--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I [prefer] a short life with width to a…" description: "\"I [prefer] a short life with width to a narrow one with length.\" — Avicenna" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/avicenna-19211_length_i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-na_1611059.png" --- # I \[prefer\] a short life with width to a narrow one with… ![“I [prefer] a short life with width to a narrow one with length.” quote by Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/avicenna-19211_length_i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-na_1611059.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/avicenna-19211_length_i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-na_1611059.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/avicenna-19211_length_i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-na_1611059.png) > “I \[prefer\] a short life with width to a narrow one with length.” [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates a life rich in diverse experiences over a long, narrow one **In simple terms:** Prefer breadth of experience to length of life Key Takeaway Seek varied experiences and relationships Themes philosophy life balance humanism Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - traveling - learning new languages - cultivating friendships Key Concepts existential meaning personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What does “width” mean to you personally? - How can you integrate depth within a broad life? A Different Perspective May sacrifice depth for breadth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Length](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/length/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Narrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrow/) [Narrow Length](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrow-length-2755981/) [Prefer Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-short-4707665/) [Short life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-life/) [Width](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/width/) [Width Narrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/width-narrow-2755980/) ## Related quotes > [“I would rather have a short life with width rather than a narrow one with length.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/i-would-rather-have-a-short-life-with-width-rather-than-a-narrow-one/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [Prefer the familiar word to the far-fetched. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract. Prefer the single word to the circumlocution. Prefer the short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-the-familiar-word-to-the-far-fetched-prefer-the-concrete-word/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Width of life is more important than length of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/width-of-life-is-more-important-than-length-of-life/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [“The volume of your impacts is measured by the direction of your movements, the passion with which you inspire and the attitudes by which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-volume-of-your-impacts-is-measured-by-the-direction-of-your/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Arsenal's width comes from wide areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-redknapp/arsenal-s-width-comes-from-wide-areas/) [Jamie Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-redknapp/) > [God's love has a width, length, height, and depth, but we will never reach the end of it. Our capacity to experience God's love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-has-a-width-length-height-and-depth-but-we-will-never/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I wonder how many marriages are fractured and damaged beyond repair by complacency rather than any single traumatic event. One day you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-garvis-graves/i-wonder-how-many-marriages-are-fractured-and-damaged-beyond-repair/) [Tracey Garvis-Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-garvis-graves/) > [“I’m relieved to see that even brilliant physicists make mistakes.” Kohler looked over. “What do you mean?” “Whoever wrote that note made a mistake.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-m-relieved-to-see-that-even-brilliant-physicists-make-mistakes/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [Psychiatry is all biological and all social. There is no mental function without brain and social context. To ask how much of mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-eisenberg/psychiatry-is-all-biological-and-all-social-there-is-no-mental/) [Leon Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-eisenberg/) > [Lay a beam between these two towers of such width as we need to walk on: there is no philosophical wisdom of such great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lay-a-beam-between-these-two-towers-of-such-width-as-we-need-to-walk/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [People who believe the earth was created 6000 years ago, when it's actually 4.5 billion years old, should also believe the width of North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-believe-the-earth-was-created-6000-years-ago-when-it-s/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The other day, I was walking my dog around my building . . . on the ledge. Some people are afraid of heights. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/the-other-day-i-was-walking-my-dog-around-my-building-on-the-ledge/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Moon, worn thin to the width of a quill,/ In the dawn clouds flying,/ How good to go, light into light, and still/ Giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/moon-worn-thin-to-the-width-of-a-quill-in-the-dawn-clouds-flying-how/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [The width of a line may present the idea of infinity. An epigram may contain a world. In the same way, a small picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-width-of-a-line-may-present-the-idea-of-infinity-an-epigram-may/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [Descriptive geometry has two objects: the first is to establish methods to represent on drawing paper which has only two dimensions,-namely, length and width,-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaspard-monge/descriptive-geometry-has-two-objects-the-first-is-to-establish/) [Gaspard Monge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaspard-monge/) ## More by Avicenna > [The world is divided into men who have wit and no religion and men who have religion and no wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/the-world-is-divided-into-men-who-have-wit-and-no-religion-and-men/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [Leeches should be kept a day before applying them. They should be squeezed to make them eject the contents of their stomachs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/leeches-should-be-kept-a-day-before-applying-them-they-should-be/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [The different sorts of madness are innumerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/the-different-sorts-of-madness-are-innumerable/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [Pain is a sensation produced by something contrary to the course of nature and this sensation is set up by one of two circumstances:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/pain-is-a-sensation-produced-by-something-contrary-to-the-course-of/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [Those who deny the first principle should be flogged or burned until they admit that it is not the same thing to be burned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/those-who-deny-the-first-principle-should-be-flogged-or-burned-until/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [But the fact is that when wine is taken in moderation, it gives rise to a large amount of breath, whose character is balanced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/but-the-fact-is-that-when-wine-is-taken-in-moderation-it-gives-rise/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [ Pure earth does not petrify, because the predominance of dryness over \[i.e. in\] the earth endows it not with coherence but rather with crumbliness.