The present life of man, O king, seems to me, in comparison of that time which is unknown to us, like to the swift flight of a sparrow through the room wherein you sit at supper in winter, with your commanders and ministers, and a good fire in the midst, whilst the storms of rain and snow prevail abroad; the sparrow, I say, flying in at one door, and immediately out at another, whilst he is within, is safe from the wintry storm; but after a short space of fair weather, he immediately vanishes out of your sight, into the dark winter from which he had emerged. So this life of man appears for a short space, but of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly ignorant. If, therefore, this new doctrine contains something more certain, it seems justly to deserve to be followed. — The Venerable Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum, quoting Coifi of Northumbria, as cited in Wikiquote
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 fledgist |
| 2011-10-26 14:06 (UTC) |
| (no subject) |
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Or, better, let me quote some lines from the ancient Indian sage Brhaspati:
While life is yours, live joyously;
None can escape Death's searching eye:
When once this frame of ours they burn,
How shall it e'er again return?
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 rymrytr |
| 2011-10-26 17:38 (UTC) |
| The 'Fruit Fly' Principle |
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It is a frightening concept for most folks; existence begins at birth and when one dies, existence ends.
That is, for those few short years of intellectual cognizance, we try to console our psyche with the idea that the earth has existed X number of years and will continue beyond our lifespan. However, for each individual, existence begins and ends in one's allotted "3 score and 10" (figuratively), and then we will will cease; a brief spark in the scheme of time which also, for each individual, no longer exists.
But even for those that believe that existence is not completely random, there is a caveat at the end of the verse:
Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
It seems a bit frightening to think about oblivion; Non-existence; total finality.
Laying aside all the specific nuances of Religions; they do give the believer, follower or disciple, hope through believing that one will continue beyond the grave, whether it is an after-life in a better place are a return to earth-life as a bug, cow or human...
The fear of the unknown is a most powerful influence upon our fragility.
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| rinolj |
| 2011-10-26 20:52 (UTC) |
| (no subject) |
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Gov. John Connolly: You certainly can’t say that the people of Dallas haven’t given you a nice welcome, Mr. President.
JFK: No, you certainly can’t.
[last words]
John Barrymore: Die, I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.
[last words]
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.: I've never felt better.
[last words]
Oscar Wilde: These curtains are killing me, one of us has got to go.
[last words]
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