On the Shortness of Life

it takes a whole life to learn how to die.

Life is divided into three periods, past, present and future. Of these, the present is short, the future is doubtful, the past is certain.

nevertheless it wins our attention by reason of the attractiveness of an empty subject.

nevertheless it wins our attention by reason of the attractiveness of an empty subject.

Old age surprises them while their minds are still childish, and they come to it unprepared and unarmed, for they have made no provision for it;

ld age surprises them while their minds are still childish, and they come to it unprepared and unarmed, for they have made no provision for it;

so there is no reason for you to think that any man has lived long because he has grey hairs or wrinkles; he has not lived long—he has existed long.

it takes the whole of life to learn how to die

It takes the whole of life to learn

But life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future. When they come to the end of it, the poor wretches realize too late that for all this time they have been preoccupied in doing nothing.