“You will die. You will not live forever. Nor will any man nor any thing. Nothing is immortal. But only to us is it given to know that we must die. And that is a great gift: the gift of selfhood. For we have only what we know we must lose, what we are willing to lose... That selfhood which is our torment, and our treasure, and our humanity, does not endure. It changes; it is gone, a wave on the sea. Would you have the sea grow still and the tides cease, to save one wave, to save yourself?”

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About Ursula K. Le Guin

American science fiction and fantasy writer of the mid-to-late 20th century, Ursula K. Le Guin is best known for her groundbreaking novels like *The Left Hand of Darkness* and *The Dispossessed*, which explore complex political and philosophical themes through speculative fiction. Her work blends deep world-building with sharp social commentary, often questioning power structures and human nature.

More from Ursula K. Le Guin (290 quotes) →
"You will die. You will not live forever. Nor will any man nor any thi…" — Ursula K. Le Guin | Daily Quotes