--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting to…" description: "\"A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life.\" — John Milton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/john-milton-191_death_a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-i_1195658.png" --- # A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life. ![“A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/john-milton-191_death_a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-i_1195658.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/john-milton-191_death_a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-i_1195658.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/john-milton-191_death_a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-i_1195658.png) > “A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life.” [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The line contrasts death-like sleep with a gentle ascent toward eternal life. **In simple terms:** Sleep resembles death, yet leads to immortal life. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual awakening. Themes spirituality life after death transcendence poetry Mood reflective philosophical Type poetic metaphysical When to use this quote - personal meditation - religious contemplation - literary analysis - grief coping Key Concepts theology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What does “immortal life” mean to you? - How does this metaphor affect your view of death? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary across cultures and beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Immortal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) ## Related quotes > [I am not sorry for a moment . It was worth every moment, every second we were together. I would not change it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-la-cruz/i-am-not-sorry-for-a-moment-it-was-worth-every-moment-every-second-we/) [Melissa de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-la-cruz/) > [Immortal life is something to be earned, By slow self-conquest, comradeship with Pain, And patient seeking after higher truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/immortal-life-is-something-to-be-earned-by-slow-self-conquest/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Every idea is endowed of itself with immortal life, like a human being. All created form, even that which is created by man, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/every-idea-is-endowed-of-itself-with-immortal-life-like-a-human-being/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [O my soul, do not aspire to immortal life, but exhaust the limits of the possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pindar/o-my-soul-do-not-aspire-to-immortal-life-but-exhaust-the-limits-of/) [Pindar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pindar/) > [The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-best-argument-i-know-for-an-immortal-life-is-the-existence-of-a/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Now is eternity; now is the immortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/now-is-eternity-now-is-the-immortal-life/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [“Before he knew he was immortal. Before life was no longer fragile. Those were the days when life truly meant something. When life was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/before-he-knew-he-was-immortal-before-life-was-no-longer-fragile/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down And steep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-sleep-o-gentle-sleep-nature-s-soft-nurse-how-have-i-frighted-thee/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing, Beloved from pole to pole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/oh-sleep-it-is-a-gentle-thing-beloved-from-pole-to-pole/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [O sleep, O gentle sleep, I thought gratefully, Nature's gentle nurse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/o-sleep-o-gentle-sleep-i-thought-gratefully-nature-s-gentle-nurse/) [Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/) > [Sleep, rest of nature, O sleep, most gentle of the divinities, peace of the soul, thou at whose presence care disappears, who soothest hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/sleep-rest-of-nature-o-sleep-most-gentle-of-the-divinities-peace-of/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [O sleep, O gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee, 1710. That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-sleep-o-gentle-sleep-nature-s-soft-nurse-how-have-i-frightened-thee/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Oh Sleep! it is a gentle thing, beloved from pole to pole, to Mary Queen the praise be given! She sent the gentle sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/oh-sleep-it-is-a-gentle-thing-beloved-from-pole-to-pole-to-mary-queen/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature's soft nurse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-sleep-o-gentle-sleep-nature-s-soft-nurse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Immortal mortals, mortal immortals, one living the others death and dying the others life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/immortal-mortals-mortal-immortals-one-living-the-others-death-and/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## More by John Milton > [Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/love-quarrels-oft-in-pleasing-concord-end/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [O nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/o-nightingale-that-on-yon-bloomy-spray-warblest-at-eve-when-all-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/new-presbyter-is-but-old-priest-writ-large/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-is-faith-love-virtue-unassayed-alone-without-exterior-help/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [This is servitude, To serve th'unwise, or him who hath rebelled Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thyself not free, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/this-is-servitude-to-serve-th-unwise-or-him-who-hath-rebelled-against/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Let us seek Death, or he not found, supply With our own hands his office on ourselves; Why stand we longer shivering under fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/let-us-seek-death-or-he-not-found-supply-with-our-own-hands-his/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [They are the troublers, they are the dividers of unity, who neglect and don't permit others to unite those dissevered pieces which are yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/they-are-the-troublers-they-are-the-dividers-of-unity-who-neglect-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Explore all 966 John Milton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Milton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-immortal-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-immortal-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/john-milton-191_death_a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-i_1195658.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/john-milton-191_death_a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-i_1195658.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/john-milton-191_death_a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-i_1195658.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life.” — John Milton", "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": "John Milton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A death-like sleep, A gentle wafting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-immortal-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/a-death-like-sleep-a-gentle-wafting-to-immortal-life/#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 } } ] } ```