--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the dead fail to reach out with both…" description: "\"Only the dead fail to reach out with both hands.\" — Christine de Pizan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/christine-de-pizan-13257_dead_only-the-dead-fail-to-reach-out-with-bot_2550536.png" --- # Only the dead fail to reach out with both hands. ![“Only the dead fail to reach out with both hands.” quote by Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/christine-de-pizan-13257_dead_only-the-dead-fail-to-reach-out-with-bot_2550536.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/christine-de-pizan-13257_dead_only-the-dead-fail-to-reach-out-with-bot_2550536.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/christine-de-pizan-13257_dead_only-the-dead-fail-to-reach-out-with-bot_2550536.png) > “Only the dead fail to reach out with both hands.” [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only the dead are unable to reach out; the living must act to help others **In simple terms:** The dead cannot help; the living must reach out Key Takeaway Reach out to help others Themes compassion action humanity Mood empathetic hopeful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - family support - community aid Key Concepts altruism social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you extend a hand to those in need? - What prevents you from reaching out? A Different Perspective Some may be unable to help despite good intentions ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-fail-1517074/) [Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) [Fail Reach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-reach-1517075/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Reach Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach-hands-674286/) [Reach out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach-out/) ## Related quotes > [“We have to live like people in a web of knives, we mustn't reach out our hands or we get them gashed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/we-have-to-live-like-people-in-a-web-of-knives-we-mustn-t-reach-out/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [I don't like to set myself goals because then you might fail to reach them. I just go with the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-butterfield/i-don-t-like-to-set-myself-goals-because-then-you-might-fail-to-reach/) [Asa Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-butterfield/) > [“The reason people fail to reach their goals is because they give up too early. They don't understand that most successes are built upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-reason-people-fail-to-reach-their-goals-is-because-they-give-up/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“One of the main reasons people fail to reach their full potential is because they are unwilling to risk anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/one-of-the-main-reasons-people-fail-to-reach-their-full-potential-is/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The danger is not to set your goal too high and fail to reach it. It’s to set your goal too low and reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/the-danger-is-not-to-set-your-goal-too-high-and-fail-to-reach-it-it-s/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Always aim for the sky, for if you fail, at least you can reach the clouds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-aim-for-the-sky-for-if-you-fail-at-least-you-can-reach-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If we do not reach our hands will always be empty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/if-we-do-not-reach-our-hands-will-always-be-empty/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [we reach with our hands and brush away the clouds and pierce the sky to reach the moon and Mars but we still can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/we-reach-with-our-hands-and-brush-away-the-clouds-and-pierce-the-sky/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) > [“Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it runs by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/let-a-joy-keep-you-reach-out-your-hands-and-take-it-runs-by/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [“taught me it’s that life is short, and if you want something, you have to reach out with both hands and grip it tightly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-aurora/taught-me-it-s-that-life-is-short-and-if-you-want-something-you-have/) [Belle Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-aurora/) > [Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/let-a-joy-keep-you-reach-out-your-hands-and-take-it-when-it-runs-by/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [“That's it. I've had enough of this talking crap. I reach my hands up. I cup his chin and bring his mouth to mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-doughton/that-s-it-i-ve-had-enough-of-this-talking-crap-i-reach-my-hands-up-i/) [Autumn Doughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-doughton/) > [“You observe: You reach your hands Into people, and you Rummage without taking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-ryan/you-observe-you-reach-your-hands-into-people-and-you-rummage-without/) [Lorne Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-ryan/) > [Now that I've tried to talk to you and make you understand, all you have to do is your eyes and just reach your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/extreme/now-that-i-ve-tried-to-talk-to-you-and-make-you-understand-all-you/) [Extreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/extreme/) > [“We are not all called to be great. But we are all called to reach out our hands to our brothers and sisters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-are-not-all-called-to-be-great-but-we-are-all-called-to-reach-out/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) ## More by Christine de Pizan > [Men who have slandered the opposite sex have usually known women who were cleverer and more virtuous than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/men-who-have-slandered-the-opposite-sex-have-usually-known-women-who/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“We've never heard About a marvel quite so great, For all the heroes who have lived In history can't measure up In bravery against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/we-ve-never-heard-about-a-marvel-quite-so-great-for-all-the-heroes/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [The foolish rush to end their lives. Only the steadfast soul survives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/the-foolish-rush-to-end-their-lives-only-the-steadfast-soul-survives/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [Does a rake deserve to possess anything of worth, since he chases everything in skirts and then imagines he can successfully hide his shame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/does-a-rake-deserve-to-possess-anything-of-worth-since-he-chases/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [If you would reflect well and wisely, you would realize that those events you regard as personal misfortunes have served a useful purpose even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/if-you-would-reflect-well-and-wisely-you-would-realize-that-those/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [Those who plead their cause in the absence of an opponent can invent to their heart's content, can pontificate without taking into account the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/those-who-plead-their-cause-in-the-absence-of-an-opponent-can-invent/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“For this reason, it is well said that misfortune is sometimes good for something, for it teaches at the same time that it hurts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/for-this-reason-it-is-well-said-that-misfortune-is-sometimes-good-for/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“These are my habits and the way I spend my life: studying literature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/these-are-my-habits-and-the-way-i-spend-my-life-studying-literature/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“Oh! What honour for the female sex! It is perfectly obvious that God has special regard for it when all these wretched people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/oh-what-honour-for-the-female-sex-it-is-perfectly-obvious-that-god/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [there is no fire without smoke but there is often smoke without fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/there-is-no-fire-without-smoke-but-there-is-often-smoke-without-fire/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“Speak gently but look out for your rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/speak-gently-but-look-out-for-your-rights/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [Not all men (and especially the wisest) share the opinion that it is bad for women to be educated. But it is very true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/not-all-men-and-especially-the-wisest-share-the-opinion-that-it-is/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“Similarly, Medusa (or Gorgon) was celebrated for her outstanding beauty. She was a daughter of the very wealthy king Phorcys whose large kingdom was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/similarly-medusa-or-gorgon-was-celebrated-for-her-outstanding-beauty/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [How many women are there ... who because of their husbands' harshness spend their weary lives in the bond of marriage in greater suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/how-many-women-are-there-who-because-of-their-husbands-harshness/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [ “I find it most offensive that the character of Reason, whom \[ Jean den Meun (author of the Romance of the Rose )\] himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/i-find-it-most-offensive-that-the-character-of-reason-whom-jean-den/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) [Explore all 51 Christine de Pizan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [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/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. 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