Quotes about death
page 60

“The people of Earth did not understand that humans were part of a worldwide organism, that something as tiny as a cluster of bacteria could mean the difference between life and death for every living thing, the difference between a functioning, flourishing planet and a desolation.”

Sheri S. Tepper (1929–2016) American fiction writer

Source: The Margarets (2007), Chapter 32, “I Am Gretamara/On Mars” (p. 272)

Life, People, Understanding, Parting

“There’s nothing like the threat of imminent death to force one to delegate.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Source: Vorkosigan Saga, Diplomatic Immunity (2002), Chapter 17 (p. 332)

“When someone is not free to do what they feel like doing, like every other person on the street, it causes depression which can even lead to death.”

Tope Alabi (1970) Nigerian Gospel artist

https://quotes.ng/mobile/author.php?title=tope-alabi&id=1290

Feeling, Personality

“As long as there is death, there is hope. The only thing that keeps me alive is the hope of dying young.”

Brother Theodore (1906–2001) German-American monologuist and comedian

[David Lefkowitz, https://www.playbill.com/article/stand-up-tragedy-brother-theodore-gottlieb-dead-at-94-com-95915, Stand-Up Tragedy: 'Brother' Theodore Gottlieb Dead at 94, Playbill, April 6, 2001, February 3, 2021]

Hope

“Ending our support of Saudi Arabia isn’t about political gamesmanship. It’s about basic humanity. It’s about doing everything to stop the bombing in Yemen so we can get food and medicine to the hundreds of thousands of children who are at immediate risk of starving to death.”

Ro Khanna (1976) U.S. Representative from California

Source: Twitter post https://twitter.com/RoKhanna/status/1078370178595991552 (27 December 2018)

Children, Food, Support

“I respect the institution of marriage as my parents were married until death literally parted them and they had a beautiful relationship. The problem is at some point, it begins to annoy you because of how much importance people have placed on it.”

Rita Dominic (1975) Nigerian actress

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/i-wont-rush-into-marriage-to-please-the-public-rita-dominic/amp/ Rita Dominic on marriage.

Marriage, People, Beauty, Problem

“Was it better to die in the illusion of sunshine and warmth or face death in a cold darkness of reality? Was it better to die in happy ignorance or terrified knowledge? The answer, if you’re a Londoner, is that it’s better not to die at all.”

Ben Aaronovitch book Whispers Under Ground

Source: Whispers Under Ground (2012), Chapter 21, “Oxford Circus” (p. 224)

Happiness, Knowledge, Reality

“Like young men from the dawn of time, I decided to choose the risk of death over certain humiliation.”

Ben Aaronovitch book Whispers Under Ground

Source: Whispers Under Ground (2012), Chapter 1, “Tufnell Park” (p. 5)

Men, Time

“One cannot expect the believers to deny one of the foundations of their faith, which is respect for every form of life, from conception to natural death. However, we cannot forget the commandment to love thy neighbour. It is the moral duty of a Christian to de-escalate conflicts, not fuel them.”

Wojciech Polak (1964) Polish priest

Source: Primate of Poland calls for de-escalation of abortion protests https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/primate-of-poland-calls-for-de-escalation-of-abortion-protests-17105 (27 October 2020)

Love, Life, Faith, Nature

“We are looking at a winter of severe illness and death for the unvaccinated.”

Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)

2021, December 2021 Source: ' Omicron delivers another uncertain holiday season to pandemic-weary Americans https://www.investing.com/news/coronavirus/omicron-delivers-another-uncertain-holiday-season-to-pandemicweary-americans-2714453 (Dec 17, 2021 01:21AM ET)

Winter

“220,000 deaths.
If you hear nothing else I say tonight, hear this:
Anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain President of the United States.”

Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)

2020, October 2020 Source: 22 October 2020 tweet https://twitter.com/joebiden/status/1319446692236791814 about Donald Trump as of December 2021 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59645307 the death toll under Biden's administration surpassed 800,000

“O death, why art thou so long in coming?”

Robert-François Damiens (1715–1757) French domestic servant and attempted assassin

Attributed last words
Source: Frederic Rowland (1900). The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and Women. Troy, New York: C. A. Brewster & Co.

Art

“What I really hoped for, no doubt, was to come upon one of those lives which begin nowhere, which lead us through marshes and salt flats, trickling away, seemingly without plan, purpose or goal, and suddenly emerge, gushing like geysers, and never cease gushing, even in death.”

