Tattoo advise from native speakers

[DasanKa]

Hi guys!

I `m planning to tattoo but  I doubt if it sounds just like what I want to say. 

So the whole meaning is that "Don`t look for the sense (meaning/sound) in this inscription (tatoo), better try to find it in your life" - what is better? sense (meaning/sound) ?

And the other problem is that It's too long. I assume the following one: "Don't make the tattoo more than your life is" - вoes this make sense without context?

So I can rely on Native Speakers' opinion exclusively.

Thank you for your help!

[Gingerninja]

Hey there! Welcome. Have you considered an image that represents the text? Pictures speak a thousand words....just a thought.

[DasanKa]

Just the text

[scottyg]

Are you translating it from French? If so, why do you want it in English, when the French makes so much more sense out of the word "sens"?

[DasanKa]

I translate it from Russian)) 

[scottyg]

ah, interesting!

[scottyg]

"Don't look for meaning in this inscription; better to try to find it in your life."

--this one works.

"Don't make this tattoo more than your life is."

--this isn't really grammatically correct. it should be something like: "Don't make this tattoo mean more than your life does." Or, "This tattoo shouldn't mean more than your life does."

But it's a hard idea to convey in words. @Gingerninja has a good idea. Is there an image that could represent this?

Cool idea though: images don't always mean.

[DasanKa]

Ohh thanks! And what do you think about "Don't make it more than your life is" - Is it enough clear without the context?

Smth like Don't take a look at my tattoo so close as if it makes more sense than your entire life does

 

[scottyg]

Yeah, the meaning is clear, but in context you would still need something like: "Don't make it mean more than your life does." That would be clear to the reader.

Or, "don't try to make it mean more than your life does."

[DasanKa]

It`ll be  like this (see the picture) so I don`t whant to use image, only test 

[DasanKa]

2 minutes ago, scottyg said:

Yeah, the meaning is clear, but in context you would still need something like: "Don't make it mean more than your life does." That would be clear to the reader.

Or, "don't try to make it mean more than your life does."

"Don't make it mean more than your life does" - excellently ! :))Thaaank you a lot))

[Devious6]

If it means something to you, then it doesn't matter what others think.  Welcome to the forum!!

I opted to go for the visual representation....my last name is Volk - which translates as Wolf in Russian. 

Edited November 22, 2017 by Devious6

[SStu]

Fair warning - If you're going with the foot placement, it probably won't matter how you word it. 

[oboogie]

On 11/25/2017 at 8:54 AM, SStu said:

Fair warning - If you're going with the foot placement, it probably won't matter how you word it. 

This. It won't be there long enough for it to matter.