Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The death of any person affects everyone, as we are all part of humanity.
John Donne's quote conveys the idea that the loss of any individual diminishes the collective human experience. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all people and suggests that when someone dies, it is a loss for everyone, reminding us that we should care for and recognize our shared humanity.
Themes
DeathHumanityInterconnectednessLossCompassion
In practice
Example use cases
In a memorial service, one might reflect on the impact of a deceased friend with this quote.
More from John Donne
All quotes βReason 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
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
And now good morrow to our waking souls, Which watch not one another out of fear; For love, all love of other sights controls, And makes one little room, an everywhere. Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone, Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown, Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one.
John DonneRead
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