"After that I could never pass a dead man without stopping to gaze on his face, stripped by death of that earthly patina which masks the living soul. And I would ask, who were you? Where was your home? Who is mourning for you now?"

Ernst Toller's reflection on coming across death drives an extensive meditation on the human condition and the veiled lives each people lead up until our last moments. The quote vividly communicates the transformation in the understanding of the departed, portraying how death strips away the shallow layers acquired through life-- what Toller terms "earthly patina"-- to expose a fundamental, truthful essence of the human soul. This unveiling provides the deceased not just as a body, but as a vessel when overflowing with stories and feelings, engaging Toller to pause and review the uniqueness of each life.

The act of stopping to "gaze on his face" illustrates a moment of deep reflection and compassion. Toller's rhetorical questions--"Who were you? Where was your home? Who is mourning for you now?"-- highlight the universal, yet individualistic story each deceased person has. These concerns are not simply interests but deep inquiries into the human experience. They acknowledge each life as unique, with its path, connections, and endings that reverberate in the lives of others.

Toller's concerns "Who were you?" and "Where was your home?" stimulate the individual's identity and belonging, welcoming us to consider the narratives hidden below social functions and external personas. "Who is mourning for you now?" touches on the relational nature of humankind. It highlights the interconnectedness of people and the echo of loss felt by those left behind, emphasizing the communal aspect of mourning and the extension of the deceased's impact even after death.

In essence, Toller's reflection is an invitation to see each life with empathy and curiosity. It challenges us to value the quiet self-respect of an individual's journey and the unseen trials, accomplishments, and connections that define a life. Through this lens, Toller recommends that everyone's death is a pointer of the shared humankind that binds all of us, triggering deeper awareness and appreciation of the essence of those around us.