Death Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““To Lucy it was an admirable study, the contrast between the man who threw his whole soul into a certain aim, which he pursued with a savage intensity, knowing that the end was a dreadful, lonely death; and the man who was making up his mind deliberately to gather what was beautiful in life, and to cultivate its graces as though it were a flower garden. “And the worst of it is that it will all be the same in a hundred years,” said Dick. “We shall both be forgotten long before then, you with your strenuousness, and I with my folly.” “And what conclusion do you draw from that?” asked Mrs. Crowley. “Only that the psychological moment has arrived for a whisky and soda.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham, 1919
A contrast is drawn between obsessive ambition leading to a lonely death and a gentle appreciation of life's beauty, both ultimately forgotten.
In simple terms: Obsessive drive vs gentle living, both fleeting.
Key Takeaway
Choose balance over extremes.
Themes
ambition
beauty
mortality
legacy
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
contemplative
When to use this quote
- career pursuits
- artistic creation
- personal relationships
- life planning
Key Concepts
Existentialism
humanism
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you prioritize intensity or tranquility?
- How does awareness of impermanence affect your choices?
A Different Perspective
The quote romanticizes fatalism, ignoring agency to shape meaning.
