--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm king of the dead and I make my throne…" description: "\"I'm king of the dead and I make my throne On a monument slab of marble cold; And my scepter of rule is the spade I hold: Come they from cottage or come..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/benjamin-33262_cold_i-m-king-of-the-dead-and-i-make-my-thron_676943.jpg" --- # I'm king of the dead and I make my throne On a monument… ![“I'm king of the dead and I make my throne On a monument slab of marble cold; And my scepter of rule is the spade I hold: Come they from cottage or come they from hall, Mankind are my subjects, all, all, all! Let them loiter in pleasure or toilfully spin I gather them in, I gather them in!” quote by Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/benjamin-33262_cold_i-m-king-of-the-dead-and-i-make-my-thron_676943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/benjamin-33262_cold_i-m-king-of-the-dead-and-i-make-my-thron_676943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/benjamin-33262_cold_i-m-king-of-the-dead-and-i-make-my-thron_676943.jpg) > “I'm king of the dead and I make my throne On a monument slab of marble cold; And my scepter of rule is the spade I hold: Come they from cottage or come they from hall, Mankind are my subjects, all, all, all! Let them loiter in pleasure or toilfully spin I gather them in, I gather them in!” [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims absolute power over all humanity, using death imagery and a cold marble throne to symbolize dominance. **In simple terms:** A ruler over everyone, using death as a throne. Key Takeaway Recognize the futility of claiming total control. Themes power death authority humanity domination Mood dark ominous dramatic Type poetic satirical philosophical When to use this quote - political satire - creative writing - theatrical monologue - dark humor Key Concepts existentialism symbolism mythic archetype Questions to Reflect On - What does “king of the dead” represent in your life? - How does this imagery affect your view of authority? A Different Perspective The claim is hyperbolic and not literally true. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cottages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cottages/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Monument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monument/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne/) ## Related quotes > [You can make a throne of bayonets, but you cant sit on it for long. -Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/call-of-duty/you-can-make-a-throne-of-bayonets-but-you-cant-sit-on-it-for-long-2/) Call Of Duty > [“You can make a throne of bayonets, but you cant sit on it for long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/you-can-make-a-throne-of-bayonets-but-you-cant-sit-on-it-for-long/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [“If the king could make a throne seem like a stool fit for a printer's apprentice, the queen could make a rumpled bedspread into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/if-the-king-could-make-a-throne-seem-like-a-stool-fit-for-a-printer-s/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [There are three kinds of forms in the human figure: Ovoid forms - egg, ball and barrel masses; Column forms - cylinder, cone; Spatulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/there-are-three-kinds-of-forms-in-the-human-figure-ovoid-forms-egg/) Burne Hogarth > [Slicing a warm slab of bacon is a lot like giving a ferret a shave. No matter how careful you are, somebody's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/slicing-a-warm-slab-of-bacon-is-a-lot-like-giving-a-ferret-a-shave-no/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [The minute you had kids you closed ranks. You didn't plan this in advance, but it happened. Families were like individual, discrete, moated island…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-minute-you-had-kids-you-closed-ranks-you-didn-t-plan-this-in/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [The facts are really not at all like fish on the fishmonger's slab. They are like fish swimming about in a vast and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hallett-carr/the-facts-are-really-not-at-all-like-fish-on-the-fishmonger-s-slab/) [Edward Hallett Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hallett-carr/) > [Beneath this slab John Brown is stowed. 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That's what gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-johnson/down-the-hall-came-the-wife-she-was-glorious-burning-she-didn-t-know/) [Denis Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-johnson/) > [It's as if Japanese men, all to aware that deep inside they'd like to stomp Tokyo flat, breathe fire, and do truly terrible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/it-s-as-if-japanese-men-all-to-aware-that-deep-inside-they-d-like-to/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [At a certain fork in the road of automatization, Europeans chose to have more time, and they work far less than we do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/at-a-certain-fork-in-the-road-of-automatization-europeans-chose-to/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [When you think about a barbecue, most people think of slabs of ribs, but you don't need to do that in today's culinary barbecue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-garvin/when-you-think-about-a-barbecue-most-people-think-of-slabs-of-ribs/) [G. Garvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-garvin/) > [In America, even your menus have the gift of language… The Chef's own Vienna Roast. A hearty, rich meat loaf, gently seasoned to perfection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-lee/in-america-even-your-menus-have-the-gift-of-language-the-chef-s-own/) [Laurie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-lee/) > [To make a face from marble means to remove from the slab everything that is not the face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/to-make-a-face-from-marble-means-to-remove-from-the-slab-everything/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## More