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Quotes about life and death

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The temple of fame stands upon the grave: the flame that burns upon its altars is kindled from the ashes of dead men.
William Hazlitt1778–1830Lectures on the English Poets (1818), Lecture VIII, “On the Living Poets”
- Fame
For dying is not to be feared⁠—it is the final comfort. As we all learn, eventually.
Robert A. Heinlein1907–1988The Cat Who Walks Through Walls (1985), Chapter 7 (p. 79)
It may be better to be a live jackal than a dead lion, but it is better still to be a live lion. And usually easier.
Robert A. Heinlein1907–1988Time Enough for Love (1973)
- Courage
I have never been able to see life as anything but a vast complicated practical joke, and it’s better to laugh than cry.
Robert A. Heinlein1907–1988I Will Fear No Evil (1970), Chapter 25, p. 442
- Laughter
Madame, all stories, if continued far enough, end in death, and he is no true-story teller who would keep that from you.
Ernest Hemingway1899–1961Death in the Afternoon (1932), Ch. 11
- Writing
No catalogue of horrors ever kept men from war. Before the war you always think that it’s not you that dies. But you will die, brother, if you go to it long enough.
Ernest Hemingway1899–1961Notes on the Next War (1935)
- War & Peace
Don’t you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you’re not taking advantage of it?
Ernest Hemingway1899–1961The Sun Also Rises (1926), Book I, Chapter 2In context
- Time
The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.
Ernest Hemingway1899–1961A Farewell to Arms (1929), Book IV, Chapter XXXIVIn context
- Courage
Life isn’t hard to manage when you’ve nothing to lose.
Ernest Hemingway1899–1961A Farewell to Arms (1929), Book II, Chapter XXIIn context
- Risk
Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.
O. Henry1862–1910The Gift of the Magi (1905)In context
- Comedy
Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
Patrick Henry1736–1799Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death (1775)
- Freedom
- War & Peace
Man, like a light in the night, is kindled and put out.
Heraclitus535–470 BCFragment 26
A man cannot live intensely except at the cost of the self.
Hermann Hesse1877–1962Steppenwolf (1927)In context
When artists create pictures and thinkers search for laws and formulate thoughts, it is in order to salvage something from the great dance of death, to make something that lasts longer than we do.
Hermann Hesse1877–1962Narcissus and Goldmund (1930)
- Art
We cannot evade life’s course, but we can school ourselves to be superior to fortune and also to look unflinchingly upon the most painful things.
Hermann Hesse1877–1962Gertrude (1910), p. 236
- Courage