Henry Miller book Nexus

Source: The Rosy Crucifixion III: Nexus (1960), Ch. 8, p. 129

Hope

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief. The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied with his.”

book Bible

Source: Proverbs 14:12-14

Pain, Way, Laughter, Heart

“Man's bodily functions moved only toward death, but the mind could continue to enrich itself even as everything else embraced entropy.”

Arthur C. Clarke book Richter 10

Source: 1990s, Richter 10 (1996), Chapter 18, “Hidden Faults” (p. 323)

“Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you're alive and able—be good.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Hays translation
Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book IV, 17

“You know that my ancestors were the most christian emperors of the great nation of Germany, the catholic kings of Spain, the archdukes of Austria, and the dukes of Burgundy, who all were, until death, faithful sons of the Roman Church...I am therefore resolved to maintain everything which these my forebears have established to the present…and to settle this matter I will use all my dominions and possessions, my friends, my body, my blood, my life, and my soul. It would be a disgrace for you and me, the illustrious and renowned nation of Germany, privileged and pre-eminent as protector and defender of the Catholic faith, if heresy, or even just the suspicion of heresy, and the degradation of the Christian religion were to return to the hearts of men in our time to our perpetual dishonour.”

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) Holy Roman Emperor

Diet of Worms (1521)
Source: *Detlef Ploese and Guenther Vogler, eds., Buch der Reformation. Eine Auswahl zeitgenössischer Zeugnisse (1476-1555). Berlin: Union Verlag, 1989, pp. 245-53

Life, Men, Faith, Religion

“It has brought me the greatest sorrow you can imagine, because he was the most handsome little boy for his age that you could find. I feel his death even more than the loss of my own son [Fernando] because he was older and I knew him better and treated him as my own son. Nevertheless we must accept the will of God. May God forgive me, but I wish He had taken Christian instead of his son.”

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) Holy Roman Emperor

God, Age, Feeling, Imagination

“This book must... touch... deep and difficult questions about birth and death... life and its inception... sexuality and gender, about distribution of power.”

Laurence Tribe (1941) American lawyer and law school professor

Source: Abortion: The Clash of Absolutes (1990), Approaching Abortion Anew

Life, Books, Birth, Question

“Most people are more afraid of the unknown than death.”

Jay Samit (1961) American businessman

Future Proofing You (2021)

People

“I’m told it’s very difficult to escape death once he adds your name to his list.”

Jim C. Hines (1974) American writer

Source: The Goblin Quest Series, Goblin War (2008), Chapter 16 (p. 301)

“The difference between a Hero and an ordinary man is that when the ordinary man comes upon a flaming death swamp full of venomous dragon snakes, he turns around and goes home. The Hero strips down and goes for a swim.”

Jim C. Hines (1974) American writer

Source: The Goblin Quest Series, Goblin Hero (2007), Chapter 4 (p. 60)

Home

“We are going to build a new era. Out with the death squads. Out with corruption. Out with drug trafficking and organized crime. No more poverty and misery. To victory! The people will always be united. Together, we are going to transform this country...”

Xiomara Castro (1959) First Lady of Honduras

speaking November 28, 2021 Quoted in “A Moment of Hope”: Xiomara Castro’s Likely Win in Honduran Election Ends Years of Right-Wing Rule After Coup https://www.democracynow.org/2021/11/30/xiomara_castro_first_woman_president_honduras, Democracy Now!, November 30, 2021

People, Victory, Country

“Death is the looking-glass of life wherein
Each man may scan the aspect of his deeds.”

Alfred Austin (1835–1913) British writer and poet

Source: Savonarola (1881), Girolamo Savonarola in Act I, sc. iv; p. 49.

Life

“I’ll argue to the death against stupid legislation, but some rules exist for a reason.”

Alastair Reynolds book On the Steel Breeze

Source: On the Steel Breeze (2013), Chapter 5 (p. 43)

Stupidity

“Death is master of lord and clown.
Close the coffin and hammer it down.”

Alfred Austin (1835–1913) British writer and poet

Source: Prince Lucifer (1887), Adam in Act IV, sc. iv; p. 111.

