Eaters of the Dead

by Michael Crichton

“There are things that no man can conquer, and no sword can kill, and no fire can burn, and such things are in the forests.”

“Animals die, friends die, and I shall die, but one thing never dies, and that is the reputation we leave behind at our death.”

Not being capable of concealing my emotions, I said to him, “I am afraid.” Herger replied to me: “That is because you think upon what is to come, and imagine fearsome things that would stop the blood of any man. Do not think ahead, and be cheerful by knowing that no man lives forever.”

“Each person bears a fear which is special to him. One man fears a close space and another man fears drowning; each laughs at the other and calls him stupid. Thus fear is only a preference, to be counted the same as the preference for one woman or another, or mutton for pig, or cabbage for onion. We say, fear is fear.”