“seize the day”直接翻译的话意思是“珍惜现在，把握今天”，但是在《死亡诗社》这部电影中更多传达的是希望学生们能更多的享受现在的宝贵的青春生命，去发掘生活的快乐，去享受这美妙的生活，所以在很多电影翻译版本中都会翻译成“及时行乐”，或许这样更贴切电影的主题。
Carpe diem一词源自荷马《奥德赛》中的一首拉丁文诗，英文翻译成seize the day，跟我们汉语“一寸光阴一寸金”类似的意思。?
英文版诗句如下：
Leuconoe, don't ask — it's dangerous to know —?
what end the gods will give me or you. Don't play with Babylonian?
fortune-telling either. Better just deal with whatever comes your way.?
Whether you'll see several more winters or whether the last one?
Jupiter gives you is the one even now pelting the rocks on the shore with the waves?
of the Tyrrhenian sea--be smart, drink your wine. Scale back your long hopes?
to a short period. Even as we speak, envious time?
is running away from us. Seize the day, trusting little in the future.?
诗文大概要表述的意思是人生短暂，光阴飞逝，我们必须尽力过好每一天，每一时刻，尽情地吃，喝，并最大程度地快乐着，仿佛明天你就会离开人世一样。