Did you face the fire when it came for your soul—
With steel in your spine and purpose whole?
Or did you fold like the rest of the weak,
Eyes to the ground, too afraid to speak?
Pain doesn’t matter. Blood’s not the test.
Only one thing counts: Did you give it your best?
A man isn't judged by the wounds on his skin,
But by whether he fought though the end did begin.
Did you curse the pain or claim it whole?
Did you give in, or give it soul?
Falling’s not failure. Quitting is.
Every grave’s got bones. Not every grave has men.
Were you honest when fear knocked first?
Did you bleed with purpose, not just thirst?
When death leaned in to name your cost,
Did it find you forged—or find you lost?
So maybe you’re finished, maybe you’re through.
But did the world break you, or did you break through?
If you gave ‘em hell with your final breath,
Then even in silence, you spit in Death’s chest.
Death doesn’t care how pretty you cry.
It’s coming. Slow or fast—you die.
But when it does, one truth won’t lie:
Not when, not why—
But how did you die?
DEATH CULT
-Earn Your Exit-
Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there -- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,
It's how did you fight -- and why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?
– Edmund Vance Cooke