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[B]ut it is only what happens, when they die, to all…

“[B]ut it is only what happens, when they die, to all mortals. The sinews no longer hold the flesh and the bones together, and once the spirit has let the white bones, all the rest of the body is made subject to the fire's strong fury, but the soul flitters out like a dream and flies away.” quote by Homer
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“[B]ut it is only what happens, when they die, to all mortals. The sinews no longer hold the flesh and the bones together, and once the spirit has let the white bones, all the rest of the body is made subject to the fire's strong fury, but the soul flitters out like a dream and flies away.”

Homer

About This Quote

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

The passage describes death as the disintegration of the body, with the soul departing like a fleeting dream.

In simple terms: Death breaks the body, the soul leaves like a dream.

Key Takeaway

Accept mortality, cherish life.

Themes

mortality transience spirituality

Mood

somber reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • warfare
  • funeral rites
  • philosophical contemplation

Key Concepts

Greek epic afterlife body-soul dualism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you view the soul after death?
  • What comforts you about mortality?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may oversimplify complex beliefs about the afterlife.

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