When he endures nothing but endless miseries-- What pleasure is there in living the day after day, Edging slowly back and forth toward death? Anyone who warms their heart with the glow Of flickering hope is worth nothing at all. The noble man should either live with honor or die with honor. That's all there is to be said.
Sophocles, Peter Meineck, Paul Woodruff (2007). “Four Tragedies: Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes”, p.23, Hackett Publishing