--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life found itself alive and somehow knew…" description: "\"Life found itself alive and somehow knew its opposite was death. We are ever being born, or dying, and the thrill of choosing is ours. Only once, must ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/calvin-miller-17377_adventure_life-found-itself-alive-and-somehow-knew_2042291.jpg" --- # Life found itself alive and somehow knew its opposite was… ![“Life found itself alive and somehow knew its opposite was death. We are ever being born, or dying, and the thrill of choosing is ours. Only once, must we be born without our own consent. Only once, must we die without our own permission” quote by Calvin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/calvin-miller-17377_adventure_life-found-itself-alive-and-somehow-knew_2042291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/calvin-miller-17377_adventure_life-found-itself-alive-and-somehow-knew_2042291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/calvin-miller-17377_adventure_life-found-itself-alive-and-somehow-knew_2042291.jpg) > “Life found itself alive and somehow knew its opposite was death. We are ever being born, or dying, and the thrill of choosing is ours. Only once, must we be born without our own consent. Only once, must we die without our own permission” [Calvin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the paradox of existence, emphasizing that life and death are intertwined opposites, and that we have agency in choosing how to live, though birth and death themselves are beyond our control. **In simple terms:** Life and death are opposites; we choose how to live, but birth and death happen without consent. Key Takeaway Embrace agency in living while accepting inevitable birth and death. Themes existence choice paradox agency mortality Mood contemplative reflective thoughtful Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - personal growth - decision making - accepting mortality - living authentically Key Concepts philosophy existentialism free will Questions to Reflect On - How do you exercise choice within life's constraints? - What does it mean to live authentically knowing death is inevitable? A Different Perspective Birth and death are inevitable, limiting the scope of true choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Thrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrill/) ## Related quotes > [ Tam Lin says rabbits give up when they're caught by coyotes \[...\]. He says they consent to die because their animals and can't understand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/tam-lin-says-rabbits-give-up-when-they-re-caught-by-coyotes-he-says/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“The death is born when life is born. 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