If a man is alive, there is always danger that he may die, though the danger must be allowed to be less in proportion as he is dead-and-alive to begin with. A man sits as many risks as he runs.

Summary

This quote suggests that as long as a person is alive, there is always a risk of death, but this risk decreases as the person becomes more dormant or inactive. It implies that both being alive and being inactive carry their own set of risks, and the level of risk varies depending on the situation. Therefore, whether someone is actively pursuing something or staying idle, they are exposed to potential dangers and uncertainties.