--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as a man stays alive he can't…" description: "\"As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances will pop up next. But a dead man signs no checks.\" — Bernard Malamud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/bernard-malamud-3871_alive_as-long-as-a-man-stays-alive-he-can-t-te_572294.jpg" --- # As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances… ![“As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances will pop up next. But a dead man signs no checks.” quote by Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/bernard-malamud-3871_alive_as-long-as-a-man-stays-alive-he-can-t-te_572294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/bernard-malamud-3871_alive_as-long-as-a-man-stays-alive-he-can-t-te_572294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/bernard-malamud-3871_alive_as-long-as-a-man-stays-alive-he-can-t-te_572294.jpg) > “As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances will pop up next. But a dead man signs no checks.” [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is unpredictable; the living can never know future opportunities, while the dead are beyond all chances. **In simple terms:** Life is uncertain; the dead miss out on chances. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and act while alive. Themes uncertainty mortality opportunity life death Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - investment decisions - personal relationships - risk taking Key Concepts existentialism chance fate Questions to Reflect On - What chance will you take today? - How do you cope with uncertainty? A Different Perspective Death is final; living offers possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Dead man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Staying alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying-alive/) ## Related quotes > [A man stays alive as long as he is remembered. He is killed only by forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-basehart/a-man-stays-alive-as-long-as-he-is-remembered-he-is-killed-only-by/) Richard Basehart > [As long as hope remains and meaning is preserved, the possibility of overcoming oppression stays alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/as-long-as-hope-remains-and-meaning-is-preserved-the-possibility-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Tragedy stays alive by feeling what's been done to us, while peace comes alive by living with the results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/tragedy-stays-alive-by-feeling-what-s-been-done-to-us-while-peace/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [The culture stays alive, but certain parts of it die or fail, and that's very interesting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-mcgrath/the-culture-stays-alive-but-certain-parts-of-it-die-or-fail-and-that/) [Campbell McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-mcgrath/) > [If you end your story, it's a static work of art, a finite circle. But if you don't, it belongs to anyone's imagination. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/if-you-end-your-story-it-s-a-static-work-of-art-a-finite-circle-but/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [What I'm after is that wakeful state through language that stays alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/what-i-m-after-is-that-wakeful-state-through-language-that-stays-alive/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) > [One wants to live, of course, indeed one only stays alive by virtue of the fear of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/one-wants-to-live-of-course-indeed-one-only-stays-alive-by-virtue-of-3/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Dad always said, “Never embarrass the man who signs your paycheck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcmillian-moody/dad-always-said-never-embarrass-the-man-who-signs-your-paycheck/) [McMillian Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcmillian-moody/) > [The marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading "Keep Off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/the-marvelous-rebellion-of-man-at-all-signs-reading-keep-off/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [My uncle out in Texas Can't even write his name He signs his checks with Xs But they cash 'em just the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/my-uncle-out-in-texas-can-t-even-write-his-name-he-signs-his-checks/) [Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/) > [“of Emery’s attitude,” he complained as they left the building. “Does he know who signs the checks? I’ve been thinking of replacing him anyway.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-james/of-emery-s-attitude-he-complained-as-they-left-the-building-does-he/) [Rosalind James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-james/) > [The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-the-checks/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“maybe the first man you spend Valentine’s Day with will be the man who stays.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-turner/maybe-the-first-man-you-spend-valentine-s-day-with-will-be-the-man/) Twyla Turner > [The 'expert' is the man who stays put.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-expert-is-the-man-who-stays-put/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [“The way law stays alive is by remaining in touch with social contracts pieced together among real people on the ground.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernando-de-soto/the-way-law-stays-alive-is-by-remaining-in-touch-with-social/) Hernando de Soto ## More by Bernard Malamud > [Writers who can't invent stories often substitute style for narrative. They remind me of the painter who couldn't paint people, so he painted chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/writers-who-can-t-invent-stories-often-substitute-style-for-narrative/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [We have two lives... the life we learn with and the life we live after that. Suffering is what brings us towards happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/we-have-two-lives-the-life-we-learn-with-and-the-life-we-live-after/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Leo hurried up to bed and hid under the covers. Under the covers he thought his life through. Although he soon fell asleep he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/leo-hurried-up-to-bed-and-hid-under-the-covers-under-the-covers-he/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [You can't eat language but it eases thirst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/you-can-t-eat-language-but-it-eases-thirst/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [First drafts are for learning what your novel or story is about. Revision is working with that knowledge to enlarge and enhance an idea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/first-drafts-are-for-learning-what-your-novel-or-story-is-about/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write for all men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-for-all-men/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Her face deeply moved him. Why, he could at first not say. It gave him the impression of youth--spring flowers, yet age--a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/her-face-deeply-moved-him-why-he-could-at-first-not-say-it-gave-him/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [I am somewhat of a meliorist. That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-am-somewhat-of-a-meliorist-that-is-to-say-i-act-as-an-optimist/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [Teach yourself to work in uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/teach-yourself-to-work-in-uncertainty/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [One's fantasy goes for a walk and returns with a bride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/one-s-fantasy-goes-for-a-walk-and-returns-with-a-bride/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [The great thing about writing: Stay with it ... ultimately you teach yourself something very important about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/the-great-thing-about-writing-stay-with-it-ultimately-you-teach/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [We didn't starve, but we didn't eat chicken unless we were sick, or the chicken was](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/we-didn-t-starve-but-we-didn-t-eat-chicken-unless-we-were-sick-or-the/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“So sleep now, without fear for your life, and if you should ever manage to get out of prison, keep in mind that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/so-sleep-now-without-fear-for-your-life-and-if-you-should-ever-manage/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [Children were strangers you loved because you could love. If they gave back love when they were grown you were ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/children-were-strangers-you-loved-because-you-could-love-if-they-gave/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Experience makes good people better." She was staring at the lake. "How does it do that?" "Through their suffering." "I had enough of that,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/experience-makes-good-people-better-she-was-staring-at-the-lake-how/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) [Explore all 114 Bernard Malamud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) ## 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": "As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances will pop up next. 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