The belief in immortality has always seemed cowardly to me. When very young I learned that all things die, and read more

The belief in immortality has always seemed cowardly to me. When very young I learned that all things die, and all that we wish of good must be won on this earth or not at all.

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.

A book is the only immortality.

A book is the only immortality.

That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.

That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.

Cheese -- milk's leap forward to immortality.

Cheese -- milk's leap forward to immortality.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the
spirit shall return unto God who read more

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the
spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

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.

If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.

If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.

No, no, I'm sure,
My restless spirit never could endure
To brood so long upon one luxury,
read more

No, no, I'm sure,
My restless spirit never could endure
To brood so long upon one luxury,
Unless it did, though fearfully, espy
A hope beyond the shadow of a dream.