"How many famous and high-spirited heroes have lived a day too long?"

This quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a reflection on the short lived nature of life and the catastrophe of death. It talks to the concept that even the most well-known and high-spirited heroes are not unsusceptible to the inevitability of death. It is a reminder that life is short and that we ought to take advantage of it while we can. The quote likewise indicates that even the most heroic and well known individuals can be removed from us prematurely. It is a pointer to cherish the time we have with those we like and to make the most of our lives. Eventually, the quote functions as a suggestion that life is valuable which we ought to not take it for given.