Wecan’tavoidthinkingofourexistentialcondition,oftheshortnessofourlives,ofthetransitorynatureofeverything.Wedoitallthetimeweexist,inallsocieties.Thebrevityoflifetormentsthehumanspirit.Theproximityofdeathis«asourceofgriefduringallourlife»(EdgarMorin).

　　LetusmeditateonthesuperiorwaywithwhichHomerexpressedourconditionashumanbeings:«Insignificantmortals,whoareasleavesare,andnowflourishandgrowwarmwithlife,andfeedonwhatthegroundgives,butsoonfadeawayandaredead».

　　LetuslistthesadmusicspringingoutofthewordsofMarcusAurelius,theromanemperor,whowasalsoaphilosopher,reflectingontheshortnessofourlives:«Lifeisacampaign,abriefstayinastrangeregion».«Timeisaviolenttorrent;nosoonerisathingbroughttosightthanitissweptby,andanothertakesitsplace,beforethistoowillbesweptaway».

　　OrthemusicoftheversesofPsalm103:«Asforman,hisdaysareasgrass:asaflowerofthefield,soheflourishes.Butthewindpassesover,andsoonalldisappears;andhisplacewillnomoreexist».

　　Thesethoughtsreachbeyondepochsandfrontiers,theyplungeintothedepthsofoursoul;theyareimbuedwithaserenecontrolledsadness,associatedwiththeawarenessofourinabilitytoovercomethebrutalforceofanunjustrealitythatcrushes.

　　Inthemlivesthedignityofourconscience,ourcapacityofseeingbeyondthepresent,ofovercomingourhumbleorigins,ofassumingourselvesastheconscienceofthelivinguniverse.

　　Inthemisalsoconsubstantiatedthestrengthofhumanart,ofpoetry,ofbeauty.Theyareawayofnullifyingthesmallnessandinsignificanceofhumanbeings,ofraisingustoamuchhigherlevel.Theyarewellabovetheworldthatcondemnshumanbeingstodeath.Inthemweclaimagainsttheinjusticepresentintheheartoflife.Intheirway,theyimmortalizeus