Books · 1712
A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.
— Joseph Addison · Cato
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The lines argue that a single day, or even an hour, of free and honourable living outweighs endless time spent in servitude. Freedom exercised with virtue is treated as worth more than length of life, so quality of freedom outranks sheer duration.
Context reviewed