QuoteProject
Death is a great revealer of what is in a man, and in its solemn shadow appear the naked lineaments of the soul.
Edwin Hubbel Chapin
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Death uncovers the true essence of a person, revealing their inner character and values.

This quote suggests that the inevitability of death brings forth the most genuine aspects of a person's character. In the face of mortality, superficial qualities fade away, and what truly defines a person—their virtues, values, and inner spirit—becomes evident. It implies that the awareness of death can lead individuals to confront their inner selves and reflect on their true nature.

Themes

DeathSoulCharacterTruthMortality

In practice

Example use cases

During a eulogy, this quote can be used to reflect on the deceased's inner qualities.

More from Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Through every rift of discovery some seeming anomaly drops out of the darkness, and falls, as a golden link into the great chain of order.
Edwin Hubbel ChapinRead
Revolution does not insure progress. You may overturn thrones, but what proof that anything better will grow upon the soil?
Edwin Hubbel ChapinRead
Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him; if he is a walking university.
Edwin Hubbel ChapinRead
Goodness consists not in the outward things we do, but in the inward thing we are.
Edwin Hubbel ChapinRead
Tomorrow may never come to us. We do not live in tomorrow. We cannot find it in any of our title-deeds. The man who owns whole blocks of real estate, and great ships on the sea, does not own a single minute of tomorrow. Tomorrow! It is a mysterious possibility, not yet born. It lies under the seal of midnight-behind the veil of glittering constellations.
Edwin Hubbel ChapinRead
A true man never frets about his place in the world, but just slides into it by the gravitation of his nature, and swings there as easily as a star.
Edwin Hubbel ChapinRead

Similar quotes

Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say not merely, "Christ is risen," but "I shall rise."
Phillips BrooksRead
If we are not represented, we are slaves.
James OtisRead
What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to something that already is?
Eckhart TolleRead
All day long he was docile, intelligent, good, Though sometimes changing to a darker mood. He seemed hypocritical, could tell better lies, in the dark he saw dots of colors behind closed eyes, clenched fists, put his tongue out at his elder brother.
Arthur RimbaudRead
Whenever ego suffers from fear of death & your practice turns to seeing impermanence, ego settles down.
Tsoknyi RinpocheRead
There's no such thing as an anti-war film.
Francois TruffautRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.