--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't cry for the dead, for the dead is…" description: "\"“Don't cry for the dead, for the dead is deaf, dumb, blind, lame, unemotional and dead.”\" — Michael Bassey Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/michael-bassey-johnson-311_agony_don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-d_2295175.jpg" --- # Don't cry for the dead, for the dead is deaf, dumb, blind… ![“Don't cry for the dead, for the dead is deaf, dumb, blind, lame, unemotional and dead.” quote by Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/michael-bassey-johnson-311_agony_don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-d_2295175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/michael-bassey-johnson-311_agony_don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-d_2295175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/michael-bassey-johnson-311_agony_don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-d_2295175.jpg) > ““Don't cry for the dead, for the dead is deaf, dumb, blind, lame, unemotional and dead.”” [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dead cannot hear or feel; mourning should focus on the living **In simple terms:** The dead are indifferent; live fully now Key Takeaway Live fully for the living Themes mortality grief impermanence Mood somber thoughtful Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - funeral rites - memorials - personal loss - legacy building Key Concepts Philosophy psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor the dead while living? - What does “dead” symbolize in your life? A Different Perspective Grief can be a catalyst for growth, not just sorrow ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Blind Lame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-lame-5408373/) [Burial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burial/) [Crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crying/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-deaf-4240561/) [Deaf Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-dumb-310658/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dumb Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-blind-919886/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Funeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funeral/) [Grave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grave/) [Michael-bassey-johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-bassey-johnson/) [Mourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourn/) [Mourning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourning/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Unemotional Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemotional-dead-5408371/) ## Related quotes > [I was deaf and dumb and blind to all but me, myself and I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-was-deaf-and-dumb-and-blind-to-all-but-me-myself-and-i/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [If one can only see things according to one's own belief system, one is destined to become virtually deaf, dumb, and blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/if-one-can-only-see-things-according-to-one-s-own-belief-system-one/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [If you're deaf, dumb, and blind to what's happening in the world, you're under no obligation to do anything. But if you know what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/if-you-re-deaf-dumb-and-blind-to-what-s-happening-in-the-world-you-re/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [The music speaks to you every day, but you are too deaf, dumb, and blind to even listen to the music. You are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/the-music-speaks-to-you-every-day-but-you-are-too-deaf-dumb-and-blind/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [“صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡىٌ۬ فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ they are deaf,dumb, and blind so they will not return”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allah/they-are-deaf-dumb-and-blind-so-they-will-not-return/) [Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allah/) > [There is a world of deaf, dumb and blind people out there, who are shuffling through their lives, not knowing how wonderful life can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-a-world-of-deaf-dumb-and-blind-people-out-there-who-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“They were two people staring at each other knowingly, communicating psychically amidst an ocean of deaf, dumb and blind meatsacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-luedke/they-were-two-people-staring-at-each-other-knowingly-communicating/) [Travis Luedke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-luedke/) > [Most guys wouldn't be caught dead with a deaf girl! But, hey, I'm not most guys!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-berger/most-guys-wouldn-t-be-caught-dead-with-a-deaf-girl-but-hey-i-m-not/) [RJ Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-berger/) > [“A deaf and dumb in the mist of morons is a renowed talkative among brains.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-deaf-and-dumb-in-the-mist-of-morons-is-a-renowed-talkative-among/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Girls work on their looks, not their minds, because they know boys are dumb, not blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girls-work-on-their-looks-not-their-minds-because-they-know-boys-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It has taken us that long to get the deaf, dumb, and blind black men in the wilderness of North America to wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-has-taken-us-that-long-to-get-the-deaf-dumb-and-blind-black-men-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“The more death, the more birth. People are entering, others are exiting. The cry of a baby, the mourning of others. When others cry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-more-death-the-more-birth-people-are-entering-others-are-exiting/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Dear Mr. President, Were you a lonely boy? How can you say No child is left behind? We're not dumb and we're not blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-nk/dear-mr-president-were-you-a-lonely-boy-how-can-you-say-no-child-is/) [P!nk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-nk/) > [“My life will end someday, but it will end at my convenience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/my-life-will-end-someday-but-it-will-end-at-my-convenience/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/watch-me-when-people-say-deaf-and-dumb-or-deaf-mute-and-i-give-them-a/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## More by Michael Bassey Johnson > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“The human eye is restricted to see the useen, because there’s a price to be paid to the rulers of this image and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-human-eye-is-restricted-to-see-the-useen-because-there-s-a-price/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“A lot can be done with courage, than with years wasted on the search for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-lot-can-be-done-with-courage-than-with-years-wasted-on-the-search/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Sex doesn't satisfy for a lifetime, the more you have it, the more you want it. And the more you have it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sex-doesn-t-satisfy-for-a-lifetime-the-more-you-have-it-the-more-you/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“When you favour a woman, she will want to return the favour in so many means, but its better to rupidiate such offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-favour-a-woman-she-will-want-to-return-the-favour-in-so-many/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“When pain inspires you, your thoughts scream its lungs out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-pain-inspires-you-your-thoughts-scream-its-lungs-out/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Petrichor is the earth unearthing itself on a rainy day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/petrichor-is-the-earth-unearthing-itself-on-a-rainy-day/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) [Explore all 703 Michael Bassey Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## More Agony quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love masters agony; the soul that seemed Forsaken feels her present God again And in her Father's arms Contented dies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keble/love-masters-agony-the-soul-that-seemed-forsaken-feels-her-present/) [John Keble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keble/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-cure-is-in-the-house-not-brought-by-other-hands-from-distant/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Being ill like this combines shock - this time I will die - with a pain and agony that are unfamiliar, that wrench me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/being-ill-like-this-combines-shock-this-time-i-will-die-with-a-pain/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 813 Agony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Don't cry for the dead, for the dead is deaf, dumb, blind, lame, unemotional and dead.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Bassey Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-deaf-dumb-blind-lame/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agony" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-deaf-dumb-blind-lame/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/michael-bassey-johnson-311_agony_don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-d_2295175.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/michael-bassey-johnson-311_agony_don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-d_2295175.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/michael-bassey-johnson-311_agony_don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-d_2295175.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't cry for the dead, for the dead is deaf, dumb, blind, lame, unemotional and dead.” — Michael Bassey Johnson", "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": "Michael Bassey Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Don't cry for the dead, for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-deaf-dumb-blind-lame/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-cry-for-the-dead-for-the-dead-is-deaf-dumb-blind-lame/#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 } } ] } ```