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Everybody should do in their lifetime, sometime, two…

“Everybody should do in their lifetime, sometime, two things. One is to consider death...to observe skulls and skeletons and to wonder what it will be like to go to sleep and never wake up-never. That is a most gloomy thing for contemplation; it's like manure. Just as manure fertilizes the plants…” quote by Alan Watts
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“Everybody should do in their lifetime, sometime, two things. One is to consider death...to observe skulls and skeletons and to wonder what it will be like to go to sleep and never wake up-never. That is a most gloomy thing for contemplation; it's like manure. Just as manure fertilizes the plants and so on, so the contemplation of death and the acceptance of death is very highly generative of creating life. You'll get wonderful things out of that.”

Alan Watts

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Contemplating death, like manure, fertilizes the mind, fostering creativity and appreciation for life.

In simple terms: Thinking about death can inspire life‑creating ideas.

Key Takeaway

Use mortality to spark purpose.

Themes

mortality creativity acceptance

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

  • personal growth
  • artistic inspiration
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does confronting mortality change your daily choices?
  • What creative projects could arise from this awareness?
A Different Perspective

Ignoring death may lead to complacency.

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