--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But say That Death be not one stroak, as…" description: "\"“But say That Death be not one stroak, as I suppos'd, Bereaving sense, but endless miserie From this day onward, which I feel begun Both in me,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/john-milton-191_say-death_but-say-that-death-be-not-one-stroak-as_1148971.jpg" --- # But say That Death be not one stroak, as I suppos'd… ![“But say That Death be not one stroak, as I suppos'd, Bereaving sense, but endless miserie From this day onward, which I feel begun Both in me, and without me, and so last To perpetuitie; Ay me, that fear Comes thundring back with dreadful revolution On my defensless head; both Death and I Am found…” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/john-milton-191_say-death_but-say-that-death-be-not-one-stroak-as_1148971.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/john-milton-191_say-death_but-say-that-death-be-not-one-stroak-as_1148971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/john-milton-191_say-death_but-say-that-death-be-not-one-stroak-as_1148971.jpg) > ““But say   That Death be not one stroak, as I suppos'd,   Bereaving sense, but endless miserie   From this day onward, which I feel begun   Both in me, and without me, and so last   To perpetuitie; Ay me, that fear   Comes thundring back with dreadful revolution   On my defensless head; both Death and I   Am found Eternal, and incorporate both,   Nor I on my part single, in mee all   Posteritie stands curst: Fair Patrimonie   That I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able   To waste it all my self, and leave ye none!   So disinherited how would ye bless   Me now your Curse! Ah, why should all mankind   For one mans fault thus guiltless be condemn'd,   If guiltless? But”” [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 speaker laments death as an endless misery that will persist beyond life, feeling both personal and universal loss. **In simple terms:** Death feels like endless suffering that never ends. Key Takeaway Accept mortality and seek meaning despite fear. Themes mortality grief eternity legacy Mood somber reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - funeral rites - personal loss - philosophical reflection Key Concepts existentialism theology poetic lament Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront the inevitability of death? - What legacy do you wish to leave? A Different Perspective Progress may be limited by fear and fatalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bereaving Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bereaving-sense-1151283/) [Condemn Guiltless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemn-guiltless-3238663/) [Death Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-eternal-305391/) [Guiltless Condemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiltless-condemn-3238662/) [Say Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-death-300158/) ## Related quotes > [But say That death be not one stroke, as I supposed, Bereaving sense, but endless misery From this day onward, which I feel begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/but-say-that-death-be-not-one-stroke-as-i-supposed-bereaving-sense/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Life a dream in Death's eternal sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thomson-b-v/life-a-dream-in-death-s-eternal-sleep/) [James Thomson (B.V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thomson-b-v/) > [Death is not "an eternal sleep!" Citizens! efface from the tomb that motto, graven by sacrilegious hands, which spreads over all nature a funereal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilien-robespierre/death-is-not-an-eternal-sleep-citizens-efface-from-the-tomb-that/) [Maximilien Robespierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilien-robespierre/) > [“Tis not your time, my love,” he whispered. “You will not die tonight.” “Never,” I said to him, “for I have been blessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-featherstone/tis-not-your-time-my-love-he-whispered-you-will-not-die-tonight-never/) [Charlotte Featherstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-featherstone/) > [“Death is not but eternal life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-malone-wright/death-is-not-but-eternal-life/) [Jennifer Malone Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-malone-wright/) > [Death is an eternal sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fouche/death-is-an-eternal-sleep/) [Joseph Fouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fouche/) > [My life is a blunt to the head, a prayer for the dead, Run around hustlin...scared of the feds. They said death is eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/my-life-is-a-blunt-to-the-head-a-prayer-for-the-dead-run-around/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [“Death was not eternal; Death was the only true mortal God ever created. It is no wonder we stare in horror at it ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-garrett/death-was-not-eternal-death-was-the-only-true-mortal-god-ever-created/) [Ginger Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-garrett/) > [“Death. The eternal blink. The capricious dance of Now You Stop Moving Forever. Well, contrary to popular belief, death isn't just for dead people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-langtry/death-the-eternal-blink-the-capricious-dance-of-now-you-stop-moving/) [Leslie Langtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-langtry/) > [It is hard to have patience with people who say ''There is no death'' or ''Death doesn't matter'.' There is death. And whatever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-hard-to-have-patience-with-people-who-say-there-is-no-death-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You want these back, don't you? You want me out of here so you can come back and take over where you left off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/you-want-these-back-don-t-you-you-want-me-out-of-here-so-you-can-come/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [I'm not great at dealing with death, I have to say. I find death very hard: my mum, my dad, Sid Vicious. