Amazing Quotes 12: Death

One of the most basic fear any man or woman has is the fear of death. Predictable. A suicidal person who disregard death usually dies young before they can pass their genes to the next generation. Nevertheless, some great thoughts were put about this topic. These are some of the best quotes about death ... 

"Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is. I am not. Why should I fear that which cannot exist when I do?"

--Epicurus

Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.

--Voltaire

"I have little confidence in any enterprise or business or investment that promises dividends only after the death of the stockholders."

--Robert Green Ingersoll, "A Wooden God" letter to the Chicago Times, March 27, 1890

In the New Testament, death is not the end, but the beginning of punishment that has no end. In the New Testament the malice of God is infinite and the hunger of his revenge eternal.

--Robert G. Ingersoll, "Why I am an Agnostic"

I say, that no man can be greater than the man who bravely and heroically sacrifices his life for the good of others. No man can be greater than the one who meets death face to face, and yet will not shrink from what he believes to be his highest duty.

--Robert Green Ingersoll, "Colored People"

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

--Albert Einstein

"The idea of a good society is something you do not need a religion and eternal punishment to buttress; you need a religion if you are terrified of death."

--Gore Vidal

I'm completely in favor of the separation of church and state. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

--George Carlin