--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is life a boon? If so, it must befall…" description: "\"Is life a boon? If so, it must befall That Death, whene'er he call, Must call too soon.\" — W. S. Gilbert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/w-s-gilbert-8102_boon_is-life-a-boon-if-so-it-must-befall-that_332759.jpg" --- # Is life a boon? If so, it must befall That Death, whene'er… ![“Is life a boon? If so, it must befall That Death, whene'er he call, Must call too soon.” quote by W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/w-s-gilbert-8102_boon_is-life-a-boon-if-so-it-must-befall-that_332759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/w-s-gilbert-8102_boon_is-life-a-boon-if-so-it-must-befall-that_332759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/w-s-gilbert-8102_boon_is-life-a-boon-if-so-it-must-befall-that_332759.jpg) > “Is life a boon? If so, it must befall That Death, whene'er he call, Must call too soon.” [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is a gift, yet death inevitably follows, often sooner than desired. **In simple terms:** Life is good, but death comes quickly. Key Takeaway Cherish moments while they last. Themes mortality gratitude impermanence Mood melancholic thoughtful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - career - health - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism literature Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to value life? - How do you reconcile joy with inevitable loss? A Different Perspective The quote assumes death is always premature, ignoring natural cycles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“Each one, then, should love his life, even though it be not very attractive, for it is the only life. It is a boon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/each-one-then-should-love-his-life-even-though-it-be-not-very/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking. And out of it we get an aggregation which we consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/we-all-do-no-end-of-feeling-and-we-mistake-it-for-thinking-and-out-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Youth is a silly, vapid state, Old age with fears and ills is rife, This simple boon I beg of Fate - A thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/youth-is-a-silly-vapid-state-old-age-with-fears-and-ills-is-rife-this/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [I do think that I have been fortunate to make friendships with other scholars, and form reading groups where ideas are exchanged and papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/i-do-think-that-i-have-been-fortunate-to-make-friendships-with-other/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [Whate'er my doom; It cannot be unhappy: God hath given me The boon of resignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/whate-er-my-doom-it-cannot-be-unhappy-god-hath-given-me-the-boon-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [My mother and father were never frightened of anything. They always felt that they should go through life happily and without fear, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/my-mother-and-father-were-never-frightened-of-anything-they-always/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [Friendship, peculiar boon of Heaven, The noble mind's delight and pride, To men and angels only given, To all the lower world denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/friendship-peculiar-boon-of-heaven-the-noble-mind-s-delight-and-pride/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Prayer is, paradoxically, both a gift and a conquest, a grace and a duty. Does that not mean, is it not a special case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-forsyth/prayer-is-paradoxically-both-a-gift-and-a-conquest-a-grace-and-a-duty/) [Peter Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-forsyth/) > [Texting is a fundamentally sneaky form of communication, which we should despise, but it is such a boon we don't care. We are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/texting-is-a-fundamentally-sneaky-form-of-communication-which-we/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [A good thought is indeed a great boon, for which God is to be first thanked; next he who is the first to utter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/a-good-thought-is-indeed-a-great-boon-for-which-god-is-to-be-first/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Sisterly love is one of the few boons in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/sisterly-love-is-one-of-the-few-boons-in-this-life/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [Women, you overheated dipsomaniacs, never passing up a chance to wangle a drink, a great boon to bartenders but a bane to us--not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/women-you-overheated-dipsomaniacs-never-passing-up-a-chance-to-wangle/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [Death is an ill; 'tis thus the Gods decide: / For had death been a boon, the Gods had died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/death-is-an-ill-tis-thus-the-gods-decide-for-had-death-been-a-boon/) [Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Liberty ... was a two-headed boon. There was first, the liberty of the people as a whole to determine the forms of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/liberty-was-a-two-headed-boon-there-was-first-the-liberty-of-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## More by W. S. Gilbert > [The Law is the true embodiment of everything that's excellent; it has no kind of fault or flaw and I, my Lords, embody the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/the-law-is-the-true-embodiment-of-everything-that-s-excellent-it-has/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [A man is but an ass Who fights in a cuirass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/a-man-is-but-an-ass-who-fights-in-a-cuirass/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [I love my fellow creatures - I do all the good I can - yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/i-love-my-fellow-creatures-i-do-all-the-good-i-can-yet-everybody-says/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [The idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone, All centuries but this, and every country but his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/the-idiot-who-praises-with-enthusiastic-tone-all-centuries-but-this/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist-- I don't think she'd be missed--I'm sure she'd not be