Full circle. A new terror born in death, a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever. I am legend.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the themes of death and immortality, suggesting a circle of existence that gives rise to new fears and beliefs.
In this quote, Richard Matheson explores the complex relationship between death and the human experience. It implies that death not only ends life but also instills new fears and superstitions in those left behind, creating a cycle of existence where the legacy of the deceased continues to intimidate and haunt. The phrase 'I am legend' emphasizes the ongoing impact of those who have passed, potentially transforming them into enduring symbols of fear or reverence.
In practice
In a speech about overcoming fears, one might reference this quote to discuss how death shapes our beliefs.
β¦They think of suicide as a quick route to oblivion, an escape. Far from it. It merely alters a person from one form to another. Nothing can destroy the spirit. Suicide only precipitates a darker continuation of the same conditions from which escape was sought. A condition under circumstances so much more painful.
I said old Jesus probably would've puked if He could see it - all those fancy costumes and all. Sally said I was a sacrilegious atheist. I probably am. The thing Jesus really would've liked would be the guy who plays the kettle drums in the orchestra.
Most of the time in the 21st century, we dominate our surroundings: We tweak the thermostat, and the temperature falls one degree. We push a button, and Taylor Swift sings for us. It's the opposite in the wilderness, which teaches us constantly that we are not lords of the universe but rather building blocks of it.
The church is only the church when it exists for others. To make a start, it should give away all its property to those in need. The clergy must live solely on the free-will offerings of their congregations, or possibly engage in some secular calling. The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others.
We humans are more concerned with having than with being.
Hunger is a people-made phenomenon, so the central issue is power: the power of those who make the decisions about what is grown and who, or what, it's grown for.
If I say most people are pretty decent that may sound nice and warm but actually it's really radical and subversive and that's why, all throughout history, those who have advocated a more hopeful view of human nature - often the anarchists - have been persecuted.
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