“ Best of all for all things upon earth is it not to be born nor to behold the splendors of the Sun; next best to traverse as soon as possible the gates of Hades. ”
William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902). copy citation
| Author | William James |
|---|---|
| Source | The Varieties of Religious Experience |
| Topic | earth gate |
| Date | 1902 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/621/621-h/621-h.html |
Context
“So the need of a God very definitely emerges from this sort of experience of life. 73. E.g., Iliad, XVII. 446: “ Nothing then is more wretched anywhere than man of all that breathes and creeps upon this earth. ” 74. E.g., Theognis, 425-428: Best of all for all things upon earth is it not to be born nor to behold the splendors of the Sun; next best to traverse as soon as possible the gates of Hades. “ Naked came I upon the earth, naked I go below the ground—why then do I vainly toil when I see the end naked before me? ” — “ How did I come to be? Whence am I? Wherefore did I come? To pass away. How can I learn aught when naught I know?”
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