--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dead we become the lumber of the world." description: "\"Dead we become the lumber of the world.\" — John Wilmot" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/john-wilmot-13308_inspirational_dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-9_931178.jpg" --- # Dead we become the lumber of the world. ![“Dead we become the lumber of the world.” quote by John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/john-wilmot-13308_inspirational_dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-9_931178.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/john-wilmot-13308_inspirational_dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-9_931178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/john-wilmot-13308_inspirational_dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-9_931178.jpg) > “Dead we become the lumber of the world.” [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human mortality reduces us to mere resources for the world, highlighting life's fleeting nature. **In simple terms:** We become part of nature's material. Key Takeaway Remember life's impermanence. Themes mortality humility nature Mood somber reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - funeral reflections - environmental ethics - philosophical discussions Key Concepts existentialism materialism Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect your daily choices? - What does it mean to be "lumber of the world"? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of individual legacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Dead, we become the lumber of the world, And to that mass of matter shall be swept Where things destroyed with things unborn are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-and-to-that-mass-of-matter/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If you have a grateful heart (which is a miracle amongst you statesmen), show it by directing the bearer to the best wine in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/if-you-have-a-grateful-heart-which-is-a-miracle-amongst-you-statesmen/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Books bear him up a while, and make him try to swim with bladders of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/books-bear-him-up-a-while-and-make-him-try-to-swim-with-bladders-of/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [The clog of all pleasure, the luggage of life, is the best can be said for a very good wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/the-clog-of-all-pleasure-the-luggage-of-life-is-the-best-can-be-said/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [I'd be a dog, a monkey, or a bear, or anything but that vain animal who is so proud of being rational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/i-d-be-a-dog-a-monkey-or-a-bear-or-anything-but-that-vain-animal-who/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Natural freedoms are but just: There's something generous in mere lust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/natural-freedoms-are-but-just-there-s-something-generous-in-mere-lust/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Rochester: I am to take mademoiselle to the moon, and there I shall seek a cave in one of the white valleys among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/rochester-i-am-to-take-mademoiselle-to-the-moon-and-there-i-shall/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Jane: Mr. Rochester, if ever I did a good deed in my life-if ever I thought a good thought-if ever I prayed a sincere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/jane-mr-rochester-if-ever-i-did-a-good-deed-in-my-life-if-ever-i/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [A 2001 survey of business owners with MBAs conducted by the Rochester Institute of Technology found that money was the primary motivator for only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/a-2001-survey-of-business-owners-with-mbas-conducted-by-the-rochester/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Well, I was born and raised in Rochester, New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rock/well-i-was-born-and-raised-in-rochester-new-york/) [Arthur Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rock/) > [Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is now fourteen, and, while he gives little sign of doing what Lord Rochester planned to do at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lane/harry-potter-daniel-radcliffe-is-now-fourteen-and-while-he-gives/) [Anthony Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lane/) > [The hiss of the quenched element, the breakage of the pitcher which I had flung from my hand when I had emptied it, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/the-hiss-of-the-quenched-element-the-breakage-of-the-pitcher-which-i/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Rochester: My bride is here, because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/rochester-my-bride-is-here-because-my-equal-is-here-and-my-likeness/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Tell me now, fairy as you are - can't you give me a charm, or a philter, or something of that sort, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/tell-me-now-fairy-as-you-are-can-t-you-give-me-a-charm-or-a-philter/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devil when I find out they have neither souls nor hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/to-women-who-please-me-only-by-their-faces-i-am-the-very-devil-when-i/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## More by John Wilmot > [“BOLLOXIMIAN: My pleasures for new cunts I will uphold, And have reserves of kindness for the old. I grant in absence dildo may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/bolloximian-my-pleasures-for-new-cunts-i-will-uphold-and-have/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [For Hell and the foul fiend that rules God's everlasting fiery jails (Devised by rogues, dreaded by fools), With his grim, grisly dog that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/for-hell-and-the-foul-fiend-that-rules-god-s-everlasting-fiery-jails/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [He never said a foolish thing nor never did a wise one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/he-never-said-a-foolish-thing-nor-never-did-a-wise-one/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Love, the most generous passion of the mind The softest refuge innocence can find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/love-the-most-generous-passion-of-the-mind-the-softest-refuge/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [God bless our good and gracious King, Whose promise none relies on; Who never said a foolish thing, Nor ever did a wise one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/god-bless-our-good-and-gracious-king-whose-promise-none-relies-on-who/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Nothing suits worse with vice than want of sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/nothing-suits-worse-with-vice-than-want-of-sense/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [“This signior is sound, safe, ready, and dumb As ever was candle, carrot, or thumb; Then away with these nasty devices, and show How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/this-signior-is-sound-safe-ready-and-dumb-as-ever-was-candle-carrot/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Natural freedoms are but just: There's something generous in mere lust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/natural-freedoms-are-but-just-there-s-something-generous-in-mere-lust/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [I'd be a dog, a monkey, or a bear, or anything but that vain animal who is so proud of being rational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/i-d-be-a-dog-a-monkey-or-a-bear-or-anything-but-that-vain-animal-who/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Love's chemistry thrives best in equal heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/love-s-chemistry-thrives-best-in-equal-heat/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Tis a meaner part of sense to find a fault than taste an excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/tis-a-meaner-part-of-sense-to-find-a-fault-than-taste-an-excellence/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-bringing-up-children/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [The clog of all pleasure, the luggage of life, is the best can be said for a very good wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/the-clog-of-all-pleasure-the-luggage-of-life-is-the-best-can-be-said/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-raising-children-now-i/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [E'en her fair hand, which might bid heat return To Frozen age, and make old hermits burn, Applied to my dead cinder, warms no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/e-en-her-fair-hand-which-might-bid-heat-return-to-frozen-age-and-make/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) [Explore all 51 John Wilmot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) ## 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": "Dead we become the lumber of the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Wilmot" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/john-wilmot-13308_inspirational_dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-9_931178.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/john-wilmot-13308_inspirational_dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-9_931178.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/john-wilmot-13308_inspirational_dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world-9_931178.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dead we become the lumber of the world.” — John Wilmot", "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 Wilmot", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Dead we become the lumber of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/dead-we-become-the-lumber-of-the-world/#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 } } ] } ```