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Good-bye -- if you hear of my being stood up against a…

“Good-bye -- if you hear of my being stood up against a stone wall and shot to rags please know that I think that a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease or falling down the cellar stairs.” quote by Ambrose Bierce
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“Good-bye -- if you hear of my being stood up against a stone wall and shot to rags please know that I think that a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease or falling down the cellar stairs.”

Ambrose Bierce

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A dramatic, violent death is portrayed as a preferable escape from the hardships of aging and disease.

In simple terms: Death seen as a release.

Key Takeaway

Consider the value of life’s quality.

Themes

mortality escape humor

Mood

dark grim

Type

satirical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • war veterans
  • elderly facing illness
  • people fearing decline

Key Concepts

existential dread life’s meaning

Questions to Reflect On

  • What makes a life worth living?
  • How do we find meaning before death?
A Different Perspective

Romanticizes death, ignoring its finality.

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