, I love the idea of a small bird with "Alis volat propiis"!
Hmm. Now I'm thinking "I'll either find a way or make one" in English.

Maybe "I'll either find a way" on one wrist and "or make one" on the other.

My first tattoo was a pretty large forearm piece that just read "Catch-22". Little did I know how many different things people would assume it was. I eventually had to get the red Yossarian from the book added to it. And with every other piece since I've run into a non-stop questioning. Which is cool, and one of the reasons I wanted them, but literally - non-stop.

My point is: I have 6 tattoos that are text, all written in English, all alluding to, if not directly from, extremely famous literary works and every single day they're visible I get asked to explain them at least three times. They're in English. Are you ready to have to explain Latin to people everyday for the rest of your life? Not just a translation, but the why behind it? Because you'll have to. Especially on your wrist, unless it could be covered by a watch.

I'm all for tattoos, got 9 myself, but it is more of a commitment than I'd originally thought. Especially with text tattoos. Just be absolutely sure that you won't mind being asked, frequently by people you'd rather not talk to, what it's all about. If you're positively cool with that, then go for it.

My final word would be: Make absolutely certain you want to do it on the wrist. (It hurts as well as being ultra visible.) Shoulder, or shoulder blade is where I'd recommend getting your first, but that falls into the 'do as I say, not as I did' category with me. But definitely think it through.

By the way, I like "Magnus frater spectat te" and "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam" the most out of those options. I really like those two. :)

(They work in english too, 17 to 19 pt courier new font in really fine lettering. Make sure the artist is good, the smaller the font the easier it gets screwed up.)

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