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

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Proverb

was ihr seid, das waren wir; was wir sind, das werdet ihr

1. 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