I hate the ugly, hate the old,
I hate the lame and weak,
But more than all I hate the dead
That lie so still in their earthen bed
And never dare to rise.

A whole nation cannot rise above itself.

It is out of the question for our people to rise by treading down any of their own number.

What refuses to die cannot be reborn.

The great wild bull has lain down and is never to rise again. Lord Gilgamesh has lain down and is never to rise again. [...] The hero fitted out with a shoulder-belt has lain down and is never to rise again. He who was unique in strength has lain down and is never to rise again. He who diminished wickedness has lain down and is never to rise again. He who spoke most wisely has lain down and is never to rise again. The plunderer of many countries has lain down and is never to rise again. He who knew how to climb the mountains has lain down and is never to rise again. The lord of Kulaba has lain down and is never to rise again. He has lain down on his death-bed and is never to rise again. He has lain down on a couch of sighs and is never to rise again.

Thus men will lie on their backs, talking about the fall of man, and never make an effort to get up.

There are those fallen who don’t get up so as not to fall again.

The living have no place at the feasts of the dead.

The dead should not rule the living.

Alone with the dead, I dare not go out!

It is the gods' custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.

The truth is that your spirits don't rise until you get way down.

He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.

Things which do not grow and change are dead things.