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The Dead (n.) are ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the mightiest of all.

The Dead (n.) are ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the perfect partner for observing a man: as you see a man's movements best when he shadow-boxes or dances alone, so with the dead — who is “no one” — the living stands revealed as he absolutely is.

The Dead (n.) do ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not thrive like a child but molder; do not answer “Mother” when asked whom they love best — and, strangely, the better the dead man was, the more sleepless nights he causes.

The Dead (n.) are ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the easiest of all to avoid: no precautions needed; one may become cold almost as soon as the dead man is cold, weep a little in the newspaper on the day of burial, and laugh at him — not before his eyes, they are closed.

The Dead (n.) cannot ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠beckon while the living say “Come to us, we will love you”; he cannot move a finger, he lies and molders — how easily the moment wins over such impotence.

The Dead (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a cunning man to talk with: not the kind you cannot find where you left him, but one you cannot get away from where you left him.

The Dead (n.) leaves ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠you no excuse: he did not grow older, colder, uglier, or interested in others; whether or not you resume, he begins with punctilious exactness just where you left off — he has the strength of unchangeableness.

The Dead (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a proud man: like the proud toward the one he most despises, he betrays nothing, never reminds you, keeps his countenance under control — the most fearful thing is that the dead betrays nothing at all.

The Dead (n.) should ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be feared — his shrewdness, determination, strength and pride; but love him, remember him, and you will learn from him, as from no living man, the definiteness of expression and the strength of unchangeableness.

The Dead (n.) are ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not like sleepers: no flush as on a sleeping child, no strength gathering, no friendly dream; and we would shout at anyone who looked so, if shouting could help.

The Dead (n.) do ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not form any kind of society: when the cemetery gate shuts and night falls, each lies alone, far from all sympathy.

The Dead (n.) are ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the preacher's favourite target, chastised at a convenient distance, in forgetfulness of the rule to speak only good of them.