the death of every man

[alegeegee]

who said "the death of every man diminshes me" or words to that affect - but more importantly what did he mean?

[Clanad]

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." 
John Donne quotes (English poet, 1572-1631)
 

[andy hughes]

That's a comprehensive description of the quote - the meaning is that we are all inter-connected, and the death of any one of us affects all the rest of us, in this case, the poet, who is pointing this out.