--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's a fire, I want to be there…" description: "\"If there's a fire, I want to be there. Maybe because in being so close to death, I think I understand what it means to be truly alive.\" — Caroline Paul" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/caroline-paul-33329_alive_if-there-s-a-fire-i-want-to-be-there-may_3027753.jpg" --- # If there's a fire, I want to be there. Maybe because in… ![“If there's a fire, I want to be there. Maybe because in being so close to death, I think I understand what it means to be truly alive.” quote by Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/caroline-paul-33329_alive_if-there-s-a-fire-i-want-to-be-there-may_3027753.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/caroline-paul-33329_alive_if-there-s-a-fire-i-want-to-be-there-may_3027753.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/caroline-paul-33329_alive_if-there-s-a-fire-i-want-to-be-there-may_3027753.jpg) > “If there's a fire, I want to be there. Maybe because in being so close to death, I think I understand what it means to be truly alive.” [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being close to death gives a profound sense of truly feeling alive. **In simple terms:** Near-death experiences heighten feeling of aliveness. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that deepen appreciation of life. Themes existence mortality awareness Mood introspective alive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - adventure sports - spiritual retreats - personal storytelling Key Concepts near-death experience life appreciation existential reflection Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting mortality change priorities? - What safe ways can you explore this feeling? A Different Perspective Such experiences can be dangerous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close/) [Close to death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-to-death/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-think/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Maybe Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-close-3461525/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly/) [Truly Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-alive-233018/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-maybe-490371/) ## Related quotes > [I totally have this thing for Harry Styles from One Direction. But, like, I could totally date the rest of the band as one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-steele/i-totally-have-this-thing-for-harry-styles-from-one-direction-but/) [Cassie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-steele/) > [Without awareness, we are not truly alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-awareness-we-are-not-truly-alive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know you are truly alive when youre living among lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-you-are-truly-alive-when-youre-living-among-lions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You know you are truly alive, when you care for every living thing. One day soon, it will be the norm to view others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/you-know-you-are-truly-alive-when-you-care-for-every-living-thing-one/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [When you are present, the world is truly alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-you-are-present-the-world-is-truly-alive/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [When we love anyone with our whole hearts, life begins when we are with that person; it is only in their company that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/when-we-love-anyone-with-our-whole-hearts-life-begins-when-we-are/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [“The secret is that only that which can destroy itself is truly alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/the-secret-is-that-only-that-which-can-destroy-itself-is-truly-alive/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [Art is what we do when we're truly alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/art-is-what-we-do-when-we-re-truly-alive/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“If your life is not an adventure then you are not truly alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/if-your-life-is-not-an-adventure-then-you-are-not-truly-alive/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/the-miracle-is-not-to-walk-on-water-the-miracle-is-to-walk-on-the/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“The truly alive soul is tremblingly alive to the feelings of humanity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-temple/the-truly-alive-soul-is-tremblingly-alive-to-the-feelings-of-humanity/) [Charlotte Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-temple/) > [The symphonic sounds of nature awaken every cell in my body and, in that moment, without a doubt, I am truly alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/the-symphonic-sounds-of-nature-awaken-every-cell-in-my-body-and-in/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [To be truly alive is to feel one's ultimate existence within one's daily existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-wiman/to-be-truly-alive-is-to-feel-one-s-ultimate-existence-within-one-s/) [Christian Wiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-wiman/) > [It is only when I am doing my work that I feel truly alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/it-is-only-when-i-am-doing-my-work-that-i-feel-truly-alive/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [I understand that it is not when or how you die but how and if you truly were ever alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerri-nielsen/i-understand-that-it-is-not-when-or-how-you-die-but-how-and-if-you/) [Jerri Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerri-nielsen/) ## More by Caroline Paul > [I think as humans we do want to control our relationships, and you can't. It's probably better that you can't. That wouldn't be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/i-think-as-humans-we-do-want-to-control-our-relationships-and-you-can/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [Cats are the slipperiest of domestic animals. Thousands of years of genetic coding has taught them to melt into azaleas, lie motionless behind garden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/cats-are-the-slipperiest-of-domestic-animals-thousands-of-years-of/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [I don't think that we really know our animals. We think we do because we're humans, and we think we can control things like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-our-animals-we-think-we-do-because/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [I'm not a big eater. I'm a terrible cook, and so I don't cook for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/i-m-not-a-big-eater-i-m-a-terrible-cook-and-so-i-don-t-cook-for-myself/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [Fire taps something ancient and vital in each of us, something both snarling and reverential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/fire-taps-something-ancient-and-vital-in-each-of-us-something-both/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [It's hard in the firehouse to avoid the dessert thing. At 3 in the morning after some emergency, I have been known to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/it-s-hard-in-the-firehouse-to-avoid-the-dessert-thing-at-3-in-the/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [In a fire, you have to be thoughtful; you have to have a certain kind of intuitive smarts that the veterans have. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/in-a-fire-you-have-to-be-thoughtful-you-have-to-have-a-certain-kind/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [You can never know anyone as completely as you want. But that’s okay, love is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/you-can-never-know-anyone-as-completely-as-you-want-but-that-s-okay/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [GPS works great. I recommend it for all cat owners who want to know what their cats do when they're not there, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/gps-works-great-i-recommend-it-for-all-cat-owners-who-want-to-know/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [Wasn't growing catnip in one's yard the kitty equivalent of giving candy to children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/wasn-t-growing-catnip-in-one-s-yard-the-kitty-equivalent-of-giving/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [Most people go to the office and sit at a desk. When firefighters go to the office, we might birth a baby in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/most-people-go-to-the-office-and-sit-at-a-desk-when-firefighters-go/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [I should really be lifting only five days. I'm sort of obsessed, and I end up going in six, sometimes seven, and that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/i-should-really-be-lifting-only-five-days-i-m-sort-of-obsessed-and-i/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [Its hard in the firehouse to avoid the dessert thing. At 3 in the morning after some emergency, I have been known to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/its-hard-in-the-firehouse-to-avoid-the-dessert-thing-at-3-in-the/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) > [“When you have cat stealers over for tea, you clean the house, buy bagels and cream cheese, and try to figure out how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-paul/when-you-have-cat-stealers-over-for-tea-you-clean-the-house-buy/) [Caroline Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) [Explore all 15 Caroline Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-paul/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 there's a fire, I want to be there. 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