"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." -Euripides
You should go through life taking chances and standing up for what you believe in. You should be a fighter. You may be disliked or persecuted when you live this way, but it is better than living in someone else's shadow and never taking up life's opportunities.
That is how I interpret this quote, and I believe it has a lot to do with Joseph Campbell's theory of the hero's journey. Campbell said that the hero goes through trial and error, hardships, and even a resurrection. He believes a child must "die", leaving all of their dependency and immaturity behind them, and are later "reborn" as an independent adult. The quote above states just that. This quotes describes the hero. Someone who dies on their feet has gone through challenges, has been judged, has been resurrected, and is still fighting. They are still going through their journey. One who has lived on their knees has avoided the hardships. They haven't been resurrected. They're missing out on the opportunity of the hero's adventure!
Personally, I don't want to live on my knees. I want to die on my feet, like so many heroes before me. I'm not saying that I am a hero, or that I'll become one, but I'll try my best to embark on a similar journey. I think Joseph Campbell would encourage me to do so.
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