OLD 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 well before the American Republic was born.

LET · OTHERS · TELL · OF · STORMS · AND
SHOWERS
I’LL · COUNT · ONLY · YOUR · SUNNY · HOURS

The motto chosen by Queen Alexandra for the Sundial at
Sandringham

ABI · NON · MORATUR · HORA · AMBULA
IN · LUCE

Begone, Time flies, walk in Light

UNITED · IN · TIME · PARTED · IN · TIME · TO
BE · REUNITED · WHEN · TIME · SHALL
BE · NO · MORE

In the King’s Garden, Holyrood, on the dial presented by
Charles I to Queen Henrietta Maria

BEHOLD · AND · BEGONE · ABOUT · YOUR
BUSINESS

AS · TIME · AND · HOURES · PASSETH · AWAYE
SO · DOETH · THE · LIFE · OF · MAN · DECAYE
AS · TIME · CAN · BE · REDEEMED · WITH · NO
COST
BESTOW · IT · WELL · AND · LET · NO · HOURS
BE · LOST

On a ring dial

CUM · TEMPUS · NON · EXISTET · TUNC
MORIOR

When Time is not, then only shall I pass away

CURSUM · PEREGI

I have finished my course

CARPE · DIEM

Ah, take the Cash in hand and waive the Rest

TO · NO · ONE · IS · GIVEN · RIGHT · OF · DELAY
NOTED · IN · HEAVEN · PASSETH · EACH · DAY
BE · THOU · NOT · FRUITLESS · WORK · WHILE
YE · MAY
TRIFLING · WERE · BOOTLESS · WATCH · THOU
AND · PRAY

CITO · PEDE · LABITUR · AETAS

The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly – and Lo! The Bird is on the Wing

THESE · SHADES · SO · FLEET · FROM · DAY · TO
DAY
AND · SO · THIS · LIFE · PASSETH · AVVAIE

KNOW · THYSELF

AS · SHADOWE · SO · MAN · SPEEDETH

DIES · DIEM · TRUDIT

A day may ruin thee

DUM · SPECTAS · FUGIO

I fly away even whilst thou watchest me

TIME · TIDE
DOTH · WAIST
THEREFORE
MAKE · HASTE
WE · SHALL

DUM · FUGIT · UMBRA · QUIESCO

The Shadow moves though I be at rest

AS · THE · SUNE · RUNS · SO · DEATH · COMES

DONA · PRAESENTIS · CAPE · LOETUS · HORAE

The guerdon of the passing hour
Seize gladly while ‘tis in thy power

BRIGHT · SOL · AND · LUNA · TIME · AND
TIDE · DOTH · HOLD

DEPRESSA · RESURGO

I set to rise

BON · JOUR · BON · SOIR

AS · THESE · HOURS · DOTH · PASS · AWAY
SO · DOTH · THE · LIFE · OF · MEN · DECAY
MOMENTO · MORI

DISPONIT · TEMPUS · DIES

Days make Years  

A · DAY · MAY · RUIN · THEE · IMPROVE · THIS
HOUR
A.D. · MDCCXXXII

DISCE · TUOS · NUMERARE · DIES

Learn to number thy days  

THE · HOUR · NOW · SHOWN · PERHAPS · MAY
BE · THY · LAST
REPENT · AND · PRAY · BEFORE · THAT · HOUR
BE · PAST

EN · USPRA · VITA · FUGAX · EN · INFRA · CERTA
MORS

Life is fleeting : Death is sure

THIS · FOURFOLD · INDEX · OF · SWIFT · TIME
ON · WHICH · YE · SHADOW · VEERETH · ROUND
SHOULD · MAN · EXCITE · TO · THEMES · SUBLIME
SINCE · NOUT · BUT · SHADOWS · HERE · ARE · FOUND

EX · HOC · MOMENTO · PENDET · AETERNITAS

Thine action now may weigh down the scales of Fate

BEHOLD · NOW · IS · THE · ACCEPTED · TIME
(2 Cor. VI. 2)

SEEK · YE · THE · LORD · WHILE · HE · MAY · BE
FOUND · (Isa. LV.6)

EHEU · FUGACES · LABUNTUR · ANNI

Time like an ever-rolling stream
Bears all its sons away

VIRTUE · JOIN · PRECIOUS · TIME

ECCE · HORA

Behold, the hour of Destiny

THUS · ETERNITY · APPROACHETH
TRIFLE · NOT · YOUR · TIME’S · SHORT

ETERNUM · TIBI · SEMPER · ADESSE PUTA

Remember thou art ever on the brink of Eternity  

L’HEURE · PASSE · L’AMITIE · RESTE

The Hour passeth, Friendship abideth

EXHIBE · FIDEM · VOCIS

Make good thy word

FESTINA · LENTE

Hasten slowly

THE · HOUR · THOU · READEST · NOW · ON · ME
WILL · NEVER · MORE · BE · OFFERED · THEE
IF · THOU · TAK’ST · HEED · WISE · THOU · WILT
BE

TIME · CAN · DO · MUCH

TIME · IS · MORE · SACRED · THAN · GOLD

C’EST · L’HEURE · DE · BIEN · FAIRE

This is thy fortunate hour

FUGIO · FUGE

I flee away : do thou also flee

OH · EARLY · PASSENGER · LOOK · UP · BE · WISE
AND · THINK · HOW · NIGHT · AND · DAY · TIME
EVER · FLIES

FESTINAT · SUPREMA

The last hour approacheth

I · SEEK · MY · LIGHT · FROM · GOD

FUGIT · DIES

The day flies on

TO-MORROW’S · HOURS · MAY · BE · LESS
FORTUNATE

I’LL · LIVE · TO-MORROW · YOU · DELAYING · CRY
IN · WHAT · FAR · COUNTRY · DOES · TO-MORROW
LIE

TIME’S · A · HAND’S · BREADTH · ‘TIS · A
TALE
‘TIS · A · VESSEL · UNDER · SAIL
‘TIS · AN · EAGLE · IN · ITS · WAY
DARTING · DOWN · UPON · ITS · PREY
‘TIS · AN · ARROW · IN · ITS · FLIGHT
MOCKING · THE · PURSUING · SIGHT

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