Cowards die many times before their death. The valiant never taste of death but once.?

Question

Cowards die many times before their death. The valiant never taste of death but once.
~ William Shakespeare


what does that quote mean?
can someone explain it please

=)

Answer 1

Shakespeare was talking about the inevitability of death and that you should not be afraid, the "Valiant" know this and are not scared, cowards, on the other hand are afraid to die.

Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "Julius Caesar", Act 2 scene 2

Answer 2

There are a couple of ways to look at it. Cowards are afraid of death, afraid of being hurt and afraid of losing what they have. Because they cannot stand up when they need to, they die a little every time they are faced with their fears.

On the other hand, cowards tend to live long lives and some might call them sensible. They don't fight the wars--they send others to do it for them.

As for the valiant tasting death but once, yup, that's true. They don't shrink from doing their duty. They are the ones who stand up and fight for us and pay the price. You'll find them in all kinds of uniforms. Here's to the soldiers, the cops and the firefighters who defend us!

Answer 3

I think it means that if you are a coward or scared a piece of you dies every time you are in a situation. For example: you are confronted with a bully and you let them push you around, so you can't feel very good about yourself and you lose a little bit of yourself and self confidence. On the other hand if you are brave or valiant you don't lose those little bits of your soul or self. So you only taste death when you actually die, usually in battle back in Shakespeare's time. At least this is the meaning I have always taken from that quote.

Answer 4

cowards die a thousand deaths because of the shame they have from not fighting, for running. Shame eats at the soul in a thousand different ways. It creates a gulf between your mind, your heart, and your soul, between how you believe people percieve you as a person. You become lower than death. A thousand times lower. The valiant rush in to join the battle, they may taste death, but it will never be but once. They will never feel shame, will be percieved by others with pride and admiration. Death will only come once in their lifetime.

Answer 5

It means that the valiant doesn't live in fear every day but only when it happens,which in turn means never. by definition

Answer 6

It means that cowards die in a moral sense every time they allow fear to control their actions. whereas the brave man confronts his enemy and either dies or survives.

Answer 7

It means that if you are scared of something, eg. Death, then you're wasting you're life, fearing something that hasn't happened yet.

Answer 8

ah, good one... it means their pride dies, their self respect, their honor... etc. The Valliant never taste "death" because their souls are strong, are never compromised, they never whither and die.

Make sense? :)