In the late nineteenth century, Schopenhauer wrote of death as though it were the dividing line of consciousness: The cheerfulness and vivacity of youth are partly due to the fact that when we are ascending the hill of life, death is not visible: it lies down at the bottom of the other side. But once we crossed the top of the hill, death comes in view—death, which, until then, was only known by hearsay. . . . A grave seriousness now takes the place of the early extravagance of spirit; and the change is noticeable even in the expression of a man’s face. . . . For towards the close of life,
...more