by Benjamin > [Great faith it needs, according to my view, To trust in that which never could be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/great-faith-it-needs-according-to-my-view-to-trust-in-that-which/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [The art of getting riches consists very much in thrift. All men are not equally qualified for getting money, but it is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/the-art-of-getting-riches-consists-very-much-in-thrift-all-men-are/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [Press on! If Fortune play thee false To-day, tomorrow she'll be true; Whom now she sinks she now exalts, Taking old gifts and granting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/press-on-if-fortune-play-thee-false-to-day-tomorrow-she-ll-be-true/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [There are in life real evils enough, and it is folly to afflict ourselves with imaginary ones; it is time enough when the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/there-are-in-life-real-evils-enough-and-it-is-folly-to-afflict/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [But then to part! to part when Time Has wreathed his tireless wing with flowers, And spread the richness of a clime Of fairy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/but-then-to-part-to-part-when-time-has-wreathed-his-tireless-wing/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [Hilarious. Ugly Face. Reminds me of the setuffd animal I had as a kid I named Floppy Neck. I could twist that neck 1000 degrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/hilarious-ugly-face-reminds-me-of-the-setuffd-animal-i-had-as-a-kid-i/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [Bob Riley, a kind soul who “treads lightly in this world,” is in the 22nd year of a federal life without parole LSD sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/bob-riley-a-kind-soul-who-treads-lightly-in-this-world-is-in-the-22nd/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [Unless we put medical freedom into the constitution the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship and force people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/unless-we-put-medical-freedom-into-the-constitution-the-time-will-2/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [The mountain rill Seeks with no surer flow the far bright sea, Than my unchang'd affections flow to thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/the-mountain-rill-seeks-with-no-surer-flow-the-far-bright-sea-than-my/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [Pure and undimmed, thy angel smile Is mirrored on my dreams, Like evening's sunset-girded isle Upon her shadowed streams: And o'er my thoughts thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/pure-and-undimmed-thy-angel-smile-is-mirrored-on-my-dreams-like/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [Man and woman have each of them qualities and tempers in which the other is deficient, and which in union contribute to the common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/man-and-woman-have-each-of-them-qualities-and-tempers-in-which-the/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [If we don't hang together, by Heavens we shall hang separately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/if-we-don-t-hang-together-by-heavens-we-shall-hang-separately/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [Love is love. There is no word to describe it. All I know is you have something to do with it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/love-is-love-there-is-no-word-to-describe-it-all-i-know-is-you-have/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) > [The best doctors give the least medicines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin/the-best-doctors-give-the-least-medicines/) [Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) [Explore all 15 Benjamin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin/) ## More Cold quotes > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Of course Messi could handle a cold Tuesday night in Stoke. He'd be drinking tea and relaxing beforehand. Me? I'd probably be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/of-course-messi-could-handle-a-cold-tuesday-night-in-stoke-he-d-be/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [You start playing when it's cold and you want to be playing when it's cold again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimy-williams/you-start-playing-when-it-s-cold-and-you-want-to-be-playing-when-it-s/) Jimy Williams > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [I would have touched it like a child But knew my finger could but have touched Cold stone and water. I grew wild, Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-would-have-touched-it-like-a-child-but-knew-my-finger-could-but/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [What's to become of the morally sound? Left out in the cold, I suppose. We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [One of the problems trying to play an instrument outside in the cold is your fingers give up on you and you can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/one-of-the-problems-trying-to-play-an-instrument-outside-in-the-cold/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [God tempers the cold to the shorn sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/god-tempers-the-cold-to-the-shorn-sheep/) Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville > [Those nights lying alone are not discontinuous with this cold hectic dawn. It is who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/those-nights-lying-alone-are-not-discontinuous-with-this-cold-hectic/) [Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/) [Browse all 5,381 Cold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm king of the dead and I make my throne On a monument slab of marble cold; And my scepter of rule is the spade I hold: Come they from cottage or come they from hall, Mankind are my subjects, all, all, all! 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