Nisi diem carpere potes, noctem in aeternum carpe

[urmyxaddiction]

Nisi diem carpere potes, noctem in aeternum carpe

What would this translate as in english?

 

[Cato]

"If you cannot seize the day, forever seize the night."

 

[QMF]

I don't think I'm correct, but it should probably be asked...should this be "possis"?

 

[Cato]

I don't think I'm correct, but it should probably be asked...should this be "possis"?

The subjunctive possis is also acceptable, an example of the "indefinite" 2nd person singular, like the "you" in the maxim "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it."

In short, if you could replace the "you" with a generic pronoun like "one", you probably have an indefinite "you" that would make possis a good alternative for potes. Although it is not mandatory--Latin uses the indicative in this sense as well--I agree with QmF that it would be better here if that's the sense intended.