"the death of an old man is like a library set ablaze" Discuss?

Answer 1

All those stories, precious memories and historical views lost forever.

Answer 2

It's a colorful thing to say, but how often is it true? I'm living in a grey ghetto; nearly half of the people who live on this block are pushin' eighty, from the yonder side. Few of them are library-like in any regard. Reminiscences of 'frisky' barbecues from sixty years ago might be of some interest; and you could find it interesting to know that you could get three candy bars for a dime during the Depression; and, if you ever need it, the secret of the spit curl, . . . but . . . .

Nah, I can't say that I agree with the quotation. Most of us are born ignorant, and most of us manage to die ignorant, never having known anything of lasting importance that wasn't already commonly and widely known. The quotation points, I think, at the uniquely held knowledge lost when a long life ends. I believe that the extent of that knowledge is usually overestimated, and its importance much inflated. It's a kind (or hopeful) thought, and not a general truth.

More often the case, I think, is "The death of an old man burns down an evidence locker."

Wouldn't it be interesting if we could force 'exit interviews' on the dead? How many of us still living would escape prosecution? Four? Maybe six?

Answer 3

A library consists of a lot of books that help a person. An old person has wisdom he had attained thru the years. If the person dies, this wisdom will be lost even if he gives advice to all the succeeding generations. As one proverb states, "Wisdom comes with age".

Answer 4

yes and no. like skump said, not all humans live conscious lives. some choose to be ignorant. but indeed there are those who have tremendous amount of knowledge, wisdom and experience in them and who have lived fullfilling lives. what you have forgotten or should consider however is that in this library, there is an area for general references, self-help, my specialization, things i did, lessons learned from friends, etc sections. no two individual have the same sets of books in his library because we simply are different. we might have something in common, but not all. thus, with the death of an old man, comes the burning of specific books in a bigger library that we could never retrieve again (especially the ones coming from his very own experience considering his situation). but just like any other book so long as it is copyrighted and published, we can always retrieve it. maybe from individuals who experienced the same event or who were with that old man etc. but sad to say, that there are things that will never be retrieved because like any other book, there are things that are "in progress" or "to be written later" or "secrets that will die with me". these things, we have to walk and live on our own to gain. and maybe, as we do this, start sharing our knowledge with the world? my 2 cents. i hope it helped.

Answer 5

the death of an old WOMAN is like a HUNDRED libraries set ablaze

Answer 6

When an old person dies, you lose all of their accumulated knowlege, wisdom and experience.

When a library burns, you lose the accumulated knowlege, history and wisdom stored there.

Answer 7

Because unless he has written stuff down in a journal all his wisdom experiences and knowledge have died and we can never learn the knowledge that, that person has.

Answer 8

because youl ose forever such pearls of wisdom as, "If you maintain a good household there is no need for shopping on Sunday."

Answer 9

Death is natural and the old are rarely wise.

Answer 10

You should really do your own homework. How else will you learn why your grandparents are more than mere anecdotes.