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Themes · 1738

May you live all the days of your life.

— Jonathan Swift ‧ The Colonel, in Polite Conversation, dialogue 2

A single upright match burns against a dark background, its flame reflected on a glossy surface.
Original artwork
Behind the line May contain spoilers.

Our reading

An editorial interpretation.

This toast-like wish distinguishes being alive from truly living. Asking someone to live all their days encourages full engagement with the time they have, rather than merely letting it pass. Its apparent repetition gives a familiar blessing a more thoughtful meaning about the quality of life.

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