"It Is Us Today, You Tomorrow": A Misattributed Quote

The phrase "It is us today, you tomorrow" (or "Today us, tomorrow you") is not a statement by Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. It is a widely circulated misattribution.

Origin of the Phrase

The expression is a variation of the Latin "Hodie mihi, cras tibi" ("Today me, tomorrow you")—a medieval memento mori reminder of mortality's universality. It appears on tombstones, in sermons, and in anti-war contexts across Europe.

Why It's Linked to Selassie

• His 1936 League of Nations speech ("It is us today. It will be you tomorrow") warned that fascist aggression against Ethiopia would spread globally. The actual quote: It is us today. It will be you tomorrow. — referring to collective security failure.
• His stature as a symbol of African sovereignty and anti-colonial resistance made him a magnet for apocryphal quotes.
• Internet memes and quote aggregators conflated the Latin proverb with his genuine warning.

Selassie's Actual 1936 Message

Addressing the League after Italy's invasion: Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph. His core argument: collective security fails if small nations are sacrificed.

Verification Practice

Always check primary sources (League of Nations archives, Selassie's My Life and Ethiopia's Progress, reputable biographies) before attributing quotes to historical figures.