He had often noticed that six months' oblivion amounts to newspaper death, and that resurrection is rare. Nothing is easier, if a man wants it, than rest, profound as the grave.

Adams links public existence to the rhythms of the press: to fall out of print for “six months” is to suffer a kind of social death, because modern reputation depends on continual mention and renewal. The metaphor of “resurrection” underscores how rarely a forgotten figure returns to prominence once the news cycle moves on. The second sentence pivots from public life to private will: withdrawal is not difficult if one truly desires it—rest can be chosen, and it can be as final and isolating as the grave. Together, the lines critique the fragility of fame and the ease with which one can opt out of the exhausting economy of attention.