Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.
HoraceRead
Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the road Which to discover we must travel too.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the mystery of death and the unknown experience that comes after it.
Horace's quote contemplates the inevitability of death and the enigma surrounding it. It suggests that while countless individuals have faced death, none have returned to share their experiences, leaving the living to navigate the journey to the unknown without guidance. This highlights the inherent uncertainty of life and the afterlife, prompting reflection on our mortality and the paths we choose to take in life.
Themes
DeathUnknownMortalityJourneyReflection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the philosophies of life and death.
More from Horace
All quotes →Now is the time for drinking; now the time to beat the earth with unfettered foot.
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Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.
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It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, as long as he be a man of merit.
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It is not the rich man you should properly call happy, _x000D_ but him who knows how to use with wisdom the blessings of the gods, _x000D_ to endure hard poverty, and who fears dishonor worse than death, _x000D_ and is not afraid to die for cherished friends or fatherland.
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Few cross the river of time and are able to reach non-being. Most of them run up and down only on this side of the river. But those who when they know the law follow the path of the law, they shall reach the other shore and go beyond the realm of death.
HoraceRead
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