"Meleager, fragm. 532.—All men, once dead, are nothing more than earth and shadow. Nought returns to nought."
"Von Hartmann: Philosophy of the Unconscious, ii, p. 480.—After a serious consideration we have been obliged to reply that all existence in this world brings with it more pain than pleasure; that consequently it would be preferable that the world should not exist."
"That was a fine euphemism of the Greeks', to call the dead 'the tired ones.'"
"The prophet Silenus answered in these words the question of Midas, king of Phrygia: 'Children of a day, of a race doomed to pain and hard trials, why do you force me to say things that it were better for you not to know? For it is for those who are ignorant of their misfortunes that life has the least sorrow.—Of all things the best for man is not to live, even though he have an excellent nature; what is best for all men and for all women is not to be born.' Aristotle: on the Soul,"
"All this lamentable mockery: to love with all our heart beings and things which
