Some ideas suggest we face two deaths. The first is not the end of breath or heartbeat. Instead, it is the loss of our ability to love. The second, the simple cessation of life, feels insignificant in comparison. This powerful concept comes from the brilliant mind of French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. He argued that to cease loving is an unbearable death, while to cease living is nothing.
. Source
This philosophy challenges our conventional understanding of mortality. It elevates emotional connection to the highest plane of human experience. Voltaire (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) suggests that a life devoid of love is a life already lost, making the biological end a mere formality.
The Anatomy of a Profound Idea
Voltaire – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy captured this sentiment in a short, elegant French verse. The original lines carry a deep philosophical weight:
On meurt deux fois, je le vois bien :
>
Cesser d’aimer & d’être aimable,
>
C’est une mort insupportable :
>
Cesser de vivre, ce n’est rien.
When translated, the verse reveals its stark message with clarity:
One dies twice, I see it clearly:
>
To cease to love and to be lovable,
>
It’s an unbearable death:
>
To cease to live is nothing.
Here, Voltaire presents a hierarchy of death. The first, and most terrible, is the emotional and spiritual end. This occurs when a person can no longer give or receive affection. He labels this an “unbearable death.” In contrast, he dismisses the physical end of life as “nothing.” This powerful juxtaposition forces us to consider what truly gives life its meaning. For Voltaire, the answer was unequivocally love.
A Love That Inspired a Philosophy
This profound statement was not born in a vacuum. Instead, it grew from one of history’s most fascinating intellectual and romantic partnerships. Voltaire shared his life and work with Émilie du Châtelet, a brilliant physicist, mathematician, and author in her own right. Their relationship was a dynamic blend of passionate romance and rigorous scholarly collaboration. They challenged and inspired one another, creating an environment where such deep thoughts on life and love could flourish.
Their connection provided the emotional foundation for this meditation on existence. Voltaire was not merely theorizing about love from a distance. He was living it, breathing it, and understanding its central importance through his bond with du Châtelet. Consequently, when he wrote about the death of love, he was writing about what he considered the ultimate loss.
Tracing the Quote Through Time
Like any great idea, these words traveled through history, evolving slightly along the way. The earliest known version appeared in the Parisian journal Mercure de France in 1743. Interestingly, this initial publication featured a small but significant difference. It used the word “plaire” (to please) instead of “aimer” (to love). This version shifts the focus from the intimate act of loving to the broader social act of being pleasing to others. Both versions, however, maintain the core idea of a social or emotional death. Source
. Mercure de France – Gallica Digital Library
Journey into the English Language
The verse eventually made its way into English literature, adapted by different authors. In 1870, the celebrated poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow included a rhyming translation in his collection, The Poets and Poetry of Europe. His version reads:
Yes, one dies twice, I see it plain;
>
Ceasing to love or love to kindle
>
Is the worst death on Clotho’s spindle;
>
Ceasing to live is little pain.
Longfellow’s translation cleverly incorporates Greek mythology, referencing Clotho, one of the Fates who spins the thread of life. Subsequently, prose translations offered a more direct interpretation. An 1880 collection, A Thousand Flashes of French Wit, Wisdom, and Wickedness, put it plainly: “One dies twice: to cease to live is nothing, but to cease to love and to be loved is an insupportable death.” This exact wording later appeared in American publications, cementing its place in popular thought.
Enduring Relevance in a Modern World
Modern scholarship has firmly attributed the words to Voltaire. The 2021 reference work The Quotable Voltaire confirms the couplet originated around 1741, during his vibrant relationship with Émilie du Châtelet. This confirmation solidifies the link between his personal life and his philosophical output.
But why does this 18th-century idea still resonate so powerfully today? The answer lies in its universal truth. Humans are social creatures who thrive on connection. Voltaire’s insight taps into a fundamental aspect of our existence: a life without meaningful bonds feels empty. He suggests that our biological functions are merely the vessel; love is the vital force that animates it.
In a world that often prioritizes material success and fleeting interactions, Voltaire’s words serve as a timeless reminder. They call on us to value our capacity to love and be loved above all else. This perspective frames love not as a simple emotion but as the very definition of a life truly lived. Ultimately, the unbearable death is not the end of our bodies, but the end of our hearts.