Common Quote by Henry Suso
“Thou shalt understand that it is a science most profitable, and passing all other sciences, for to learn to die. For a man to know that he shall die, that is common to all men; as much as there is no man that may ever live or he hath hope or trust thereof; but thou shalt find full few that hath this cunning to learn to die. I shall give thee the mystery of this doctrine; the which shall profit thee greatly to the beginning of ghostly health, and to a stable fundamental of all virtues.”
About This Quote
Learning to accept mortality is the most valuable knowledge, fostering virtue and inner peace.
In simple terms: Accepting death teaches virtue and peace.
Key Takeaway
Embrace mortality to cultivate virtue.
Themes
mortality
virtue
spirituality
wisdom
Mood
contemplative
serene
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- end‑of‑life planning
- meditation
- counseling
- teaching
- writing
Key Concepts
theology
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does awareness of death change daily choices?
- What virtues arise from accepting mortality?
A Different Perspective
Denial of death can cause anxiety.
![“[T]here was a woman who had set her heart intensely on a kind of transitory love called flirtation, which is a poison to spiritual happiness. He said to her that if she wished to lead a calm spiritual existence, she would have to give this up and take eternal Wisdom as her beloved in place of her…” quote by Henry Suso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a5/henry-suso-31341_happiness_t-here-was-a-woman-who-had-set-her-heart_225604.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
