Tattooing as we know it goes back to Southeast Asia, where islanders would tattoo the stories of their lives, their professions and their ancestors into their living flesh. American and European sailors began sporting tattoos of their own in the early days of colonization, but in the 20th century, tattooing really took off. World War II veterans came back from the Pacific with tattoos, and the invention of the tattoo pen, which is far less painful than traditional methods, meant that tattooing could be done cheaply and (relatively) painlessly.

Wearing a tattoo says a lot about a person. In some countries, tattoos are still taboo. In Japan, wearing a tattoo means you can't go to a public swimming pool. In other places, tattoos can mean anything from religious prohibition to military membership. There are abstract tattoos, representative tattoos, word tattoos, you name it. If you can't decide on one, or don't have one in mind, most tattoo parlors sport wall-to-wall "flash"; stock designs intended for the adventurous, or the inebriated.

So which tattoo is right for you? Which mark hits the mark? Which ink is right, do you think? Don't worry. We're here to help. Just take this quiz and we'll tell you which tattoo brings out your personality.