Can someone translate “the first days are first to flee"

[aprose1977]

This is a quotation from the Roman Poet Virgil which is used a lot by a Chinese friend of mine. I am interested in how it is officially rendered in Chinese editions. 

[Zeppa]

That seems to be wrong. The Latin means 'the best days are the first to flee' or 'the best day vanishes first' (optima dies, prima fugit) not 'the first days...'. Apparently it's used as the epitaph to a novel by Willa Cather, 'My Antonia', which I have never read. In Virgilk it begins one of four poems called the Georgics.

 

How does your friend use it?

[aprose1977]

I think you are right.  The best days are the first to flee.  Thank you for the clarification. 

[lips]

昙花一现
好景不长

[aprose1977]

Perfect!  Thank you.  Sounds so much better in Chinese. 

[耳耳语语]

I think the original quote "optima dies, prima fugit" carries the idea that " The best days of our lives are childhood days. "

[Publius]

韶華易逝

[Ceciliawxy]

the first days are first to flee = 起初的日子是最先消失的。（literally means）

 

In the lives of mortals, the best days are the first to flee. 凡人的生命中,最好的日子最先消失。 

[skylee]

Perhaps consider 快活時日彈指過.

[lips]

花易谢，雾易失，梦易逝，云易散