--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He mourns the dead who lives as they…" description: "\"He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.\" — Edward Young" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/edward-young-1446_dead_he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-des_33463.png" --- # He mourns the dead who lives as they desire. ![“He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.” quote by Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/edward-young-1446_dead_he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-des_33463.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/edward-young-1446_dead_he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-des_33463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/edward-young-1446_dead_he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-des_33463.png) > “He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.” [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It reflects sorrow for those who, in death, achieve the freedom to live according to their own wishes, highlighting a paradox of desire and mortality. **In simple terms:** Grief for unfulfilled freedom. Key Takeaway Desire and death intertwine. Themes mortality freedom desire paradox grief Mood melancholic contemplative Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - reflecting on personal legacy - discussing existential philosophy - writing about loss - contemplating personal freedom Key Concepts human longing autonomy inevitability Practical Applications - literary analysis - therapeutic counseling Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly live freely? - How does desire shape our perception of death? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-binyon/with-proud-thanksgiving-a-mother-for-her-children-england-mourns-for/) [Laurence Binyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-binyon/) > [Whoever mourns the dead mourns himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/whoever-mourns-the-dead-mourns-himself/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [The brooding is better than the joy because even if the heart fills with happiness, it still mourns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/the-brooding-is-better-than-the-joy-because-even-if-the-heart-fills/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [One rational voice is dumb: over a grave The household of Impulse mourns one dearly loved. Sad is Eros, builder of cities, And weeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/one-rational-voice-is-dumb-over-a-grave-the-household-of-impulse/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Today the heart of God is an open wound of love. He aches over our distance and preoccupation. He mourns that we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/today-the-heart-of-god-is-an-open-wound-of-love-he-aches-over-our/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [When a man mourns for someone who has played him false, it is not for love of her, but for his own humiliation at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/when-a-man-mourns-for-someone-who-has-played-him-false-it-is-not-for/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“The effects of loss are acute, and unique to each individual. Not everyone mourns in the same way, but everyone mourns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-effects-of-loss-are-acute-and-unique-to-each-individual-not/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Whatever mourns when many leave these shores: Whatever shares The eternal reciprocity of tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-owen/whatever-mourns-when-many-leave-these-shores-whatever-shares-the/) [Wilfred Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-owen/) > [Call it not vain: they do not err Who say that when the poet dies Mute Nature mourns her worshipper, And celebrates his obsequies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/call-it-not-vain-they-do-not-err-who-say-that-when-the-poet-dies-mute/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-holier-a-man-becomes-the-more-he-mourns-over-the-unholiness-which/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“There are reasons why it is often difficult to reach our dead. When we do, our lives and everything we believe to be true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-slaughter/there-are-reasons-why-it-is-often-difficult-to-reach-our-dead-when-we/) April Slaughter > [Time that is moved by little fidget wheels Is not myTime, the flood that does not flow. Between the double and the single bell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-skirving/time-that-is-moved-by-little-fidget-wheels-is-not-mytime-the-flood/) Adam Skirving > [Hope dead lives nevermore, No, not in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/hope-dead-lives-nevermore-no-not-in-heaven/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [Everything is dead while it lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/egon-schiele/everything-is-dead-while-it-lives/) [Egon Schiele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/egon-schiele/) > [“She mourns for the future, as the past has taught her. And yet there is a rejoicing in her, persistent and unbidden as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/she-mourns-for-the-future-as-the-past-has-taught-her-and-yet-there-is/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by Edward Young > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The spirit walks of every day deceased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-spirit-walks-of-every-day-deceased/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Tomorrow is a satire on today, And shows its weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/tomorrow-is-a-satire-on-today-and-shows-its-weakness/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Be wise with speed; a fool at forty is a fool indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/be-wise-with-speed-a-fool-at-forty-is-a-fool-indeed/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [ \[The\] public path of life Is dirty. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-public-path-of-life-is-dirty/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Too low they build who build below the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/too-low-they-build-who-build-below-the-skies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“By night an atheist half believes in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/by-night-an-atheist-half-believes-in-god/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Britannia's shame! There took her gloomy flight, On wing impetuous, a black sullen soul . Less base the fear of death than fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/britannia-s-shame-there-took-her-gloomy-flight-on-wing-impetuous-a/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileg'd beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-chamber-where-the-good-man-meets-his-fate-is-privileg-d-beyond/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Some go to Church, proud humbly to repent, And come back much more guilty than they went: One way they look, another way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/some-go-to-church-proud-humbly-to-repent-and-come-back-much-more/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [He that is ungrateful has no guilt but one; all other crimes may pass for virtues in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-that-is-ungrateful-has-no-guilt-but-one-all-other-crimes-may-pass/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The maid that loves goes out to sea upon a shattered plank, and puts her trust in miracles for safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-maid-that-loves-goes-out-to-sea-upon-a-shattered-plank-and-puts/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [As soon as we have found the key of life, it opens the gates of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/as-soon-as-we-have-found-the-key-of-life-it-opens-the-gates-of-death/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) [Explore all 238 Edward Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) Browse all 3,376 Dead quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-desire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-desire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/edward-young-1446_dead_he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-des_33463.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/edward-young-1446_dead_he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-des_33463.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/edward-young-1446_dead_he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-des_33463.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.” — Edward Young", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He mourns the dead who lives...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-desire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-desire/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```