“On meurt deux Source fois, je le vois bien : > > Cesser d’aimer & d’être aimable, > > C’est une mort insupportable : > > Cesser de vivre, ce n’est rien.”
This powerful quote about love, life, and the nature of death resonates deeply. Many people attribute these words to the ancient Greek historian Plutarch, linking them to his profound writings on legacy and virtue. However, a fascinating historical puzzle surrounds this attribution. The quote, as written above, does not come from Plutarch. In fact, its true origin lies with a different philosophical giant from a much later era.
This article unravels the mystery. We will explore the true source of this poignant sentiment and analyze its intended meaning. Furthermore, we will examine why the misattribution to Plutarch occurs so often. Finally, we will contrast the quote’s message with Plutarch’s actual philosophy on what it means to live a memorable life and achieve a form of immortality.
Unmasking the True Author: Not Plutarch, but Voltaire
The elegant French verse that speaks of dying twice is not found anywhere in Plutarch’s extensive works, such as Parallel Lives or Moralia. Source Instead, the true author is the French Enlightenment writer and philosopher Voltaire. He penned these lines in a personal letter, which adds a layer of intimacy to their meaning. Specifically, Voltaire included the poem in a 1754 letter to his friend and fellow intellectual, Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand .
Understanding the source is crucial because it completely changes the context. Plutarch wrote for a public audience, documenting the lives of great men to teach lessons about virtue and vice. In contrast, Voltaire wrote these lines in a private communication. This suggests a more personal, emotional reflection rather than a grand philosophical declaration on historical legacy. The misattribution likely happens because the theme feels Plutarchan, touching on ideas of how we are remembered, but the actual sentiment is far more personal and romantic.
Deconstructing the Meaning: A Social and Emotional Death
To fully grasp the quote’s power, we must analyze it line by line. Voltaire’s words paint a picture of two distinct kinds of death, one of which he considers far worse than the other.
- “On meurt deux fois, je le vois bien” (One dies twice, I see it well).
This opening line establishes the central theme. It immediately introduces a paradox that forces the reader to think beyond the purely biological definition of death. Voltaire asserts this as a clear observation, something he understands intimately.
- “Cesser d’aimer & d’être aimable” (To cease to love and be lovable).
Here, he defines the first, and more terrible, death. It is not a physical event but a social and emotional one. This death occurs when a person loses the capacity for connection—both the ability to give love and the quality of being worthy of receiving it. This speaks to a life of isolation, bitterness, or irrelevance.
- “C’est une mort insupportable” (It is an unbearable death).
Voltaire does not mince words. He labels this emotional death as “unbearable.” The loss of human connection, affection, and mutual regard is a fate worse than the end of life itself. This highlights the Enlightenment’s focus on human experience and feeling.
- “Cesser de vivre, ce n’est rien” (To cease to live, that is nothing).
This final, stark line delivers the philosophical punch. In comparison to the unbearable pain of losing love and connection, the mere cessation of biological life is trivialized. It is a provocative statement that elevates the importance of a rich, emotionally connected existence over simple longevity.
Plutarch’s View: Immortality Through Great Deeds
While Voltaire focused on the emotional death of the individual, Plutarch’s philosophy centered on a different kind of second life: legacy. For Plutarch, a person’s great deeds and virtuous character were the keys to immortality. His work, particularly Parallel Lives, was not just a collection of biographies. Instead, he used the stories of famous Greeks and Romans to provide moral examples.
Plutarch believed that a person’s reputation and the memory of their actions lived on long after their physical death. A life filled with courage, wisdom, and justice created a legacy that could inspire future generations. Therefore, the second “death” in a Plutarchan sense would be the act of being forgotten. If one’s deeds were insignificant or evil, their memory would fade or be condemned, which constituted a failure to achieve true permanence.
In contrast to Voltaire’s focus on love, Plutarch’s concern was civic virtue and historical significance. For instance, he details the life of Alexander the Great not just to recount his conquests, but to examine his character—his ambition, leadership, and flaws. The goal was for the reader to learn from Alexander’s example. Thus, a person truly lived on by becoming a lesson for posterity. This is a very different concept from Voltaire’s personal, romantic ideal of living through love.
Conclusion: The Power of an Idea
The journey of this quote reveals a fascinating truth about how ideas are transmitted and remembered. While often misattributed to Plutarch, the poignant verse about dying twice belongs to Voltaire. Its true meaning is a deeply personal reflection on the supreme importance of love and human connection, which Voltaire valued even above life itself.
However, the enduring confusion with Plutarch is understandable. The Greek historian was profoundly concerned with how a person’s essence could outlast their physical body. He championed the idea that a legacy built on virtuous deeds grants a form of immortality. Both thinkers, separated by centuries, grappled with the same fundamental question: what does it mean to truly live and truly die?
Ultimately, whether through Voltaire’s lens of love or Plutarch’s focus on legacy, the core message remains powerful. A life without connection or honorable action is a kind of death in itself. The quote, regardless of its origin, compels us to consider not just the length of our lives, but their depth and meaning.