missed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/and-that-singular-anomaly-the-lady-novelist-i-don-t-think-she-d-be/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [I am the Captain of the Pinafore ; And a right good captain too! . . . . And I'm never, never sick at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/i-am-the-captain-of-the-pinafore-and-a-right-good-captain-too-and-i-m/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [There's a fascination frantic in a ruin that's romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/there-s-a-fascination-frantic-in-a-ruin-that-s-romantic/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [Utopia's quite another land; In her enterprising movements, She is England--with improvements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/utopia-s-quite-another-land-in-her-enterprising-movements-she-is/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [every Jack He must study the knack If he wants to make sure of his Jill!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/every-jack-he-must-study-the-knack-if-he-wants-to-make-sure-of-his/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [If I can wheedle A knife or a needle, Why not a Silver Churn?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/if-i-can-wheedle-a-knife-or-a-needle-why-not-a-silver-churn/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [All bayonets are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/all-bayonets-are-bad/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [The happiest hour a sailor sees Is when he's down At an inland town, With his Nancy on his knees, yo ho! And his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/the-happiest-hour-a-sailor-sees-is-when-he-s-down-at-an-inland-town/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [For duty, duty must be done; The rule applies to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/for-duty-duty-must-be-done-the-rule-applies-to-everyone/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [Then a sentimental passion of a vegetable fashion must excite your languid spleen, An attachment a la Plato for a bashful young potato, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/then-a-sentimental-passion-of-a-vegetable-fashion-must-excite-your/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [I shall carry to the Catacombs of Age, Photographically lined On the tablet of my mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/i-shall-carry-to-the-catacombs-of-age-photographically-lined-on-the/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) [Explore all 84 W. S. Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) ## More Boon quotes > [Liberty ... was a two-headed boon. There was first, the liberty of the people as a whole to determine the forms of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/liberty-was-a-two-headed-boon-there-was-first-the-liberty-of-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Death is an ill; 'tis thus the Gods decide: / For had death been a boon, the Gods had died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/death-is-an-ill-tis-thus-the-gods-decide-for-had-death-been-a-boon/) [Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/) > [Women, you overheated dipsomaniacs, never passing up a chance to wangle a drink, a great boon to bartenders but a bane to us--not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/women-you-overheated-dipsomaniacs-never-passing-up-a-chance-to-wangle/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [Sisterly love is one of the few boons in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/sisterly-love-is-one-of-the-few-boons-in-this-life/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [A good thought is indeed a great boon, for which God is to be first thanked; next he who is the first to utter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/a-good-thought-is-indeed-a-great-boon-for-which-god-is-to-be-first/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Texting is a fundamentally sneaky form of communication, which we should despise, but it is such a boon we don't care. We are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/texting-is-a-fundamentally-sneaky-form-of-communication-which-we/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [Prayer is, paradoxically, both a gift and a conquest, a grace and a duty. Does that not mean, is it not a special case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-forsyth/prayer-is-paradoxically-both-a-gift-and-a-conquest-a-grace-and-a-duty/) [Peter Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-forsyth/) > [Friendship, peculiar boon of Heaven, The noble mind's delight and pride, To men and angels only given, To all the lower world denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/friendship-peculiar-boon-of-heaven-the-noble-mind-s-delight-and-pride/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [My mother and father were never frightened of anything. They always felt that they should go through life happily and without fear, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/my-mother-and-father-were-never-frightened-of-anything-they-always/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [Whate'er my doom; It cannot be unhappy: God hath given me The boon of resignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/whate-er-my-doom-it-cannot-be-unhappy-god-hath-given-me-the-boon-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I do think that I have been fortunate to make friendships with other scholars, and form reading groups where ideas are exchanged and papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/i-do-think-that-i-have-been-fortunate-to-make-friendships-with-other/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [Youth is a silly, vapid state, Old age with fears and ills is rife, This simple boon I beg of Fate - A thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/youth-is-a-silly-vapid-state-old-age-with-fears-and-ills-is-rife-this/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking. And out of it we get an aggregation which we consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/we-all-do-no-end-of-feeling-and-we-mistake-it-for-thinking-and-out-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Thanks are justly due for boons unbought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thanks-are-justly-due-for-boons-unbought/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) Browse all 126 Boon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Is life a boon? 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