Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
John DonneRead
Death is an ascension to a better library.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Death can lead to a greater understanding and knowledge in the afterlife.
In this quote, John Donne suggests that death is not an end, but rather a transition to a more enlightened state, metaphorically represented by a 'better library.' This implies that, in death, one gains access to greater wisdom and understanding that we may not fully grasp in our earthly existence, encouraging a perspective that values learning and intellectual growth beyond the physical life.
Themes
DeathKnowledgeWisdomLibraryAfterlifeUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a eulogy to celebrate the life of a loved one.
More from John Donne
All quotes →Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right, By these we reach divinity
John DonneRead
All occasions invite His mercies, and all times are His seasons.
John DonneRead
If poisonous minerals, and if that tree, Whose fruit threw death on else immortal us, If lecherous goats, if serpents envious Cannot be damned; alas; why should I be?
John DonneRead
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John DonneRead
I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually keeping it: for then it is a most inhumane vice. - But I call that Virginity a virtue which is willing and desirous to yield it self upon honest and lawfull terms, when just reason requireth; and until then, is kept with a modest chastity of body and mind.
John DonneRead
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We are as ignorant of the meaning of the dragon as we are of the meaning of the universe.
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