I want a tattoo and my fiancee doesn't want me to get one. Someone's being selfish. Is it me or my fiancee?

I've been through a lot in my life. Personally, I think I've been through more than most people have in twenty years. There's a latin phrase, "luctor et emergo", which means "struggle and emerge". I want this tattooed on my back. It's important that you realize how much this means to me. Anyhow, my fiancee is very upset about this. When I named some reasons he might not like it and tried to justify, he said those weren't his concerns. When I asked what the big deal was, he said, "that I'd have to look at it for the rest of my life."
I know my fiancee isn't into tattoos. Granted, I've never seen him throw a fit over one, but I do know they're not his cup of tea. This is where I'm coming from, though: if it means a lot to me, and he's not worried about me getting Hep C or regretting it in the future, it seems to me like he's just being selfish and stubborn. However, I understand that I may be doing just that. It's hard to tell when you're emotionally involved in the situation. This tattoo thing isn't a big relationship problem or anything. I just want to know if I've got some bending to do.
Thanks