No one thinks he will escape death, so there is no disappointment and, as
long as we know neither the when nor the how, the mere fact that we shall
one day have to go does not much affect us; we do not care, even though
we know vaguely that we have not long to live. The serious trouble
begins when death becomes definite in time and shape. It is in precise
fore-knowledge, rather than in sin, that the sting of death is to be
found; and such fore-knowledge is generally withheld; though, strangely
enough, many would have it if they could.