"Hunger, revenge, to sleep are petty foes, But only death the jealous eyes can close"
- William Wycherley
About this Quote
In this quote, William Wycherley highlights the triviality of human desires such as hunger and vengeance. He recommends that these are unimportant obstacles compared to the ultimate fate of death. While hunger and revenge might consume our ideas and actions, they are ultimately short lived and can be gotten rid of. Nevertheless, death is the one true enemy that can not be beat. Wycherley also personifies death as having "envious eyes," indicating that it is always enjoying and waiting for its next victim. This quote serves as a pointer to not get too caught up in minor desires and to rather concentrate on living a significant life before death inevitably pertains to close our eyes.
"When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land"