Careful Words

existence (n.)

  I called the New World into existence to redress the balance of the Old.

George Canning (1770-1827): The King's Message, Dec. 12, 1826.

Man's love is of man's life a thing apart;

'T is woman's whole existence.

Lord Byron 1788-1824: Don Juan. Canto i. Stanza 194.

I'm weary of conjectures,—this must end 'em.

Thus am I doubly armed: my death and life,

My bane and antidote, are both before me:

This in a moment brings me to an end;

But this informs me I shall never die.

The soul, secured in her existence, smiles

At the drawn dagger, and defies its point.

The stars shall fade away, the sun himself

Grow dim with age, and Nature sink in years;

But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth,

Unhurt amidst the war of elements,

The wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.

Joseph Addison (1672-1719): Cato. Act v. Sc. 1.

  We will now discuss in a little more detail the Struggle for Existence.

Charles Darwin (1809-1882): The Origin of Species. Chap. iii.