--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man may live and man may die searching…" description: "\"Man may live and man may die searching for the question why. But if he tries to rule the sky, he must fall.\" — Cat Stevens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/cat-stevens-2683_dies_man-may-live-and-man-may-die-searching-f_646627.png" --- # Man may live and man may die searching for the question… ![“Man may live and man may die searching for the question why. But if he tries to rule the sky, he must fall.” quote by Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/cat-stevens-2683_dies_man-may-live-and-man-may-die-searching-f_646627.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/cat-stevens-2683_dies_man-may-live-and-man-may-die-searching-f_646627.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/cat-stevens-2683_dies_man-may-live-and-man-may-die-searching-f_646627.png) > “Man may live and man may die searching for the question why. But if he tries to rule the sky, he must fall.” [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human curiosity drives us to seek meaning, but attempting to dominate nature leads to downfall. **In simple terms:** Seeking meaning is noble; trying to control nature fails. Key Takeaway Balance curiosity with humility toward nature. Themes curiosity humility nature ambition Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - scientific research - political power - personal growth - spiritual quest Key Concepts existentialism environmental ethics Questions to Reflect On - What limits should we accept when exploring? - How can humility guide scientific progress? A Different Perspective Human ambition often ignores ecological limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Die Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-searching-5180864/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Live Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-man-514946/) [Man Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-live-256710/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Rule Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-sky-5180865/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Sky Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky-fall-281539/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [There is a land where a man, to live, must be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bell-wright/there-is-a-land-where-a-man-to-live-must-be-a-man/) [Harold Bell Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bell-wright/) > [any live man is better than any dead man but no live or dead man is very much better than any other live or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/any-live-man-is-better-than-any-dead-man-but-no-live-or-dead-man-is/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [You can never have too much sky . You can fall asleep and wake up drunk on sky, and sky can keep you safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/you-can-never-have-too-much-sky-you-can-fall-asleep-and-wake-up-drunk/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [A man afraid of death will never play the part of a live man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-man-afraid-of-death-will-never-play-the-part-of-a-live-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I'm more of a 5 Live man. But I might listen to a bit of Coldplay or The Smiths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/i-m-more-of-a-5-live-man-but-i-might-listen-to-a-bit-of-coldplay-or/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [“It is possible for God to live in a man and for the man to still be useless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-possible-for-god-to-live-in-a-man-and-for-the-man-to-still-be/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“For the first time I had the best of both worlds--a mission to live for and a man to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rie-warren/for-the-first-time-i-had-the-best-of-both-worlds-a-mission-to-live/) [Rie Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rie-warren/) > [Live as a man. Die as a man. Become a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enson-inoue/live-as-a-man-die-as-a-man-become-a-man/) [Enson Inoue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enson-inoue/) > [To live by one man's will becomes the cause of all misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hooker/to-live-by-one-man-s-will-becomes-the-cause-of-all-misery/) [Richard Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hooker/) > [In order to live man must believe in that for which he lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/in-order-to-live-man-must-believe-in-that-for-which-he-lives/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [I always wanted to live a man's life in a woman's body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-always-wanted-to-live-a-man-s-life-in-a-woman-s-body/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [You may live to see man-made horrors beyond your comprehension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/you-may-live-to-see-man-made-horrors-beyond-your-comprehension/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Live with a man forty years. Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then tie him up and hold him over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-with-a-man-forty-years-share-his-house-his-meals-speak-on-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To live, a man needs food, water, and a sharp mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-zamperini/to-live-a-man-needs-food-water-and-a-sharp-mind/) [Louis Zamperini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-zamperini/) > [I have matured with the realization that I can live without a man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-turner/i-have-matured-with-the-realization-that-i-can-live-without-a-man/) [Lana Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-turner/) ## More by Cat Stevens > [The spiritual quest was always the predominant aspect of my life. It's always been there. But there's also an incredible passion connected to it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/the-spiritual-quest-was-always-the-predominant-aspect-of-my-life-it-s/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Music is part of God's universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/music-is-part-of-god-s-universe/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/some-extremists-take-elements-of-the-sacred-scriptures-out-of-context/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Knowledge is a thing you can carry around with you, but you may not apply it. Some knowledge is indiscriminate, and it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/knowledge-is-a-thing-you-can-carry-around-with-you-but-you-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [A person who steals bread during a famine is not treated as a thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/a-person-who-steals-bread-during-a-famine-is-not-treated-as-a-thief/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Don't you feel a change a coming From another side of time, Breaking down the walls of silence, Lifting shadows from your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/don-t-you-feel-a-change-a-coming-from-another-side-of-time-breaking/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I suppose that the media and their portrayal of Islam and the almost tribal separations and divisions of the Muslims are the greatest issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-the-media-and-their-portrayal-of-islam-and-the-almost/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [“You will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/you-will-still-be-here-tomorrow-but-your-dreams-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [There is a powerful need for people to feel that gust of hope rise up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/there-is-a-powerful-need-for-people-to-feel-that-gust-of-hope-rise-up/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [And if my mind breaks up In all so many ways I know the meaning of The words, "I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/and-if-my-mind-breaks-up-in-all-so-many-ways-i-know-the-meaning-of/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Find a girl, settle down, If you want you can marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/find-a-girl-settle-down-if-you-want-you-can-marry/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Oh I can't keep it in; I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out I've got to show the world; world's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/oh-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-ve-gotta-let-it-out-i-ve/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I never thought I'd be on the same stage as Kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-same-stage-as-kiss/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Miles from nowhere. Guess I'll take my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/miles-from-nowhere-guess-i-ll-take-my-time/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Sun is the reason And the world it will bloom 'Cause sun lights the sky And the sun lights the moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/sun-is-the-reason-and-the-world-it-will-bloom-cause-sun-lights-the/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) [Explore all 155 Cat Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## More Dies quotes > [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'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Don't even think for a moment that you are not going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/don-t-even-think-for-a-moment-that-you-are-not-going-to-die/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [“When he stops giving you butterflies, Love dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-blanchard/when-he-stops-giving-you-butterflies-love-dies/) [Michelle Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-blanchard/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [I don't want to just die a normal death, I wanna be killed twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-don-t-want-to-just-die-a-normal-death-i-wanna-be-killed-twice/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [My father thrives on fear. You know that prayer If I should die before I wake? I had sheets that said that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/my-father-thrives-on-fear-you-know-that-prayer-if-i-should-die-before/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) [Browse all 7,484 Dies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man may live and man may die searching for the question why. 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