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The great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.
W. Somerset Maugham
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The true tragedy of life lies in losing the capacity to love rather than in the loss of life itself.

This quote emphasizes that the greatest sorrow in human existence is not death, but rather the abandonment of love. It suggests that love is a vital force that gives life meaning, and when people stop loving, they lose a significant part of their humanity and existential purpose.

Themes

TragedyLoveLifeHumanity

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be shared during a memorial service to highlight the importance of love in our lives.

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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
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Alas! never had I loved him so well!
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