Life and Existence

Mankind, fleet of life, like tree leaves, weak creatures of clay, unsubstantial as shadows, wingless, ephemeral, wretched, mortal and dreamlike.

Old men are children for a second time.

Old men are children for a second time.

Who knows but life be that which men call death, And death what men call life?

Who knows but life be that which men call death, And death what men call life?

Humility, a sense of reverence before the sons of heaven— of all the prizes that a mortal man might win, these, I say, are wisest; these are best.

When good men die their goodness does not perish, But lives though they are gone. As for the bad, All that was theirs dies and is buried with them.

There is one thing alone that stands the brunt of life throughout its course: a quiet conscience.

Time cancels young pain.

I have found power in the mysteries of thought, exaltation in the chanting of the Muses; I have been versed in the reasonings of men; but Fate is stronger than anything I have known.

You were a stranger to sorrow: therefore Fate has cursed you.

Today’s today. Tomorrow, we may be ourselves gone down the drain of Eternity.

Today’s today. Tomorrow, we may be ourselves gone down the drain of Eternity.

Dishonor will not trouble me, once I am dead.

God, these old men! How they pray for death! How heavy they find this life in the slow drag of days! And yet, when Death comes near them, You will not find one who will rise and walk with him, not one whose years are still a burden to him.

Light be the earth upon you, lightly rest.

A sweet thing, for whatever time, to revisit in dreams the dear dead we have lost.

A sweet thing, for whatever time, to revisit in dreams the dear dead we have lost.

Oh, if I had Orpheus’ voice and poetry with which to move the Dark Maid and her Lord, I’d call you back, dear love, from the world below. I’d go down there for you. Charon or the grim King’s dog could not prevent me then from carrying you up into the fields of light.

Never say that marriage has more of joy than pain.

No man loves life like him that’s growing old.

No man loves life like him that’s growing old.

No falsehood lingers on into old age.

Not to be born surpasses thought and speech. The second best is to have seen the light And then to go back quickly whence we came.