--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's only Western civilization that, God…" description: "\"It's only Western civilization that, God forbid, you talk about dying, when it's the only thing we know for certain, right? Everyone's going to die, so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/abel-ferrara-13190_about_it-s-only-western-civilization-that-god_1053518.png" --- # It's only Western civilization that, God forbid, you talk… ![“It's only Western civilization that, God forbid, you talk about dying, when it's the only thing we know for certain, right? Everyone's going to die, so what's the big problem? 'Oh, God. Don't talk about it. Don't think about it.' I mean, I'm one of them. I'm not a big fan of talking about dying.” quote by Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/abel-ferrara-13190_about_it-s-only-western-civilization-that-god_1053518.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/abel-ferrara-13190_about_it-s-only-western-civilization-that-god_1053518.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/abel-ferrara-13190_about_it-s-only-western-civilization-that-god_1053518.png) > “It's only Western civilization that, God forbid, you talk about dying, when it's the only thing we know for certain, right? Everyone's going to die, so what's the big problem? 'Oh, God. Don't talk about it. Don't think about it.' I mean, I'm one of them. I'm not a big fan of talking about dying.” [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People avoid confronting mortality, even though death is certain; this denial creates fear and avoidance of meaningful dialogue. **In simple terms:** We often ignore death despite its certainty. Key Takeaway Face mortality to reduce fear. Themes mortality denial existentialism Mood somber thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - end‑of‑life planning - grief counseling - creative storytelling - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does avoiding death affect your life choices? - What can help you talk about mortality openly? A Different Perspective Some find discussing death uncomfortable or taboo. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Big fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-fan/) [Big problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-problem/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fan/) [Forbid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbid/) [Forbid Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbid-talk-2533241/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-die/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Oh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh/) [Oh god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh-god/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk/) [Talk Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-dying-352758/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-dying-2107972/) [The only thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-only-thing/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not a big fan of talking about dying. And then I make a movie where I kill everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-talking-about-dying-and-then-i-make-a-movie/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [I don't know why I've spent over half of My life talking about dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-eisold/i-don-t-know-why-i-ve-spent-over-half-of-my-life-talking-about-dying/) [Wesley Eisold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-eisold/) > [“There are always people talking about it. We’re dying. Suicide is a way to take control of that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-neal/there-are-always-people-talking-about-it-we-re-dying-suicide-is-a-way/) [Toby Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-neal/) > [“I think she cried at my funeral. It's not that I'm conceited or anything, but I'm pretty sure. Sometimes I can actually picture her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-think-she-cried-at-my-funeral-it-s-not-that-i-m-conceited-or/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“When we first started out I had a really big issue and a lot of my loved ones had a really big issue with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/when-we-first-started-out-i-had-a-really-big-issue-and-a-lot-of-my/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [“He's too busy living to talk about dying. -Cara”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/he-s-too-busy-living-to-talk-about-dying-cara/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“I know I'm not supposed to argue with you when you talk about dying. And yes, you could die, Neil. But I could get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-barnette/i-know-i-m-not-supposed-to-argue-with-you-when-you-talk-about-dying/) [Abigail Barnette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-barnette/) > [“Don't talk about dying? You want me to talk about love. They're one and the same, child. One and the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/don-t-talk-about-dying-you-want-me-to-talk-about-love-they-re-one-and/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-you-attempt-to-talk-with-a-dying-man-about-sports-or-business-he/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [In my studio, I forbid people to work if they have a down day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-wanders/in-my-studio-i-forbid-people-to-work-if-they-have-a-down-day/) [Marcel Wanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-wanders/) > [Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/forbid-us-something-and-that-thing-we-desire/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [One must never forbid oneself anything. One must also be able to go back, one must always be able to change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hartung/one-must-never-forbid-oneself-anything-one-must-also-be-able-to-go/) [Hans Hartung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hartung/) > [If a king tries to start a war, a mother should go to him and forbid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/if-a-king-tries-to-start-a-war-a-mother-should-go-to-him-and-forbid-it/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [The Lord forbid that I should be out of debt, as if indeed I could not be trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/the-lord-forbid-that-i-should-be-out-of-debt-as-if-indeed-i-could-not/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [“God forbid, if something happened & she lost him for good, she would give up anything to have him back. Anything & everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-harbison/god-forbid-if-something-happened-she-lost-him-for-good-she-would-give/) [Beth Harbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-harbison/) ## More by Abel Ferrara > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [I grew up in the '60s, which was a creative time, so it wasn't that big of a stretch to go from a baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-grew-up-in-the-60s-which-was-a-creative-time-so-it-wasn-t-that-big/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [Certain actors wanna get paid, they think working in a low-budget movie is being ripped off. But for others it's like, 'Yes, let's do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/certain-actors-wanna-get-paid-they-think-working-in-a-low-budget/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [Movies are only the result of where we are as human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/movies-are-only-the-result-of-where-we-are-as-human-beings/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [I don't have a problem with Werner Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-werner-herzog/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [There's no such thing as a non-final cut director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-non-final-cut-director/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [I'm a lapsed Buddhist like I'm a lapsed Catholic. I take it to a point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-m-a-lapsed-buddhist-like-i-m-a-lapsed-catholic-i-take-it-to-a-point/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [I come from a world where you get the film done, that's a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-come-from-a-world-where-you-get-the-film-done-that-s-a-success/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [The secret is not to make a film that causes something like Virginia Tech to happen. The secret is to make a film that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/the-secret-is-not-to-make-a-film-that-causes-something-like-virginia/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [The world is constantly changing. You're constantly learning and you have to be willing to get off your mark, and get off your spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/the-world-is-constantly-changing-you-re-constantly-learning-and-you/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [I don't need to push myself. I don't need to sharpen my own knife and slit my throat. I'm trying to chill it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-don-t-need-to-push-myself-i-don-t-need-to-sharpen-my-own-knife-and/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [I grew up in the Bronx. I'm into rap music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-grew-up-in-the-bronx-i-m-into-rap-music/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [A lifetime isn't long enough to learn how to make films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/a-lifetime-isn-t-long-enough-to-learn-how-to-make-films/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [The actors that I love to work with, they're hard on me. They're pushing me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/the-actors-that-i-love-to-work-with-they-re-hard-on-me-they-re/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [A script is not a piece of literature it's a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/a-script-is-not-a-piece-of-literature-it-s-a-process/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) [Explore all 51 Abel Ferrara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's only Western civilization that, God forbid, you talk about dying, when it's the only thing we know for certain, right? Everyone's going to die, so what's the big problem? 'Oh, God. Don't talk about it. Don't think about it.' I mean, I'm one of them. 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