Would you choose to "burn twice as bright" at the expense of "lasting half as long"?

I can't see myself living past forty anyway, so twice as bright/half as long works for me.

I don't know if the multiplier that I would choose is necessarily two, but yes, I would prefer quality over quantity. If I felt (as I do) that the quality was currently higher than I would need to be happy, I might well choose less for longer.

I feel like I'm burning plenty bright and life is passing way too fast already. How about half as bright for twice as long?

I'm bright enough.

if it were at all possible, i would burn twice as bright!! i have such a wonderful life now with such amazing peaks and valleys that i don't think it could be much more than it is. i think it all evens out in the big picture and your life would be what it would be no matter what!
i guess the down side(many would think) of this would be that you lows or valleys would be twice as low as well.

I would do it. Life is about quality, not quantity. Mediocrity for a long life versus excellence in a short one, I'll choose the latter.
Excellent question.

jettles: That reminds me of my favorite quote from Calvin & Hobbes:

Calvin: Life is like topography, Hobbes.
There are summits of happiness and success.
Flat stretches of boring routine.
And valleys of frustration and failure.

Absolutely...quality not quantity.

I'm currently (and temporarily) taking some medication (Prednisone) that in some ways embodies this question (and that's what brought it to mind). While on the drug, things seem more intense, I'm able to accomplish more, I don't sleep as much -- but the drug plays havoc on the body and has many side-effects. Long term use shortens your lifespan. Still, at times I feel like I'm living so intensely that it's almost worth it.

I actually value quantity over quality in some ways, but if I burned twice as bright for half as long I could achieve my goals in life, whereas I might not be able to with half power, even if I have twice as long.

how about semi-bright and 3/4's as long?

I'm pretty happy with how brightly I'm burning now, so I'd like to continue as long as possible.

brighter and shorter!!!!

I have always felt I would die young anyway...so why not live brightly.....I would want to at least live long enough to
see my child properly raised and ready to take on the world on her own....

My candle burneth at both ends, it will not last the night, but oh my foes, and oh my friends, it sheds a wondrous light! (loosely paraphrased, and I can't remember the author - Edna St. Vincent Millay perhaps? or Elizabeth Barrett Browning?)

Bill - serious warning - taper off s-l-o-w-l-y just like the Dr.'s tell you. A quick withdrawal from Prednisone can kill you.

So you're asking if I'd want to be even _busier_ and die sooner?
Hmmmmm. Tough choice, that.

I'm really enjoying the gradual aging process; I look forward to being
80 or 90 and having my whole life to look back on in perspective. I
think I'm burning brightly enough as is, and have no desire to make
any great mark on the world--I'd rather make small marks in personal
ways and have a longer time in which to do it.

My life is bright enough already, I don't see any need to change things in this way.

cpierson, not just busier but also more productive more able to handle it as well.
Jody, yup, I'm tapering already. I spend more time getting off of it than taking (at full dose) it. They say withdrawal can suck, but so far it's no big deal. If I seem moody over the next month, you'll know why now. Ah, an excuse, cool!

my life has been so mediocre that i want to die early :)

I had a bit of trouble here, because I was trying to decide where my life fit in that spectrum already. I was assuming some sort of absolute scale. I'm sure I wouldn't want it twice as bright as it is now, but I suspect that's because on some level I already chose, internally, the 2xB some time ago in the choices I've made for myself. I'd be unlikely to choose 0.5xB right now, but maybe as I get older and more mellow it might appeal more. I definitely choose quality over quantity, but I don't have a firm conviction that brilliance (intensity) = quality.

"I got one thing to say
It's better to burn out than to fade away!"

Hm. I like my life; I don't know if I could handle twice as much of it. So I pick longer over more intense. But perhaps I'm already burning twice as bright...

Lead, follow, or accept your fate. We begin dying the moment born; Why fear it? I choose to rejoice and revel in the best way I know, rather than to cling on to a bland tedium.

I learn much more from living my life as it changes over time, though sometimes I kick and scream for it to stay stable. More time to learn, grow, evolve is better.

I feel that your older years are probably the most important ones of your life and I would not be willing to give them up. I am only 25 now but I see how full of life my parents are and they are in their late 60s.

I'm going to make it to a hundred years old, so I better go slow and steady!

I really like being alive and I'm afraid of dying, so I wouldn't want to die sooner. I have often pondered the topic of brilliance, particularly as I am surrounded by so much of it. I concluded that I will probably not be a brilliant scholar (I'm in academia) but since many of the brilliant scholars I see around me have other problems in their lives as a consequence, I don't think I would trade the balance I have in my life right now to be like that.

sure it would be interesting.

