O, Death!

First and foremost, thanks for clicking on my video.

This essay is a little different than others on my channel. It is a wholly subjective interpretation of the topics and works discussed. It discusses only what I personally take away from a couple of Tolstoy’s writings. Thus, this video leaves out significant parts of both The Confession and The Death of Ivan Ilyich (the former of which is largely a religious text). I would not recommend this video as a substitute for reading either of those works.

Sources:
The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Confession (Peter Carson translation)
God, Guilt, and Death: An Existential Phenomenology of Religion

[HorsesOnYT]

Hi Everyone:


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Thank you for everything! <3

-Michael

[viktor__]

Horses has quickly become one of the best YT channels of 2023. The consistency in quality this guy puts out is remarkable.

[qis_]

O'Death. Become my blade, once more.

[HigherSelfKorea]

No music, just white noise in the background, and still a masterpiece of storytelling. Thanks for proving that it's not all about flashiness. Grandiose!

[ATLxstayxawakex]

"i will not delude myself with notions of legacy; all people die, some just take longer to do so" is (ironically) going to stick with me for a long time. absolutely gorgeous piece, thank you for this

[ThorPalsson]

As a caregiver in hospice I can say that the majority of the deaths I have witnessed were pain and anxiety free

[cranky_gatr_]

I’m convinced this guy is physically unable to upload a bad video. You’re a legend man

[siichaq]

Never heard someone articulate how I feel about death so perfectly. It’s comforting just to know others worry about it the same way I do

[BastienGr]

I'm a French listener and I listen to your videos to improve my English and become a better person. I learn a lot from each video, and I thank you for that!

[mockley]

I'm a firefighter/paramedic. I also moonlight as a deputy coroner. I have done both for quite some time. The ever present thought of one's death in the face of so many others is difficult to explain. You do a beautiful job of explaining the nuances of fighting for a good and righteous life, while worrying that what you do may be meaningless. You're videos have helped me greatly. You have my thanks.

[wordytoed]

Your grandmother’s words are profound. Thank you for sharing.

[roshanpk]

Your videos are probably the only ones on YouTube that I can watch completely without having to pause or do something else in between.

[meema]

I’m 23, I’m only just starting to understand the importance of, well, everything. I spent a long time drowned in my emotions, and my actions taken to mask them. Almost died a few times.

And I think because of that I sit in a weird limbo, as far as my fear of death goes. I’m not very afraid of dying, I’m afraid of death itself tho. The act of dying doesn’t scare me, especially if I’m dying for a good purpose in my mind. But whatever lies on the other side scares me, the recent entry into lucidity to reality forces me to want to stay, so as to REALLY experience life as it’s meant to be. But I’m ready should the time come, when I die, I’ll die afraid of what could’ve been, not what will be.

[LividImp]

For as much of a cesspool as YouTube can be, there are some great essayists on here. Subscription earned.

[FootFungus]

I used to think about death constantly, almost 24/7. I was also pretty suicidal. I don’t know why or how, but one day I said to myself “Why do I ponder something so out of my control, why would I ponder things that are in my control?”. I realised that there is nothing to do, but to enjoy every single day. I have gotten to a weird state where I don’t really understand ‘being sad’ anymore. What do I gain from it? Why not just be happy? The past is the past and the future is the future. If I can’t change the past, why bother to whine about it, if I can change the future, why whine about it?

[bukasajonathan]

As a religious person, I want to say that I enjoyed this video and it made me realise how much religion has given meaning and purpose to a lot of people. I think the gest of religion is the idea of reward after death. It has given people a lot of stretght in the past and it still does today. great video

[guerimjj]

This hits home. I have always been obsessed with death/unaliving myself since I was only a little girl, I think I was only 13 or 14. I was scared I might actually do that, and end my life there. I had to get rid of things I could use to actually do it. The main reason being that I didn’t want people to think of me as a pathetic girl who couldn’t bear all this sufferings. So I sort of internalized it and whenever I get tired, I would wish for death of myself. I am now 23 and I had come to a conclusion, that is to live. Live and see. As much as I hate living, I will continue to live. I still don’t like life but I don’t hate it anymore, still though, I don’t wish to live long. I am still obsessed with death. But I will live with my depressive thoughts and continue to live this lonely life doing things I love, and watching arts like this video. I don’t know if I made sense but yeah this is my philosophy, my agony and I will take this with me till the end.

[weaponizedmemes]

“If we die, why do we live?”

I never thought to ask the question of death in that order.

[wabbab]

Tolstoys confession is one of the most influential pieces of media I've ever read, and I've reached many of the same conclusions you have. Glad others find comfort in his work

[MrFaceSpace]

Your segment about your grandmother nearly moved me to tears. I had to stop myself at work. This has been like therapy for me. This and your Marcus Aurelius video really touched me in a profound way.