Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
John DonneRead
All mankind is one volume. When one man dies, a chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language. And every chapter must be translated. God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice. But God's hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again for that library where every book shall live open to one another
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses the interconnectedness of humanity and the transformative nature of death.
John Donne's quote suggests that every individual life contributes to the collective story of humanity. When a person dies, their story does not simply end; rather, it is transformed and incorporated into a larger narrative that enriches our collective understanding. The metaphor of a book illustrates how every experience—whether through age, illness, or other trials—contributes to the shared wisdom of mankind, ultimately leading to a united existence where all stories are interwoven and accessible.
Themes
HumanityDeathTransformationConnectednessNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared at a memorial to celebrate the life and legacy 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?
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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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