Death is prepared for all of us, you cannot escape it--consequently you must not be prematurely torpid.

You cannot bring him to life again with your sorrow, and your grief is unnecessary to him, for it is said: 'When the body is robbed of the soul by the terrible angels, the soul forgets all relatives and acquaintances,' which means that you are of no consequence to him now, whether you cry or laugh.

But the living must care for the living.

You had better cry, for this is human.

It brings much relief to the heart." But neither did these words provoke anything in Foma's head or in his heart.