Live, Then, As If…

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Live, Then, As If…

November 10, 2013 by kmabarrett

What shall we know of our death? Either the soul is immortal and we shall not die, or it perishes with the flesh and we shall not know that we are dead. Live, then, as if you were eternal, and do not believe that your life has changed merely because it seems proved that the Earth is empty. You do not live in the Earth, you live in yourself.

— André Maurois
Quoted by Will Durant
From his book: “On the Meaning of Life“

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Posted in Philosophy, Quotes | Tagged André Maurois, On Death, On Life, On Life After Death, On the Meaning of Life, Philosophy, Quotes, Will Durant | 4 Comments

4 Responses

on November 10, 2013 at 5:59 pm | Reply Marie Hunter Atwood

This quotation is very thought provoking, but not altogether true. Think of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, both dead, but very much alive, one in torment the other in paradise. The next line however is very instructive, “Live, then, as if you were eternal” which we are regardless of destination. I agree that life, good or bad, happy or sad, moral or immoral is all within the self by reason of the choices we make while we live whether that life is spiritually alive or spiritually dead.
- on November 10, 2013 at 9:59 pm | Reply kmabarrett
  
  Hi Marie,
  Thank you for the comment!
  
  I agree that life is within the self. I’m not sure what you mean by: “the choices we make while we live”. This seems to imply an “afterlife” without choice and free will – not exactly my idea of “paradise”.
  
  I found the quote interesting because I don’t really think of death as a simple inflection point (or at least I haven’t in the past). Either we are eternal and death means little because “we” are still alive (in some sense), or we are not eternal and death is meaningless because we are not around to experience it’s meaning (our passing) on others. In a sense, it is only life which has meaning – because it is eternal or because that is the part we were able to experience.
  - on November 11, 2013 at 11:39 am | Reply Marie Hunter Atwood
    
    Thanks for your comments. I really enjoyed your viewpoint and agree with much of it. My comments are a result of a study I did many years ago on the subject of Body, Soul, and Spirit.
    
    There is nothing ‘simple’ about death, so I agree that we are eternal and my opinion is that we are in every way still alive where emotion, personality and conscience are concerned. Only the body (the shell) is gone.
    
    As far as “choices while we live” are concerned I believe you would have to understand that life in the body here on earth, while temporary, serves a purpose which is to achieve reconciliation with God. This reconciliation is of prime importance to us because of the truth that separates us. That truth is that light and darkness (sin) cannot live together. God is light and darkness flees from light.
    
    You are right that only life has meaning but I would suggest that this refers to both life in a ‘body’ and life in the “Spirit”. The Spirit is a gift from God which can be received in one of several ways which indicates to God the condition of your heart that desires this means to spirituality in one’s own life. This is where ‘choices’ come in while you are yet in the body. It is one’s choices that enable (by your authorization) God to extend His grace with the principle of forgiveness for sin.
    
    Thanks for listening!
    - on November 11, 2013 at 1:31 pm | Reply kmabarrett
      
      Thank you for another thoughtful response!
      
      You have offered me much to consider…