Quote#Death
I conceive disgust at those impertinent and misbecoming…
Quote byCharles Lamb · 1775–1834
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Essays of Elia (1823), New Year's Eve.
English (original)
I conceive disgust at those impertinent and misbecoming familiarities, inscribed upon your ordinary tombstones. Every dead man must take upon himself to be lecturing me with his odious truism, that "such as he now is, I must shortly be." Not so shortly, friend, perhaps, as thou imaginest. In the meantime I am alive. I move about. I am worth twenty of thee. Know thy betters!
— Charles Lamb
More from Charles Lamb
I have something more to do than to feel.
For God's sake (I never was more serious), don't make me ridiculous any more by terming me gentle-hearted in print.
Cultivate simplicity or rather should I say banish elaborateness, for simplicity springs spontaneous from the heart.
Severe and saintly righteousness Composed the clear white bridal dress; Jesus, the Son of Heaven's high King Bought with his blood the marriage ring
I have had playmates, I have had companions, In my days of childhood, in my joyful school days— All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.
Please to blot out gentle hearted, and substitute drunken dog, ragged head, seld-shaven, odd-ey'd, stuttering, or any other epithet which truly and properly belongs to the Gentleman in question.