--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All that on earth hath life and breath To…" description: "\"“All that on earth hath life and breath To earth must fall before his spear, And sorrow, saved alone from death, Inscribes above the mighty bier. Vanit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/august-strindberg-3638_death_all-that-on-earth-hath-life-and-breath-t_1716089.png" --- # All that on earth hath life and breath To earth must fall… ![“All that on earth hath life and breath To earth must fall before his spear, And sorrow, saved alone from death, Inscribes above the mighty bier. Vanity, all is vanity. Yes,” quote by August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/august-strindberg-3638_death_all-that-on-earth-hath-life-and-breath-t_1716089.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/august-strindberg-3638_death_all-that-on-earth-hath-life-and-breath-t_1716089.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/august-strindberg-3638_death_all-that-on-earth-hath-life-and-breath-t_1716089.png) > ““All that on earth hath life and breath To earth must fall before his spear, And sorrow, saved alone from death, Inscribes above the mighty bier. Vanity, all is vanity. Yes,”” [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is fleeting; all achievements are temporary, and ultimately vanity prevails. **In simple terms:** Life is brief and vain. Key Takeaway Focus on meaning beyond material success. Themes mortality vanity impermanence Mood somber contemplative Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - career reflection - artistic creation - legacy planning Key Concepts existentialism philosophy poetry Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life lasting significance? - How do you balance acceptance of impermanence with ambition? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize nihilism, ignoring constructive purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Sorrow Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow-saved-1292117/) [Spear Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spear-sorrow-1292118/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Vanity Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity-vanity-750742/) [Vanity Yes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity-yes-1292119/) ## Related quotes > [Bitter love, a violet with it's crown of thorns in a thicet of spiky passions, spear of sorrow, corolla of rage: how did you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/bitter-love-a-violet-with-it-s-crown-of-thorns-in-a-thicet-of-spiky/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [“Ah woe is me, how sad a thing Is life within this vale of tears, Death’s angel triumphs like a king, And calls aloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/ah-woe-is-me-how-sad-a-thing-is-life-within-this-vale-of-tears-death/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“vanity, vanity, all is vanity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ecclesiastes-7-5/vanity-vanity-all-is-vanity/) [Ecclesiastes 7:5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ecclesiastes-7-5/) > [“Beg pardon?" 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