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
The grave is like a Melotian (silken) raiment for the pious man, who comes fully provided with provisions; the pious man can look upon the future life without fear, because he comes to the other world well prepared.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
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
What springs from earth dissolves to earth again, and heaven-born things fly to their native seat.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
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
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
Better one hour’s happiness in the next world than a whole lifetime of pleasure in this.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
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
One man may earn immortality by the work of a few short years, while others earn it by the work of a long life.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The belief of a future state is a troublesome check on human passions, and one can never make libertines tranquil and resolute without having first made them unbelievers.
—Jean Baptiste Massillon (1663–1742) French Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
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
This world is like a road-side inn, but the world to come is like the real home.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Immortality is the greatness of our being; the scene for attaining the fullness and perfection of our existence.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
The spirit of man, which God inspired, cannot together perish with this corporeal clod.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Prepare thyself in the antechamber that thou mayest worthily enter the throne-room.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Immortality is the condition of a dead man who doesn’t believe he is dead
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Life is the childhood of our immortality.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Whatsoever that be within us that feels, thinks, desires, and animates, is something celestial, divine, and, consequently, imperishable.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
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
A man has only one way of being immortal on earth: he has to forget he is a mortal.
—Jean Giraudoux (1882–1944) French Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
Man only of all earthly creatures, asks, “Can the dead die forever?” – and the instinct that urges the question is God’s answer to man, for no instinct is given in vain.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Literature is the immortality of speech.
—August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845) German Poet, Literary Critic, Scholar
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 essence of immorality is the tendency to make an exception of myself.
—Jane Addams (1860–1935) American Social Reformer, Feminist
For the great hereafter I trust in the infinite love of God as expressed in the life and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
It is the divinity that stirs within us.—‘Tis heaven itself that points out an hereafter, and intimates eternity to man.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Immortal mortals, mortal immortals, one living the others death and dying the others life.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Do not believe yourself healthy. Immortality is health; this life is a long sickness.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Don’t try to add more years to your life. Better add more life to your years.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Without a belief in personal immortality religion is like an arch resting on one pillar, or like a bridge ending in an abyss.
—Max Muller (1823–1900) German-Born British Philologist, Orientalist
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
The first requisite for immortality is death.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
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
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
The longest life is insufficient for the fulfilment of half of man’s desires.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Immortality is not a gift, Immortality is an achievement; And only those who strive mightily Shall possess it.
—Edgar Lee Masters (1869–1950) American Poet, Novelist
On the imagination God sometimes paints, by dream and symbol, the likeness of things to come.—What the foolish-wise call fanaticism, belongs to the same part of us as hope.—Each is the yearning of the soul for the great “Beyond,” which attests our immortality.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
We are much better believers in immortality than we can give grounds for.—The real evidence is too subtle, or is higher than we can write down in propositions.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
But thy eternal summer shall not fade.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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
This world is an antechamber to the next.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Deathlessness should be arrived at in a… haphazard fashion. Loving fame as much as any man, we shall carve our initials in the shell of a tortoise and turn him loose in a peat bog.
—E. B. White (1985–99) American Essayist, Humorist
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
The thought of being nothing after death is a burden insupportable to a virtuous man; we naturally aim at happiness, and cannot bear to have it confined to our present being.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
The seed dies into a new life, and so does man.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
I feel my immortality o’ersweep all pains, all tears, all time, all fears, and like the eternal thunders of the deep, peal to my ears this truth—“Thou livest forever.”
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet