Would it be better to die relativity young a legend or live a long life of unful

1. 70

   Alastar Packerposted 13 years ago

   Would it be better to die relativity young a legend or live a long life of unfulfilled mediocrity?

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2. 69

   enevaposted 13 years ago

   To be or not to be, that is the question

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3. 60

   jsh_goldenposted 13 years ago

   Ahhh that is the the great question in Homer's "Iliad". Achilles is stuck with this question in the back of his mind, whether to become immortal through everlasting glory and die young, or to live a long life amongst family. Achilles chose the glory of course, but would we know of days? I'm not sure. Achilles was of a pagan culture where there was not anything more divine, more closer to the Gods, than to win interminable glory. However, nowadays I believe our civilization, our western cultures, as Virgil did in the Aeneid, "Is this all there is? Is there something more?" Perhaps for some of us its God, maybe something else.

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4. 70

   Alastar Packerposted 13 years ago

   Well done jsh! Your insight is perfect. A wise woman once said; if you want to know what it's all about for you, take some time and look at the nature all around yourself. Ashamed a little I haven't studied Homer to much so I learned something...again great answer!

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5. 75

   Buffoonposted 13 years ago

   It'd be better not to live a life of unfulfilled mediocrity, full stop. I mean, not all of us can die a James Dean death, but ALL of us can *aim* at escaping mediocrity

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   110211posted 13 years ago

   ok I read this and thought to myself gee I hope he is not thinking of doing anything stupid.
   then the light bulb in my head went off, so I will answer your question seriously now.
   Here goes
   engaging brain
   
   I think it would be better to die relatively young a legend, beacuse in this question 'relatively young' has no definite time attached to it, so if someone dies a legend that means that they died too young.
   
   If they became a legend in death then that would really suck.
   If somone dies a legend then they are a legend no matter what age they died 20, 30, 60 ,100 ? it would still be too young.
   
   If someone is a legend , can you not argue that they are still alive, until the time comes when they will no longer be a legend because all is forgotten.

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7. 0

   Butch Newsposted 13 years ago

   This is the only life you get.  Shine while you're here.  Otherwise you're just a waste of space and a burden on the planet and the future.
   
   Full speed ahead.  It will be what it will be.

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   Mark Upshawposted 13 years ago

   This question sounds like "is it better to be a martyr for a cause or one of the others?" 
   
   Being a legend after one is dead is of no value to the dead and living a life judged by another as mediocre is a lack of insight in the one that judges another's life.

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9. 56

   zzronposted 13 years ago

   
   
   Life was meant to be lived for as long as possible no matter what one achieves. Life is what you make it, so make it grand. Decide what you want out of life and come up with a plan. The best plan for anyone should be, to strive to be the best person they can be.

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10. 62

    Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

    Well...   I prefer not to live a mediocre existence; but I have to say I'd go with the long, unfilled, life over a short life.       As long as we're alive there's always the hope that the problem of a mediocre existence will be resolved.   Besides, I have three kids; and I lost my father so much sooner than people should lose a parent.  I have to go with preferring to live longer and not having my kids feel as if they've been robbed for decades of having their mother.  When you have kids it's not about what you'd prefer.  It's about what's best for them - no matter how old they are.

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    ttrashposted 13 years ago

    I would choose a long life of mediocrity over being legendary any day! For me, it's hard to think of any life as mediocre, every one has something a little special. In addition, I don't think I'd want to go down in legend anyway, seeings how it will be forgotten in a few million years.

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    The Demon Writerposted 13 years ago

    That's a hard one to answer. I'm not so sure about the whole 'afterlife' thing, so I kind of figure that if I die young then I am going to be too... well... dead to enjoy my success. But at the same time, I have big plans for myself and I could not live a life of unfulfilled mediocrity and be OK with it. So I guess I would rather die young because then at least my life would have been interesting while I lived it rather than a pointless passing of time until old age claims me. Good question:P

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    nightwork4posted 13 years ago

    i'd rather live a boring life then worry about being something others call a legend. living life is what you make of it and if all you care about is greatness, it will be a sad short life.

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14. 0

    Motown2Chitownposted 13 years ago

    Somewhere in his novel East of Eden, John Steinbeck speaks to the death of a man.  He talks about how at the end of this man's life, no one mourned.  The reaction to his death wasn't one of rejoicing either.  It was simply indifference. 
    
    Whether my life is mediocre and unfulfilled can only be decided by me.  But in the end, whether I die young or live to a ripe old age, I just want to know that somewhere along the line, I've touched enough lives in such a way that no one will be indifferent to my death.  That doesn't mean I have to die a legend at a young age.  It just means I have to truly live and truly love while I'm alive.

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    Uni_teposted 13 years ago

    Die young, a legend. At least people would care when you're gone.

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