By my troth, I care not; a man can die but once; we owe God a death and let it go which way it will he that dies this year is quit for the next
In this quote from Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part 2," the speaker expresses a sense of resignation towards death. They convey the idea that dying is an inevitable part of life, and that every person must face it eventually. The phrase highlights a philosophical acceptance of mortality, suggesting that one should not fear the end, as it is a universal fate we all must fulfill.
The speaker implies that since death is predetermined, we should approach it with a sense of calmness. They indicate that whether one dies this year or later, the outcome remains the same—we owe a death to God. This perspective encourages a reflective attitude regarding life and death, emphasizing the notion that how we face our mortality is more significant than when it occurs.
