was ihr seid, das waren wir; was wir sind, das werdet ihr
German
Alternative forms
- was wir sind, das werdet ihr; was ihr seid, das waren wir
Etymology
Calque of Latin quod sumus hoc eritis, fuimus quandoque quod estis, from the medieval legend of the Three Dead and three Living.
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Proverb
was ihr seid, das waren wir; was wir sind, das werdet ihr
- A saying of memento mori, often written on cemetery walls and the like; literally: what you are, we were; what we are, you will be