Lettering

Memento Mori

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Style: Lettering
Sitting: About 2 to 3 hours at forearm size.
Size: Best between 5 and 10 inches wide.
Format: PNG, transparent background
Use: Take it to any artist

"Memento Mori" is Latin for "remember that you must die," a phrase rooted in Stoic philosophy and later medieval Christian art, used to prompt reflection on mortality and the value of living well. As a tattoo it typically signals a personal reminder to stay present, humble, or motivated rather than a morbid statement. Some wearers connect it to loss or grief, others to a broader philosophy of memento mori as a call to action.

Where it sits

This is a two-line horizontal block of blackwork lettering, wider than it is tall, which suits areas with a flat, elongated surface such as the forearm, upper back, collarbone area, or across the ribs. The letterforms have fine serifs and thin connecting strokes, so it needs enough width to stay legible; shrinking it down would cause the serif details and the negative space in letters like the "O" to close up or blur. A forearm or upper back placement would preserve the two-line stacked layout best.

Making it yours

Ask an artist for any of these.

Reduce it to a single word or line for a smaller, subtler placement.
Switch the blackletter typeface for a simpler serif or script style.
Add a small motif like a skull, hourglass, or flower beneath the text.
Curve the text to follow a rib, spine, or collarbone line.
Render it in fine-line grey wash instead of solid black.

How it ages

The design relies on bold, thick strokes for the main letter bodies, which will hold up well over time since solid black areas tend to age more gracefully than fine lines. However, the sharp serifs, thin flourishes, and small negative-space gaps within letters are the parts most likely to blur or fill in over ten to twenty years. A touch-up sooner than average may be needed if placed somewhere with more movement or sun exposure, like hands or feet, to keep the crisp edges defined.

Ready to get it done?

Take this design to an artist who works in lettering.

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Where it sits

Making it yours

More lettering flash