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You've never seen death? Look in the mirror every day and you will see it like bees working in a glass hive.
Jean Cocteau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that self-reflection reveals the inevitability of death, akin to observing the work of bees in a hive.

In this quote, Jean Cocteau emphasizes that the contemplation of our mortality is a daily reality that can be observed through self-reflection. He likens this introspection to watching bees in a glass hive, implying that just as the bees are busy with life, our awareness of death is ever-present, urging us to acknowledge the profound truth of our existence and the passage of time.

Themes

DeathSelf-ReflectionMortalityExistenceLife

In practice

Example use cases

During a philosophical discussion on the nature of existence, you could use this quote to illustrate the importance of recognizing our mortality.

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Watch yourself all your life in a mirror and you'll see Death at work like bees in a glass hive.
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