The belief in immortality has always seemed cowardly to me. When very young I learned that all things die, and read more

The belief in immortality has always seemed cowardly to me. When very young I learned that all things die, and all that we wish of good must be won on this earth or not at all.

On the cold cheek of Death smiles and roses are blending,
And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb.

On the cold cheek of Death smiles and roses are blending,
And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb.

To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake

To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake

We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another which will be eternal.

We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another which will be eternal.

For I never have seen, and never shall see, that the cessation of
the evidence of existence is necessarily read more

For I never have seen, and never shall see, that the cessation of
the evidence of existence is necessarily evidence of the
cessation of existence.

Cheese -- milk's leap forward to immortality.

Cheese -- milk's leap forward to immortality.

If I stoop
Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,
It is but for a time; I read more

If I stoop
Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,
It is but for a time; I press God's lamp
Close to my breast; its splendor soon or late
Will pierce the gloom; I shall emerge one day.

Man is the only animal that contemplates death, and also the only animal that shows any sign of doubt of read more

Man is the only animal that contemplates death, and also the only animal that shows any sign of doubt of its finality.

No, no! The energy of life may be
Kept on after the grave, but not begun;
And read more

No, no! The energy of life may be
Kept on after the grave, but not begun;
And he who flagg'd not in the earthly strife,
From strength to strength advancing--only he
His soul well-knit, and all his battles won,
Mounts, and that hardly, to eternal life.