It must be so--Plato, thou reasonest well!--
Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing read more

It must be so--Plato, thou reasonest well!--
Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after immortality?
Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror,
O falling into nought? Why shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at destruction?
'Tis the divinity that stirs within us;
'Tis heaven itself, that points out an hereafter,
And intimates eternity to man.

All men think all men mortal, but themselves.

All men think all men mortal, but themselves.

'Tis immortality to die aspiring,
As if a man were taken quick to heaven.

'Tis immortality to die aspiring,
As if a man were taken quick to heaven.

We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another which will be eternal.

We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another which will be eternal.

Do you believe in immortality? No, and one life is enough for
me.

Do you believe in immortality? No, and one life is enough for
me.

Fame and riches are fleeting. Stupidity is eternal

Fame and riches are fleeting. Stupidity is eternal

Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope

Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope

Immortality is the glorious discovery of Christianity.

Immortality is the glorious discovery of Christianity.

If I stoop
Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,
It is but for a time; I read more

If I stoop
Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,
It is but for a time; I press God's lamp
Close to my breast; its splendor soon or late
Will pierce the gloom; I shall emerge one day.