Death Quote by Erle Stanley Gardner
““Della Street, Perry Mason’s confidential secretary, said, “A couple of lovebirds have strayed into the office without an appointment. They insist it’s a matter of life and death.” “Everything is,” Mason said. “If you start with the idea of perpetuating life, you must accept the inevitable corollary of death—but I presume these people aren’t interested in my philosophical ideas.” “These people,” Della Street announced, “are interested in each other, in the singing of the birds, the blue of the sky, the moonlight on water, the sound of the night wind in the trees.” Mason laughed. “It’s infectious. You are getting positively romantic, poetic, and show evidence of having been exposed to a highly contagious disease . . . . Now, what the devil would two lovebirds want with the services of a lawyer who specializes in murder cases?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Perry Mason series, 1935–1965
A lawyer confronts a case where love and poetry clash with murder, highlighting the tension between life’s beauty and death’s inevitability.
In simple terms: Life’s beauty meets death’s reality in a legal case.
Key Takeaway
Balance appreciation of life with acceptance of death.
Themes
law
philosophy
romance
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
literary
dialogue
When to use this quote
- courtroom drama
- personal relationships
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
existentialism
humanity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does romantic language affect perception of criminal acts?
- Can legal professionals remain objective amid emotional narratives?
A Different Perspective
The dialogue may romanticize serious crime, oversimplifying moral complexities.