“We know that community testing helps us quickly identify new COVID cases, so we can isolate the virus. Please get tested. We know that vaccines and boosters are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death. Please, go get vaccinated and go get boosted.”

Lou Leon Guerrero (1950) Guamanian politician

Source: Lou Leon Guerrero (2022) cited in: " Governor: 'I am not announcing any new restrictions at this time' https://www.guampdn.com/news/governor-i-am-not-announcing-any-new-restrictions-at-this-time/article_87485994-72b9-11ec-a0b6-271bc150ad80.html" in Pacific Daily News, 11 January 2022.

Communication, Help

“Tell your friend that in his death, a part of you dies and goes with him. Wherever he goes, you also go. He will not be alone.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian spiritual philosopher

Parting

“When I'm drinking my Bonaparte shandy
eating more than enough apple pies
will I glance at my screen
and see real human beings
starve to death right in front of my eyes?
Nothing old, nothing new, nothing ventured,
nothing gained, nothing stillborn or lost,
nothing further than proof, nothing wilder than youth,
nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine,
nothing physically recklessly hopelessly blind,
nothing I couldn't say
Nothing. Why? 'Cos today nothing rhymed”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"Nothing Rhymed" (song) Gilbert O'Sullivan. A live performance. On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtoefxZGR6U Gilbert O'Sullivan. A performance with orchestra, c.2017. On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-SWTPDPriA Gilbert O'Sullivan. Observations about "Nothing Rhymed", fifty years on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2BlxtcH39Q (On YouTube) (+ A cover version by Franklin Brown on YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6kuZyk5WJ8 (+ A cover version by Colleen Coughlan on YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcqndbjOPTs (+ A cover version by Conor McCauley on YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nAb0-7J9d4 (+ A cover version by The Ocelots on YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRCDFiRaRA0 (+ Guitar instrumental by Phil McGarrick) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmzFaUC1rDI Song lyrics Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Nothing Rhymed" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGE6gzkMAfw (song on YouTube)

Youth, Drink, Wine, Time

“I don't know what makes a man
or a woman even think that
terror isn't evil.
How could anyone have plans
that would guarantee the death of
thousands of people?
And yet as I look back now on what happened,
like the calls from those in planes
they were trapped in,
whatever they felt that day,
"I love you":
that was all they wanted to say.”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"All They Wanted to Say" (song) Song lyrics Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "All They Wanted to Say" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeaqKqed6V4 (song on YouTube)

Love, People, Thinking, Evil

“The stick-together families are happier by far
Than the brothers and the sisters who take separate highways are.
The gladdest people living are the wholesome folks who make
A circle at the fireside that no power but death can break.
And the finest of conventions ever held beneath the sun
Are the little family gatherings when the busy day is done.”

Edgar Guest (1881–1959) American writer

Source: Just Folks (1917), The Stick-Together Families, stanza 1.

People, Family, Business, Sister

“I still don’t know how to define or answer what is the meaning behind life and death. And I don’t think I will be able to define them in the future either. It’s difficult. What I can do, is to live my life, which is only given to me once, without regret until it runs its course. That’s I think the best I can do, at the present.”

Gong Yoo (1979) South Korean actor

Source: "Gong Yoo talks life, death and 20 years in the business" in Korea JoongAng Daily https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/04/19/entertainment/movies/Gong-Yoo-actor-interview/20210419145803689.html (19 April 2021)

Life, Thinking, Future

“We are all at one stage or another of being unfinished. We can be born with deficiencies, or incur disabilities, some of which last through life. In fact, we are never finished while death is still in front of us. When there is something that cannot be resolved or fulfilled within our present span of life, it helps to remember that our life was not something we had a right to in the first place; it is simply gift. And our present life is not the whole of it.”

Peter Cullinane (1936) Catholic bishop

Unmoored https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2021/08/31/unmoored/ (August 31, 2021)

Life, Help

“You know death must overtake you but you make no preparation for it.”

Ibrahim ibn Adham (718–776) ascetic Sufi saint

Source: The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004), p. 28

“Nuclear is the safest power source we’ve got—with two exceptions, neither of which is being built. If some folk are terrified of unseen death by radiation, then let ’em deal with their own neuroses, instead of forcing us to stop building the atomic plants.”

