Accordingly, the death of young men seems to me like putting out a great fire with a deluge of water; but old men die like a fire going out because it has burnt down of its own nature without artificial means.
Cicero: “Accordingly, the death of young men seems to me like putting out a great fire with a deluge of water; but old men die…”
Editor's note · Context
In his essay on old age, Cicero offers a vivid analogy to distinguish between the tragic, unnatural death of the young and the natural, peaceful passing of the old.
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