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How much more suffering is caused by the thought of death than by death itself.
Will Durant
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Fear and anxiety about death often create more suffering than death itself.

Will Durant's quote highlights the idea that the anticipation and fear surrounding death can lead to greater emotional and mental suffering than the act of dying itself. It suggests that our perceptions and thoughts about death can exacerbate our difficulties, underscoring the importance of addressing these fears rather than allowing them to dominate our lives.

Themes

DeathSufferingFearPhilosophyThought

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about mental health, one might quote this to discuss the burden of fearing death.

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When liberty destroys order the hunger for order will destroy liberty.
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