--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man's life is short; and therefore an…" description: "\"Man's life is short; and therefore an honorable death is his immortality.\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/publilius-syrus-594_death_man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-hon_1830783.png" --- # Man's life is short; and therefore an honorable death is… ![“Man's life is short; and therefore an honorable death is his immortality.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/publilius-syrus-594_death_man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-hon_1830783.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/publilius-syrus-594_death_man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-hon_1830783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/publilius-syrus-594_death_man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-hon_1830783.png) > “Man's life is short; and therefore an honorable death is his immortality.” [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A short life makes an honorable death a form of immortality **In simple terms:** Brief life gives death meaning Key Takeaway Seek honor in actions Themes morality mortality legacy Mood serious reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - public service - military duty - personal sacrifice Key Concepts Stoic virtue Temporal finiteness Questions to Reflect On - What defines an honorable death? - Is legacy more important than lifespan? A Different Perspective Honorable death may be socially constructed ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Honorable death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable-death/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-short/) [Man's Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mans-life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [I got shot in the head by my own guys in my foxhole. And they didn't even give me an honorable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/i-got-shot-in-the-head-by-my-own-guys-in-my-foxhole-and-they-didn-t/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Despair is a great incentive to honorable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintus-curtius-rufus/despair-is-a-great-incentive-to-honorable-death/) [Quintus Curtius Rufus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintus-curtius-rufus/) > [ An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. \[Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/an-honorable-death-is-better-than-a-dishonorable-life-lat-honesta/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“While it is unclear who had done so, someone had produced a heroine. Cleopatra's was an honorable death, a dignified death, an exemplary death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/while-it-is-unclear-who-had-done-so-someone-had-produced-a-heroine/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [Old age is not as honorable as death, but most people seek it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/old-age-is-not-as-honorable-as-death-but-most-people-seek-it/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [“Don’t let yourself forget how many doctors have died, furrowing their brows over how many deathbeds. How many astrologers, after pompous forecasts about others’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/don-t-let-yourself-forget-how-many-doctors-have-died-furrowing-their/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [There was neither death nor immortality then. There was not distinction of day or night. That alone breathed windless by its own power. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rig-veda/there-was-neither-death-nor-immortality-then-there-was-not/) [Rig Veda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rig-veda/) > [If a God, he could not suffer death, for immortality cannot die, and as a man his death could be no more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-a-god-he-could-not-suffer-death-for-immortality-cannot-die-and-as/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Lead me from the false to the true,from darkness to light, from death to immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lead-me-from-the-false-to-the-true-from-darkness-to-light-from-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Lead us from the unreal to the real. Lead us from darkness to light. Lead us from death to immortality".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brihadaranyaka-upanishad-1-3-28/lead-us-from-the-unreal-to-the-real-lead-us-from-darkness-to-light/) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28 > [“Although the woman—like the countless victims that came before her—would never appreciate the gift, through death, he would give her immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/although-the-woman-like-the-countless-victims-that-came-before-her/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [And when no longer we can see Thee, may we reach out our hands, and find Thee leading us through death to immortality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/and-when-no-longer-we-can-see-thee-may-we-reach-out-our-hands-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [If reality is not what you want it to be, change it. You should not accept anything blindly, not death, not immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannu-rajaniemi/if-reality-is-not-what-you-want-it-to-be-change-it-you-should-not/) [Hannu Rajaniemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannu-rajaniemi/) > [He said that whether a man's life was writ in a book someplace or whether it took its form day by day was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-said-that-whether-a-man-s-life-was-writ-in-a-book-someplace-or/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“A man's life is about keeping rules, breaking them, and making new ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/a-man-s-life-is-about-keeping-rules-breaking-them-and-making-new-ones/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) ## More by Publilius Syrus > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The evil you do to others you may expect in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) [Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## 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": "Man's life is short; and therefore an honorable death is his immortality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publilius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-honorable-death-is-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-honorable-death-is-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/publilius-syrus-594_death_man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-hon_1830783.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/publilius-syrus-594_death_man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-hon_1830783.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/publilius-syrus-594_death_man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-hon_1830783.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man's life is short; and therefore an honorable death is his immortality.” — Publilius Syrus", "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": "Publilius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man's life is short; and therefore...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-honorable-death-is-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/man-s-life-is-short-and-therefore-an-honorable-death-is-his/#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 } } ] } ```