--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If while alive you hurt or disappoint…" description: "\"If while alive you hurt or disappoint people you love, there's no use continuing such behavior when you're dead.\" — Anthony Swofford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/anthony-swofford-31558_alive_if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-pe_1498926.jpg" --- # If while alive you hurt or disappoint people you love… ![“If while alive you hurt or disappoint people you love, there's no use continuing such behavior when you're dead.” quote by Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/anthony-swofford-31558_alive_if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-pe_1498926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/anthony-swofford-31558_alive_if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-pe_1498926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/anthony-swofford-31558_alive_if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-pe_1498926.jpg) > “If while alive you hurt or disappoint people you love, there's no use continuing such behavior when you're dead.” [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hurting loved ones in life makes continuation after death meaningless. **In simple terms:** Hurt loved ones, life loses meaning. Key Takeaway Treat loved ones kindly. Themes morality relationships legacy Mood somber reflective Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - family life - military service - personal reflection - end‑of‑life Key Concepts ethical behavior family bonds Questions to Reflect On - How will you honor loved ones? - What actions reflect your values? A Different Perspective People may change after death, altering legacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“People could only hurt you and disappoint you if you let them. They only had the power to hurt you if you thought they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/people-could-only-hurt-you-and-disappoint-you-if-you-let-them-they/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [You have no idea what it is like to constantly disappoint people. You see it the moment you meet them. You see in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-have-no-idea-what-it-is-like-to-constantly-disappoint-people-you/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Live long enough and you'll disappoint everyone. People think you're able to help them and usually you can't. And so it becomes a process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/live-long-enough-and-you-ll-disappoint-everyone-people-think-you-re/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [I feel I disappoint people when I am not 'Samantha.' They seem surprised when I don't have the same voice and the same mannerisms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-feel-i-disappoint-people-when-i-am-not-samantha-they-seem-surprised/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [Josie, life is not a Mills and Boon book. People fall out of love. People disappoint other people and they find it very hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/josie-life-is-not-a-mills-and-boon-book-people-fall-out-of-love/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I seem to disappoint people a bit. They want the full regalia - but I don't walk around in a corset the whole time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-seem-to-disappoint-people-a-bit-they-want-the-full-regalia-but-i/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [You're so convinced you'll disappoint people if you show them that you're not perfect. You don't realize you are perfect. Your imperfections are what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-duff/you-re-so-convinced-you-ll-disappoint-people-if-you-show-them-that/) [Hilary Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-duff/) > [I am afraid I shall disappoint people's expectations dreadfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-morgan/i-am-afraid-i-shall-disappoint-people-s-expectations-dreadfully/) [Jude Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-morgan/) > [In my little world, I'm very protected 'cause I'm treated like the idiot I am by my buddies. But, a little bit outside that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/in-my-little-world-i-m-very-protected-cause-i-m-treated-like-the/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [It is better to disappoint people with the truth than to appease them with a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/it-is-better-to-disappoint-people-with-the-truth-than-to-appease-them/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [When you bite off only what you can chew, you're going to disappoint people. Guess what? Not your problem. You're not doing anything wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/when-you-bite-off-only-what-you-can-chew-you-re-going-to-disappoint/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [Any leaders who disappoint the people, ideals and promises by which they were appointed are by definition themselves dis-appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/any-leaders-who-disappoint-the-people-ideals-and-promises-by-which/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [I don't like to disappoint people but people like to disappoint me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-marcellin/i-don-t-like-to-disappoint-people-but-people-like-to-disappoint-me/) [Sam Marcellin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-marcellin/) > [There are people who expect me to look the way I do on-screen, where I have a great director of photography and fantastic lighting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/there-are-people-who-expect-me-to-look-the-way-i-do-on-screen-where-i/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Even when I was Archbishop of Wales and working with new bishops, I used to say, not realising quite how true it was, 'One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/even-when-i-was-archbishop-of-wales-and-working-with-new-bishops-i/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) ## More by Anthony Swofford > [I think the combatant is always burdened with returning and making his way through his past. And that we as citizens have a responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/i-think-the-combatant-is-always-burdened-with-returning-and-making/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [“Some wars are unavoidable and need well be fought, but this doesn't erase warfare's waste. Sorry, we must say to the mothers whose son's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/some-wars-are-unavoidable-and-need-well-be-fought-but-this-doesn-t/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [“During the few months Troy had been back home, he’d told his friends about us, and so we quickly eased into the conversation as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/during-the-few-months-troy-had-been-back-home-he-d-told-his-friends/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [“Was your old man in the war?" "He was in the air force. He built runways." "The fucking air farce. He ever tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/was-your-old-man-in-the-war-he-was-in-the-air-force-he-built-runways/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [My combat action has commenced... I've pissed my pants, but only a little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/my-combat-action-has-commenced-i-ve-pissed-my-pants-but-only-a-little/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [Right now in American writing there is no genre as exciting as memoir - the writer can do anything, as long as it works.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/right-now-in-american-writing-there-is-no-genre-as-exciting-as-memoir/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [“There was no such thing as a private life, all lives were public.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/there-was-no-such-thing-as-a-private-life-all-lives-were-public/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [A story: A man fires a rifle for many years, and he goes to war. And afterward he turns the rifle in at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/a-story-a-man-fires-a-rifle-for-many-years-and-he-goes-to-war-and/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [“Now I often think of the first time I received artillery fire, and the subsequent obliteration of the enemy observation post. I'll never know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/now-i-often-think-of-the-first-time-i-received-artillery-fire-and-the/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [“When you fail, you disgrace yourself and others. When you succeed, be proud and others will be proud for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/when-you-fail-you-disgrace-yourself-and-others-when-you-succeed-be/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [My despair is less despair than boredom and loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/my-despair-is-less-despair-than-boredom-and-loneliness/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [“I have gone to war and now I can issue my complaint. I can sit on my porch and complain all day. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/i-have-gone-to-war-and-now-i-can-issue-my-complaint-i-can-sit-on-my/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [Every war is different. Every war is the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/every-war-is-different-every-war-is-the-same/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [It dosnt matter how many mr. and mrs. johnsons are anti war- the actuall killers who know how to use the weapons are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/it-dosnt-matter-how-many-mr-and-mrs-johnsons-are-anti-war-the-actuall/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) > [It occured to me that we will never be young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/it-occured-to-me-that-we-will-never-be-young-again/) [Anthony Swofford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) [Explore all 16 Anthony Swofford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If while alive you hurt or disappoint people you love, there's no use continuing such behavior when you're dead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Swofford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-people-you-love-there-s-no-use/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-people-you-love-there-s-no-use/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/anthony-swofford-31558_alive_if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-pe_1498926.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/anthony-swofford-31558_alive_if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-pe_1498926.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/anthony-swofford-31558_alive_if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-pe_1498926.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If while alive you hurt or disappoint people you love, there's no use continuing such behavior when you're…” — Anthony Swofford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anthony Swofford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-swofford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If while alive you hurt or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-people-you-love-there-s-no-use/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-swofford/if-while-alive-you-hurt-or-disappoint-people-you-love-there-s-no-use/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```