"Corpses are more fit to be thrown out than is dung"
- Heraclitus
About this Quote
Heraclitus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who is understood for his puzzling expressions. In this quote, he is making a comparison between 2 things that are thought about to be unfavorable. He is saying that corpses are more fit to be thrown out than dung. This comparison is implied to stress the idea that remains are more repulsive than dung.
Heraclitus is recommending that corpses are so repulsive that they must be gotten rid of more quickly than dung. This is likely because remains are connected with death and decay, while dung is related to life and fertility. Heraclitus is indicating that death is more abhorrent than life.
Heraclitus' quote also acts as a pointer of the fragility of life. He is suggesting that life is short lived and that death is unavoidable. He is stressing the importance of living life to the fullest and valuing the time we have on this earth.
Heraclitus' quote is a suggestion of the value of appreciating the dead and the fragility of life. It is a suggestion to value the time we have and to take advantage of it. It is also a suggestion to treat the dead with regard and to deal with their remains in a dignified way.
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