Variant: And I knew that it was better to live out one's own absurdity than to die for that of others.
Source: Invisible Man (1952), Chapter 25.
Carl Menger (1840–1921) founder of the Austrian School of economics
Attributed to Carl Menger in: Ludwig Von Mises, " Comments about the mathematical treatment of economic problems https://mises.org/journals/jls/1_2/1_2_2.pdf." Journal of Libertarian Studies, Spring 1977, 1(2), p. 100
“Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees.”
Jean Paul Sartre (1905–1980) French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and …
“It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die.”
Steve Biko (1946–1977) anti-apartheid activist in South Africa
Quoted in Scott MacLeod, "South Africa: Extremes in Black and Whites" http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975037,00.html, Time, March 9, 1992, p. 38 <br class="br">Quoted in "The Mind of Black Africa" (1996) by Dickson A. Mungazi, p. 159
“Better to die than to live in fear.”
Christopher Paolini book Inheritance
Roran, on the cause of the Varden
Inheritance (2011)
“It is better to live rich, than to die rich.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer
April 17, 1778
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol III
“I always knew in my heart Walt Whitman’s mind to be more like my own than any other man’s living.”
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889) English poet
Letter to Robert Bridges (18 October 1882)
Letters, etc
Context: I always knew in my heart Walt Whitman’s mind to be more like my own than any other man’s living. As he is a very great scoundrel this is not a pleasant confession.
“Is it not better to die valiantly, than ignominiously to lose our wretched and dishonoured lives after being the sport of others’ insolence?”
Nonne emori per virtutem praestat quam vitam miseram atque inhonestam, ubi alienae superbiae ludibrio fueris, per dedecus amittere?
Catiline (-109–-62 BC) ancient Roman Senator
Quoted in Sallust, Catiline's War, Book XX, pt. 9 (trans. J. C. Rolfe).
Variant translation: Is it not better to die in a glorious attempt, than, after having been the sport of other men's insolence, to resign a wretched and degraded existence with ignominy?
“We're married. I will protect you. I will die for you. Better than that. I will live for you.”
Mary Connealy (1956) Author
Source: Sharpshooter in Petticoats
