[text](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44107/holy-sonnets-death-be-not-proud) [[Lucretius On The Nature of Things quote regarding death]] John Donne’s Holy Sonnet X, also known by its famous opening line "Death, be not proud," is a powerful and defiant poem that confronts the concept of death. In this sonnet, Donne personifies Death and directly addresses it, challenging its perceived power and dominion over human life. The poem begins with a bold statement, admonishing Death for its pride and declaring that it is not as mighty or fearsome as it believes itself to be. Donne argues that Death is not truly capable of killing anyone, as those who die are not actually conquered by Death but merely pass into eternal life. Donne then proceeds to diminish Death’s power by comparing it to sleep and rest, suggesting that death is merely a brief transition rather than an end. He asserts that death brings pleasure rather than pain, and that the best people face death earliest, implying that it is not a punishment but a reward. The poet goes on to point out that Death is subject to various external factors such as fate, chance, kings, and desperate men. He also draws a parallel between Death and drugs or poisons, suggesting that sleep is a better and more peaceful state. In the final couplet, Donne delivers the ultimate blow to Death’s pride. He declares that after one short sleep, humans will awake to eternal life, and at that point, Death itself will cease to exist. This powerful conclusion asserts the Christian belief in resurrection and eternal life, effectively stripping Death of its finality and terror. Through this sonnet, Donne transforms the traditional fear of death into a triumphant assertion of faith and the immortality of the soul. The poem’s enduring popularity lies in its bold confrontation of a universal human fear and its eloquent affirmation of hope in the face of mortality. Sources --- **Lucretius, a Roman poet and Epicurean philosopher**. In his work "De Rerum Natura" (On the Nature of Things), he writes: **"Why should I fear death? If I am, then death is not. If Death is, then I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?"** This sentiment is expanded upon in another passage: **"Look back at the eternity that passed before we were born, and mark how utterly it counts to us as nothing. This is a mirror that Nature holds up to us, in which we may see the time that shall be after we are dead."** -— **Marcus Aurelius in "Meditations"** writes: **"You have embarked, you have made the voyage, you have come to shore; get out."** --- 5. **Epicurus:** **"Death is nothing to us, since when we are, death has not come, and when death has come, we are not."** --- 3. **Epictetus in "Discourses"**: **"I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it."** Sources: - [Lucretius](obsidian://open?vault=rhkennerly&file=Lucretius) - [The Nature of Things](obsidian://open?vault=rhkennerly&file=The%20Nature%20of%20Things) Sources: - [On the Shortness of Life](obsidian://open?vault=rhkennerly&file=On%20the%20Shortness%20of%20Life) - [Meditations](obsidian://open?vault=rhkennerly&file=Meditations) - [Discourses](obsidian://open?vault=rhkennerly&file=Discourses) - [A Guide to the Good Life](obsidian://open?vault=rhkennerly&file=A%20Guide%20to%20the%20Good%20Life) - [The Consolations of Philosophy](obsidian://open?vault=rhkennerly&file=The%20Consolations%20of%20Philosophy)