Last weekend I went on a day trip to Spain. As I was looking around Granada, I came across a restaurant/sidewalk cafe with an interesting name: Memento Mori. ‘Memento mori’ or ‘remember death’ is a favourite motto of many Stoics. It reminds us of the impermanance of life and urges us to live a life of excellence, a life of virtue, a life worth living.

My first thought on seeing the name Memento Mori was “How interesting! The owners of the cafe have chosen a Stoic theme to name their cafe”. Then I wondered, “Why?”. Could it be because the Stoic philosopher, Seneca’s, birthplace (Cordoba) was just two hours away? While it was interesting to speculate, I knew that this was a farfetched explanation.

A little while later it occurred to me that the name may have nothing to do with the Stoic theme of remembering your death as a reminder to lead a better life. It is more likely that the name is meant to remind the diners to enjoy themselves now because death can strike at any time.

Should we be disappointed that the cafe owners used a lofty theme only to encourage customers to consume more food and drink? Personally, I don’t think so. As Ende Harte recently observed, the flip side of ‘remember death’ (memento mori) is ‘remember to live’ (memento vivere).

Stoics never asked us not to enjoy life. In fact, they reminded us about the importance of enjoying everyday life. It is a well-known fact that Seneca lived an opulent lifestyle.

Seneca had this to say to his protege, Lucilius: Above all, my dear Lucilius, make this your business: learn how to feel joy.” - Seneca, Moral Letters 23

Epictetus challenged us to enjoy life: Why not enjoy the festival of life when it is given to you do so? - Epictetus

And yet Stoic literature is not brimming with such exhortations It is as if the ancient Stoics were worried that our enjoyment of life could degenerate into a life of excess, as it seemed to have been generally the case during the time of the Roman Empire.

Death was of no concern to Stoics. Clearly, they did not care about death – whether it comes now or later, whether others cause it or we ourselves do. But they cared about life – a lot. Their concern was the quality of our life, not its quantity. Because they considered excess as a vice, they talked more about the virtue of moderation than about enjoying the pleasures of life.

Stoics seemed to have considered everyday pleasures as indifferents – something like, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself, but it doesn’t matter whether you do or not.

As for me, I would not relegate the pleasures of daily life to a place where I can’t find them any more. Yes, let us remember death and lead a life of excellence; but let’s also remember life and enjoy what is given to us.

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