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/pure-earth-does-not-petrify-because-the-predominance-of-dryness-over/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [In God alone, essence (what He is) and existence (that he is) coincide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/in-god-alone-essence-what-he-is-and-existence-that-he-is-coincide/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [It is in the nature of water ... to become transformed into earth through a predominating earthy virtue; ... it is in the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/it-is-in-the-nature-of-water-to-become-transformed-into-earth-through/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [“Anyone who denies the law of non-contradiction should be beaten and burned until he admits that to be beaten is not the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/anyone-who-denies-the-law-of-non-contradiction-should-be-beaten-and/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [“I would rather have a short life with width rather than a narrow one with length.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/i-would-rather-have-a-short-life-with-width-rather-than-a-narrow-one/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [The theory of medicine, therefore, presents what is useful in thought, but does not indicate how it is to be applied in practice-the mode…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/the-theory-of-medicine-therefore-presents-what-is-useful-in-thought/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [Therefore in medicine we ought to know the causes of sickness and health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/therefore-in-medicine-we-ought-to-know-the-causes-of-sickness-and/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [ Mountains have been formed by one \[or other\] of the causes of the formation of stone, most probably from agglutinative clay which slowly dried… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/mountains-have-been-formed-by-one-or-other-of-the-causes-of-the/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [A horse is simply a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/a-horse-is-simply-a-horse/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) [Explore all 33 Avicenna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) ## More Length quotes > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The length of the journey has to be borne with, for every moment is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-length-of-the-journey-has-to-be-borne-with-for-every-moment-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/) [Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/) > [A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/a-city-is-not-gauged-by-its-length-and-width-but-by-the-broadness-of/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [“It is not the length of life, but the depth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-not-the-length-of-life-but-the-depth/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When the idea came up, (Newman's Own) I said, "Are you crazy? Stick my face on the label of salad dressing?" And then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-the-idea-came-up-newman-s-own-i-said-are-you-crazy-stick-my-face/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [With a cigar like in life, you got to have some length, and some girth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-hughley/with-a-cigar-like-in-life-you-got-to-have-some-length-and-some-girth/) [D. L. Hughley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-hughley/) > [You are only as invincible as your smallest weakness, and those are tiny indeed - the length of a sleeping baby's eyelash, the span…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-are-only-as-invincible-as-your-smallest-weakness-and-those-are/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The anger I felt when the ACLU tried to disenfranchise me because my religious stayed with me. These are dangerous people who make dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hyde/the-anger-i-felt-when-the-aclu-tried-to-disenfranchise-me-because-my/) [Henry Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hyde/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/any-man-who-can-hitch-the-length-and-breadth-of-the-galaxy-rough-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Ambition devours gold and drinks blood and climbs so high by other men's heads, that at the length in the fall, it breaks its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/ambition-devours-gold-and-drinks-blood-and-climbs-so-high-by-other/) [Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/) > [All your names I and my friend approve of or nearly all as to sense & expression, but I am frightened by their length…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faraday/all-your-names-i-and-my-friend-approve-of-or-nearly-all-as-to-sense/) [Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faraday/) > [The only pressure is the pressure I put on myself, that's up to be I guess to mitigate that. I think there's always pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/the-only-pressure-is-the-pressure-i-put-on-myself-that-s-up-to-be-i/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I would wear a full-length cape if I could get away with it - I do love a good swirl in a fog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-would-wear-a-full-length-cape-if-i-could-get-away-with-it-i-do-love/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) [Browse all 1,142 Length quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/length/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I [prefer] a short life with width to a narrow one with length.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Avicenna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-narrow-one-with-length/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Length" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-narrow-one-with-length/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/avicenna-19211_length_i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-na_1611059.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/avicenna-19211_length_i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-na_1611059.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/avicenna-19211_length_i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-na_1611059.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I [prefer] a short life with width to a narrow one with length.” — Avicenna", "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": "Avicenna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I [prefer] a short life with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-narrow-one-with-length/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/i-prefer-a-short-life-with-width-to-a-narrow-one-with-length/#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 } } ] } ```