Larry Niven book N-Space

Foreword: Playgrounds for the Mind (pp. 31-32)
Short fiction, N-Space (1990)

“When hope lies dead—ah, when 'tis death to live,
And wrongs remembered make the heart still bleed,
Better are Sleep's kind lies for Life's blind need
Than truth, if lies a little peace can give.”

Theodore Watts-Dunton (1832–1914) English literary critic and poet

"Prophetic Pictures at Venice II: The Temptation", p. 199.
The Coming of Love and Other Poems (1897)

Life, Truth, Peace, Hope

“Animals who die for your dinner table die alone, in terror, in sadness and in pain. The killing is merciless and inhumane. … Animals suffer from pain and fear just as much as you do. Most spend their last hours locked in a truck, packed into a cage with hundreds of other terrified animals and then cruelly pushed into a blood soaked death chamber. Animals which are a year old are often far more rational – and capable of logical thought – than six-week-old babies. Pigs and sheep are far more intelligent than small children.”

Vernon Coleman (1946) British doctor

"Twenty One Reasons For Being A Vegetarian" (2007), in vernoncoleman.com http://www.vernoncoleman.com/twentyoner.htm.

Pain, Children, Sadness, Fear

“I have been opposed to vivisection for many years; not just because it is unbelievably barbaric and unforgivably cruel but also because it is worthless, wasteful, inaccurate, uninformative and dangerously misleading. The cruelty is indefensible and an affront to human dignity, but in a desperate attempt to justify their evil practices many vivisectors still claim that what they do helps save human lives. They are lying. The truth is that animal experiments kill people and animal researchers are responsible for the deaths of thousands of men, women and children every year; they are also directly responsible for a massive amount of human suffering.”

Vernon Coleman (1946) British doctor

"Why Animal Experiments Must Stop" (1991), in animalliberationfront.com http://www.animalliberationfront.com/Philosophy/Animal%20Testing/Vivisection/waems.htm.

Women, Men, Children, People

“Sometimes, thinking just didn’t do any good, didn’t provide any answers. Because for some questions—such as the arbitrariness of life and death during wartime—there weren’t any answers.”

Charles E. Gannon (1960) American novelist

Source: Trial by Fire (2014), Chapter 27 (p. 402)

Life, Question, Thinking

“I hope my journey to death lasts at least ninety years.”

Ron English (1959) American artist

Ron English's Fauxlosophy: Volume 2 (2022)

Hope

“Sometimes you have to do something dangerous to get death's attention.”

Ron English (1959) American artist

Ron English's Fauxlosophy: Volume 2 (2022)

“Death would be better if it weren’t forever.”

Ron English (1959) American artist

Ron English's Fauxlosophy: Volume 2 (2022)

“There’s nothing like a stupid, accidental death to remind you of the supreme futility of everything.”

Alastair Reynolds (1966) British novelist and astronomer

Death’s Door (p. 229)
Short fiction, Belladonna Nights and Other Stories (2021)

Stupidity

“It was his hope and ambition to cause many deaths. He was an arms salesman by choice, calm and even a little happy to see his products in such demand, capable of trying to clinch a sale at the bedside of a fresh corpse.”

John Brunner book The Jagged Orbit

Source: The Jagged Orbit (1969), Chapter 51, “If Your Number Comes Up Then Your Number Comes Up and That’s All There Is to It So What’s the Use of Worrying That’s What I Always Say” (p. 163)

Happiness, Hope

“A good many men will be killed, however, as long as no man can prove to me that a man can die more than once, I am not inclined to regard death for the individual as a misfortune.”

Alfred von Waldersee (1832–1904) Prussian Field Marshal

Waldersee in November, 1877, as quoted by Gordon Alexander Craig, "Germany, 1866-1945" (Oxford University Press, 1978) p.133

Men

“We are dying from overthinking. We are slowly killing ourselves by thinking about everything. Think. Think. Think. You can never trust the human mind anyway. It's a death trap.”

Anthony Hopkins (1937) Welsh stage and television actor

Thinking

“When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk helicopter after I was shot down, I didn't care if the American troops risking their lives to help save me were gay, straight, transgender, black, white or brown.”

Tammy Duckworth (1968) United States senator from Illinois

Tammy Duckworth in "White House to instruct Pentagon on how to implement president's transgender ban in the military" http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-transgender-ban-20170824-story.html by Brian Bennett and David S. Cloud, LA Times, (August 24, 2017)

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