Quote#Death
What life refused, to gain by death he thought
Quote byWilliam Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling · 1567–1640
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: A Book of Quotations, Proverbs and Household Words (1924), Tragedy of Darius..
English (original)
What life refused, to gain by death he thought: For life and death are but indifferent things, And of themselves not to be shunned nor sought, But for the good or ill that either brings.
— William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling
More from William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling
Of all the tyrants that the world affords, Our own affections are the fiercest lords.
Death is the port where all may refuge find, The end of labour, entry unto rest.
O if thou knew’st how thou thyself dost harm, And dost prejudge thy bliss, and spoil my rest; Then thou would’st melt the ice out of thy breast And thy relenting heart would kindly warm. L. E. Kastner & H. B. Charlton, eds., The Poetical …
What thing so good which not some harm may bring? Even to be happy is a dangerous thing.
The weaker sex, to piety more prone
Although my hap be hard, my heart is high.