--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear not death for the sooner we die, the…" description: "\"Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/benjamin-franklin-65_death_fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the_2428461.png" --- # Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall… ![“Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/benjamin-franklin-65_death_fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the_2428461.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/benjamin-franklin-65_death_fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the_2428461.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/benjamin-franklin-65_death_fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the_2428461.png) > “Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death is not to be feared; living fully grants a form of immortality through legacy. **In simple terms:** Live fully to be remembered. Key Takeaway Create lasting impact through actions. Themes mortality legacy philosophy life purpose Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal projects - community service - writing - teaching Key Concepts existentialism historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you want to leave? - How can you ensure your impact endures? A Different Perspective Legacy can be fragile and dependent on others’ memory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [Fear not death; for the sooner we die, the longer shall we be immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the-longer-shall-we-be-immortal/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [We should think more about it, and accustom ourselves to the thought of death. We can't allow the fear of death to creep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/we-should-think-more-about-it-and-accustom-ourselves-to-the-thought/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [Man, as long as he lives, is immortal. One minute before his death he shall be immortal. But one minute later, God wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/man-as-long-as-he-lives-is-immortal-one-minute-before-his-death-he/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [If love lives through all life; and survives through all sorrow; and remains steadfast with us through all changes; and in all darkness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/if-love-lives-through-all-life-and-survives-through-all-sorrow-and/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Longevity, for a columnist, is a simple proposition: Once you start, you don't stop. You do it until you die or can no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/longevity-for-a-columnist-is-a-simple-proposition-once-you-start-you/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [“That's what life is all about - you're busy, I'm busy, and the end result is death. Sooner or later, that's what it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xiao-hong/that-s-what-life-is-all-about-you-re-busy-i-m-busy-and-the-end-result/) Xiao Hong > [We start to die when we no longer have the power to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavian-paler/we-start-to-die-when-we-no-longer-have-the-power-to-choose/) [Octavian Paler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavian-paler/) > [The death rate is the same for us as for anybody ... one person, one death, sooner or later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-death-rate-is-the-same-for-us-as-for-anybody-one-person-one-death/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [He kissed back, all the pages spread out around us like riddles waiting to be solved. Let them wait. Let my genes unravel, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/he-kissed-back-all-the-pages-spread-out-around-us-like-riddles/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [To die is nothing. One is here, one is no longer here. It is only at the end one must be able to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/to-die-is-nothing-one-is-here-one-is-no-longer-here-it-is-only-at-the/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Those who give not till they die show that they would not then if they could keep it any longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/those-who-give-not-till-they-die-show-that-they-would-not-then-if/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [“Socrates replied: One thing to me is certain, Antiphon; you have conceived so vivid an idea of my life of misery that for yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophon/socrates-replied-one-thing-to-me-is-certain-antiphon-you-have/) [Xenophon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophon/) > [“As we are enabled to live longer, we are also condemned to die longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-taylor/as-we-are-enabled-to-live-longer-we-are-also-condemned-to-die-longer/) Cory Taylor > [“And the sad truth is, I want to be all those people. I’d sooner die forked a thousand times in that house than wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cantero/and-the-sad-truth-is-i-want-to-be-all-those-people-i-d-sooner-die/) [Edgar Cantero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cantero/) > [“Even if you escaped this place, which is impossible,” Death said, “you would never reach her. I glanced up at Death. “So my plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/even-if-you-escaped-this-place-which-is-impossible-death-said-you/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the-longer-we-shall-be-immortal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the-longer-we-shall-be-immortal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/benjamin-franklin-65_death_fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the_2428461.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/benjamin-franklin-65_death_fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the_2428461.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/benjamin-franklin-65_death_fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the_2428461.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.” — Benjamin Franklin", "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": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fear not death for the sooner...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the-longer-we-shall-be-immortal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/fear-not-death-for-the-sooner-we-die-the-longer-we-shall-be-immortal/#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 } } ] } ```