True Life Is Not Duration But Flourishing

It matters little whether a man lives long or briefly—what signifies is whether he lives well. When loyal subjects cry, "Let the king live," in every tongue they invoke not mere existence but prosperous and flourishing days. The Psalmist's question, "Who is the man that desireth to see life?" requires careful reading. He does not ask who wishes merely to exist, but immediately clarifies his meaning: he speaks of "good days."…