The Good Die Young

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The saying "The Good Die Young" is a proverb with a long history, often used to express comfort or lament when someone dies at a young age. It implies that well-regarded, kind, and morally upright people tend to die younger than most. Here's a breakdown of its meaning and origin:
Meaning:

• It suggests that those who are good are taken from the world sooner, perhaps because they have fulfilled their purpose or to spare them from the corruption of the world.
• It can be used as a source of comfort, implying the deceased was a good person.
• It can be used to express sadness and the sense of loss when someone young and good dies.
• Sometimes, it's used sarcastically, with a connotation that there is a lack of justice in the world.

Origin:

• The sentiment behind the phrase dates back to ancient Greece. The Greek historian Herodotus (circa 445 BC) tells a story of two young brothers who pulled their mother's cart to a festival. Their mother prayed for them to receive the greatest gift, and the goddess Hera granted them eternal sleep, which gave birth to the first instance of the phrase, that was recorded, "Whom the gods love dies young."
• The modern version, "The good die young", can be attributed to William Wordsworth's poem, "The Excursion" (1814): "The good die first,/ And they whose hearts are dry as summer dust/ Burn to the socket."
• Several other authors have also alluded to the phrase, in similar variations, such as:
• Titus Maccius Plautus (254-184 BC): "He whom the gods favor dies in youth."
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616): "So wise so young, they say, do never live long."
• Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): "The best of men cannot suspend their fate: The good die early, and the bad die late."

The phrase's meaning is used in modern times in music, such as the Billy Joel song "Only the Good Die Young". In this instance, it can be used to imply rebelling against being 'good'.