Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
John DonneRead
Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. For, those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow. Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that death should not be feared or regarded as powerful, as it does not have true dominion over life.
In this poem, John Donne personifies death, addressing it directly and denouncing its supposed might and dreadfulness. He argues that death is not the end, as those who die continue to exist in some form, thereby undermining death's power and asserting the resilience of the human spirit against mortality.
Themes
DeathLifeMortalityResilienceFear
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a eulogy to celebrate the life of someone who has passed away.
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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