Quotes About Mortality

The number-one fear in life is public speaking, and the number-two fear is death. This means that if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than giving the eulogy.

There is no armour against fate; death lays his icy hands on kings.

When you're fifty, you start thinking about things you haven't thought about before. I used to think getting old was about vanity-but actually it's about losing people you love. Getting wrinkles is trivial.

I don't want to own anything that won't fit into my coffin.

Let me be dressed fine as I will, Flies, worms, and flowers, exceed me still.

I have taught you, my dear flock, for above thirty years how to live; and I will show you in a very short time how to die.

Oh! Why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a swift-fleeing meteor, a fast flying cloud, A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, Man passes from life to his rest in the grave.

I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spenser is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I'm not feeling so well myself.

The purest treasure mortal times afford Is spotless reputation; that away, Men are but gilded loam or painted clay.

Live as you will wish to have lived when you are dying.

Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us, no matter what we are doing? ... What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you?... If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken, get to work on that.

While you cannot resolve what you are, at last you will be nothing.

A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient.

There is no cure for birth or death save to enjoy the interval.

And that inverted Bowl they call the Sky, Whereunder crawling coop'd we live and die, Lift not your hands to it for help - for it As impotently moves as you or I.

To sleep! perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause.

If from Society we learn to live Tis Solitude should teach us how to die; It hath no flatterers.

Swans sing before they die - 'twere no bad thing Should certain persons die before they sing.

Some aspects of success seem rather silly as death approaches.

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Yesterday I lived, today I suffer, tomorrow I die; but I still think fondly, today and tomorrow, of yesterday.

Are not my days few? Cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, Before I go to the place from which I shall not return.

Do not manage as if you had ten thousand years before you. Look you, death stands at your elbow; make the most of your minute, and be good for something while it is in your power.

The changing year's progressive plan Proclaims mortality to man.