For them that think death’s honesty won’t fall upon them naturally life sometimes must get lonely.
—Bob Dylan (b.1941) American Singer-songwriter
Immortality: A toy which people cry for, And on their knees apply for, Dispute, contend and lie for, And if allowed Would be right proud Eternally to die for.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
The just of all nations have a portion in the future reward.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The creator made us to be the image of his own eternity, and in the desire for immortality we feel we have sure proof of our capacity for it.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
The spirit of man, which God inspired, cannot together perish with this corporeal clod.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
A special mansion will be given in Heaven to every pious man.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
We do not believe in immortality because we have proved it, but, we forever try to prove it because we believe it.
—James Martineau (1805–1900) English Philosopher, Religious Leader
Still seems it strange, that thou shouldst live forever? Is it less strange, that thou shouldst live at all? This is a miracle; and that no more.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
The first condition of immortality is death.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
He who lays up no store of good deeds during the working days of life can never enjoy the eternal Sabbath.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Every idea is endowed of itself with immortal life, like a human being. All created form, even that which is created by man, is immortal. For form is independent of matter: molecules do not constitute form.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
How gloomy would be the mansions of the dead to him who did, not know that he should never die; that what now acts, shall continue its agency, and what now thinks, shall think on forever.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
For the righteous there is no rest, neither in this world nor in the next, for they go, say the Scriptures, “from strength unto strength, from task to task, until they shall see God in Zion”.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
All men’s souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are both immortal and divine.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
All things by immortal power. Near of far, to each other linked are, that thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star.
—Francis Thompson (1859–1907) English Poet, Ascetic
Higher than the question of our duration is the question of our deserving. Immortality will come to such as are fit for it, and he would be a great soul in future must be a great soul now.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
As often as I hear of some undeserved wretchedness, my thoughts rest on that world where all will be made straight, and where the labors of sorrow will end in joy.
—Immanuel Hermann Fichte (1796–1879) German Philosopher
Immortality is what nature possesses without effort and without anybody’s assistance, and immortality is what the mortals must therefore try to achieve if they want to live up to the world into which they were born, to live up to the things which surround them and to whose company they are admitted for a short while.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
But thy eternal summer shall not fade.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Not all the subtleties of metaphysics can make me doubt a moment of the immortality of the soul, and of a beneficent providence. I feel it, I believe it, I desire it, I hope it, and will defend it to my last breath.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Matter immortal? and shall spirit die?—
Above the nobler, shall less nobler rise?
Shall man alone, for whom all else revives,
no resurrection know? Shall man alone,
Imperial man! Be sown in barren ground,
Less privileg’d than grain, on which he feeds?
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
The old, old fashion—death! Oh, thank God, all who see it, for that older fashion yet—of immortality!
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
When I consider the wonderful activity of the mind, so great a memory of what is past, and such a capacity of penetrating into the future; when I behold such a number of arts and sciences, and such a multitude of discoveries thence arising, I believe and am firmly persuaded that a nature which contains so many things within itself cannot but be immortal.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying. I don’t want to live on in the hearts of my countrymen; I want to live on in my apartment.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
Immortality is the condition of a dead man who doesn’t believe he is dead
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Immortal mortals, mortal immortals, one living the others death and dying the others life.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The seed dies into a new life, and so does man.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt.
—Joseph Heller (1923–99) American Novelist