QuoteProject
For the world, I count it not an inn, but a hospital; and a place not to live, but to die in.
Thomas Browne
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects a perspective on life, viewing the world as a temporary and transitional place rather than a permanent home.

In this quote, Thomas Browne presents a profound contemplation on the nature of existence, likening the world to a hospital rather than a hotel. This metaphor suggests that life is a journey of healing and suffering, where individuals come to this world not to seek permanence but to experience the inevitable journey towards death, highlighting the transient and often turbulent nature of life.

Themes

LifeExistenceDeathTransiencePhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the nature of life during a philosophy class.

More from Thomas Browne

No one should approach the temple of science with the soul of a money changer.
Thomas BrowneRead
Content may dwell in all stations. To be low but above contempt may be high enough to be happy.
Thomas BrowneRead
Thus there are two books from whence I collect my Divinity; besides that written one of God, another of his servant Nature, that universal and public Manuscript, that lies expans'd unto the eyes of all; those that never saw him in the one, have discovered him in the other.
Thomas BrowneRead
To be content with death may be better than to desire it.
Thomas BrowneRead
Life itself is but the shadow of death, and souls departed but the shadows of the living.
Thomas BrowneRead
The long habit of living indisposeth us for dying.
Thomas BrowneRead

Similar quotes

Caribbean reality resembles the wildest imagination.
Gabriel Garcia MarquezRead
Prejudice of any kind implies that you are identified with the thinking mind. It means you don't see the other human being anymore, but only your own concept of that human being. To reduce the aliveness of another human being to a concept is already a form of violence.
Eckhart TolleRead
Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only a musician when I'm playing music - or writing music, or talking about music. I don't do that 24 hours a day. I'm also a father, a son, a husband, a citizen - I mean, when I go to vote, I'm not thinking of myself as 'a musician.'
Herbie HancockRead
Racism is always there underneath, but usually it is exploited in these times of economic crisis, and it's hard to find out when one slides into another.
Iris ChangRead
Sovereignty is not given, it is taken.
Mustafa Kemal AtaturkRead
It’s amazing how much panic one honest man can spread among a multitude of hypocrites.
Thomas SowellRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.