Given that choice, twice as bright.
But really, infinitely brighter, infinitely longer! "Whoa, Phi_lip "K" dyke... dude"

bill: now that i see you're already a med person, my advice, stay away from the 'zone's', I've tried quite a few things, and so glad i'm off meds now (except a large array of smart-cocktails, mostly natural Ginseng, Biloba, etc.). I wouldn't wish to lose attributes that could appear schizo-affective from outsiders, but the depression and ADD symptoms were a nuissance to what any good programmer would call Productivity. Off the meds is better on all counts (but a lot had to happen first). When I have time, i'll visit a med survey.

when i was younger, i might've opted for twice as bright/half as long. but i think i'm older and mellower now.

No, it doesn't get you anywhere enjoyable. Bright could mean just about anything, if it meant cheerful & happy then yes, if it means intense or intellectual, or even omniscient or omnipotent then no.

Lightbulbs last longer than candles...

There is a lot of contingency in this whole topic.
In my opinion, without any strong existential
embracement of value-scales, or, as I personally
do prefer, of religious fundaments, the sense of
living like this or like that had to appear relative.
If I felt that a whole context, especially through
notorious mayor benefits to people I love and,
perhaps, even others, suggested acceptance of more
dynamics ... so would I agree; if I felt, however,
that such a rhythm would not complete so well
my final shape (character, spiritual density and
significance etc.), I should expect to acquire
towards the end of life ... I would slow down.
It seems to be a matter of felt sapientia,
not of consuming power.
Any candle, if neat and clean, and in the
right place, is of unsubstituable brightness.

Timo-Tsc: Are you Kristal-Rose?

Good question Wicksy..Thanx for asking it

Wicksy - you owe me an explanation about who
is Kristal-Rose. Of what sex he/she/it pretended
to be (which would not, necessarily, indicate
historical truth ...). I have never used the identity
of Kristal-Rose. If I did so, as a man, either I
would manifest some semi-hidden desire to be a cristal,
but just for those to whom I should be considered as
a rose ... And ... a rose is a rose ... y' know ...
I Could more easily call myself Rainbow, Breastfor-
bidden, Underdiscover, or something like that ...
But is Timo not quite a fair name, compared to some
so difficultly adjucidable identities ... By the way,
have you ever met a female Timo ? If I were to try out
some Rose or so ... I would call my Anima (and - who
knows homophilically underdevelopped qualities) some-
thing like Gypsey, Liona Hedonist or something like
that ...
Did that help a bit ... If not ... hate me ...
You are welcome. I love you, as I cannot help.
Hate diminishes precious vital substance.
(

Timo: I only thought you were Kristal because you write a lot and it is normally way above my head. Maybe that's a complement!!

Couldn't that burn you out? ;)

It depends on what burning twice as bright involves. If it simply means achieving more, but not being happier, then heck no. If the short years would be full of zest, happiness, creativity, and rich life experiences that I treasured - mm, I'd do it. There might even be something to be said for skipping (hypothetically) later infirm years.

Bill - You *like* being on prednisone? Goodness. I take it only because it beats not breathing. Whenever I'm on it for asthma (never for more than 2 weeks at a stretch) I feel like I'm having exaggerated PMS... swelling, water retention, aches, ruddy face. Plus I go up a half a bra size almost every time I use it, and don't come back down. That was cool when I was around a C cup, but it's not quite so cool any more.

I wouldn't say I like it...

I would definitely burn twice as bright. I mean, what is the since of living a long life if you have nothing to show for it. When I die, I want people to remember. Not just family members because they will eventually die, and so will my memory. I would rather die young and have hundreds or thousands of people remember me. Then my memory will burn long and proud.

That seems to be the plan!

What a wondefully wonderful wonder of a question!!

Sure, life sucks enough. I already kinda follow that theory. I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. It makes me happy and I could care less if it shortens my life.

In a heartbeat... half a heartbeat at that!

I think I would rather live longer than brighter.

No - life is too short anyways than to give up some more of your days - forget it.....I'm not giving up anymore of mine

good question!

How did this suddenly reappear? bill trying to boost his standing in the best survey creators list?

There was a survey where people asked to have old/favorite surveys re-activated... so did a few of them.. I even activated survey #1.

How exciting

No, i'd rather burn twice as bright and just as long

Yes! If you can reach higher places, go for it! Make it memorable while ya got it.

twice as bright and half as long for sure.

I think that you live your life to leave an impression on the world. So by burning twice as bright, I will have accomplished so much more, and hopefully have led a more fulfilling life

I think you can reach more people and touch more lives if you live your life reasonably sane.

i lit myself on fire once...

I've already burned thrice as bright... for nearly a decade. I'm ready for my light to go out now.