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/i-m-not-great-at-dealing-with-death-i-have-to-say-i-find-death-very/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [Every word affords me pain. Yet how sweet it would be if I could hear what the flowers have to say about death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/every-word-affords-me-pain-yet-how-sweet-it-would-be-if-i-could-hear/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [“Some say love is infinit,I say death is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dobbe/some-say-love-is-infinit-i-say-death-is/) [Rob Dobbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dobbe/) > [All I can say is, death is a part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kinberg/all-i-can-say-is-death-is-a-part-of-life/) [Simon Kinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kinberg/) ## 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 Say Death quotes > [All I can say is, death is a part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kinberg/all-i-can-say-is-death-is-a-part-of-life/) [Simon Kinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kinberg/) > [“Some say love is infinit,I say death is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dobbe/some-say-love-is-infinit-i-say-death-is/) [Rob Dobbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dobbe/) > [Every word affords me pain. Yet how sweet it would be if I could hear what the flowers have to say about death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/every-word-affords-me-pain-yet-how-sweet-it-would-be-if-i-could-hear/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [I'm not great at dealing with death, I have to say. I find death very hard: my mum, my dad, Sid Vicious. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/i-m-not-great-at-dealing-with-death-i-have-to-say-i-find-death-very/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [“You want these back, don't you? You want me out of here so you can come back and take over where you left off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/you-want-these-back-don-t-you-you-want-me-out-of-here-so-you-can-come/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [It is hard to have patience with people who say ''There is no death'' or ''Death doesn't matter'.' There is death. And whatever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-hard-to-have-patience-with-people-who-say-there-is-no-death-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People say Death and Hatred are strong words,well so is Love,but you still somehow manage to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenia-jabkowski/people-say-death-and-hatred-are-strong-words-well-so-is-love-but-you/) [Eugenia Jabkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenia-jabkowski/) > [The people, when they say 'Death to America!' - do you know what they are really saying? What they mean to say relates to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/the-people-when-they-say-death-to-america-do-you-know-what-they-are/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [No! No! Never acknowledge the limitations of man. Smash all boundaries! Deny whatever your eyes see. Die every moment, but say: Death does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/no-no-never-acknowledge-the-limitations-of-man-smash-all-boundaries/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“some will say that death”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-morgan/some-will-say-that-death/) [C.E. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-morgan/) > [“If we give ourselves permission to say this death justifies that one, then we truly are lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-miller/if-we-give-ourselves-permission-to-say-this-death-justifies-that-one/) [karen miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-miller/) > [As we like to say on 'This Is Us,' death is not a release. Our main character has never been alive for the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-cephas-jones/as-we-like-to-say-on-this-is-us-death-is-not-a-release-our-main/) [Ron Cephas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-cephas-jones/) > [The loss of love is a terrible thing; They lie who say that death is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/the-loss-of-love-is-a-terrible-thing-they-lie-who-say-that-death-is/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [“They're waiting for you to say all these grand statements, you know? You march across the room and you're supposed to say 'DEATH HAS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/they-re-waiting-for-you-to-say-all-these-grand-statements-you-know/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [sometimes there's nothing to say about death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-there-s-nothing-to-say-about-death/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Browse all 37 Say Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-death-300158/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But say   That Death be not one stroak, as I suppos'd,   Bereaving sense, but endless miserie   From this day onward, which I feel begun   Both in me, and without me, and so last   To perpetuitie; Ay me, that fear   Comes thundring back with dreadful revolution   On my defensless head; both Death and I   Am found Eternal, and incorporate both,   Nor I on my part single, in mee all   Posteritie stands curst: Fair Patrimonie   That I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able   To waste it all my self, and leave ye none!   So disinherited how would ye bless   Me now your Curse! 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