" We will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos,
crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques,
armies, flags, & nations; in order to deny
the fact of death, which is the only fact we have.
It seems to me one should rejoice in the fact of death,
one out to decide indeed to earn ones death
by confronting with passion, the conundrum of life.
One is responsible to life. It is that small beacon from
that terrifying darkness from wence we come and wence we shall return. "

― James Baldwin , The Fire Next Time