As a writer, there are times when I read something and think, “Wow, that’s good, this cat has chops.” Very rarely do I read something that’s new, that I didn’t know was possible. Ben Sasse, he just wrote one of those.

The former Republican senator from Nebraska was informing the nation that he has stage four cancer and is going to die soon.

“Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence,” he wrote. “But I already had a death sentence before last week too – we all do.”

It may seem trivial, or even cruel to ponder Sasse’s written words when we know the pain he and his family must feel, but it is not trivial to me, and never has been in the history of man.

Shakespeare called death the undiscovered country, but Sasse preferred to focus on what we know, writing, “To be clear, optimism is great, and it’s absolutely necessary, but it’s insufficient. It’s not the kinda thing that holds up when you tell your daughters you’re not going to walk them down the aisle. Nor telling your mom and pops they’re gonna bury their son.”

Shakespeare’s Surprisingly Modern View of death

Much of our language’s great work involves death.Dylan Thomas implores his father in poetry: “do not go gentle into that good night… Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Shakespeare,however,offered a different perspective. He didn’t focus on the *struggle* against death, but rather on its inevitability and the often-absurd human attempts to avoid acknowledging it. His term for death? “Quit.”

What Did Shakespeare Mean by “Quit”?

Shakespeare used “quit” as a verb meaning to be free from, to discharge, or to be done with life. It wasn’t a dramatic, defiant rejection of mortality, but a simple statement of fact. To “quit” life was to finish it, to be released from its burdens. This perspective appears frequently in his plays, often delivered by characters facing their own demise.

Consider Hamlet’s famous “To be, or not to be” soliloquy. While frequently enough interpreted as a contemplation of suicide, it’s also a weighing of the hardships of life against the unknown of death. The desire to “quit” the suffering is a central theme. Similarly, in King Lear, characters repeatedly express a weariness with life and a longing for release – a desire to simply “quit.”

Why is Shakespeare’s “Quit” Relevant Today?

In a culture obsessed with extending life at all costs, Shakespeare’s acceptance of death as a natural conclusion feels surprisingly modern. We spend vast resources fighting aging and disease, often overlooking the importance of living a meaningful life *while* we are alive. Shakespeare’s “quit” reminds us that there is a time for everything, and that resisting the natural order can be a source of immense suffering.

This isn’t to suggest we should embrace death recklessly. Rather, it’s a call to acknowledge its inevitability and to focus on what truly matters in the time we have. It’s about finding peace with the idea that,eventually,we will all “quit” this life.

Key Takeaways

• Shakespeare used the word “quit” to describe death as a simple release from life.
• This perspective contrasts with more dramatic portrayals of death as a battle to be fought.
• Shakespeare’s view offers a surprisingly modern message about accepting mortality and focusing on living a meaningful life.
• Acknowledging death’s inevitability can reduce suffering and promote peace.

Published: 2025/12/27 23:02:21

Looking ahead, perhaps a renewed appreciation for Shakespeare’s pragmatic view of death can help us navigate the anxieties of modern life. By accepting the finite nature of our existence, we can prioritize what truly matters and live more fully in the present moment.