Literary Interlude: Shakespearean Ruminations on Mortality

It was exciting and frustrating while it lasted, but alas it's last weekend redux. This weekend's literary interlude comes from Hamlet.

First, on the vanity of power:

No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with
modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it: as
thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried,
Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of
earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he
was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?
Imperious Caesar, dead and turn'd to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away:
O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,
Should patch a wall to expel the winter flaw! (Act 5, scene 1)

Then on the subject of death itself:

... If it be now,
'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now;
if it be not now, yet it will come:
the readiness is all. (Act 5, scene 2)

All are taken out of context, but somehow they say something to the present situation.