--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The closer you get to death, the more…" description: "\"The closer you get to death, the more alive you feel. Dylan Thomas wrote, Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/christopher-titus-1916_alive_the-closer-you-get-to-death-the-more-ali_456409.jpg" --- # The closer you get to death, the more alive you feel… ![“The closer you get to death, the more alive you feel. Dylan Thomas wrote, Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. My dad always taught me to live like that. Dad wrote a poem too. It goes, Dune buggies. Woohoo!” quote by Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/christopher-titus-1916_alive_the-closer-you-get-to-death-the-more-ali_456409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/christopher-titus-1916_alive_the-closer-you-get-to-death-the-more-ali_456409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/christopher-titus-1916_alive_the-closer-you-get-to-death-the-more-ali_456409.jpg) > “The closer you get to death, the more alive you feel. Dylan Thomas wrote, Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. My dad always taught me to live like that. Dad wrote a poem too. It goes, Dune buggies. Woohoo!” [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing mortality heightens appreciation for life, urging vibrant living despite inevitable death. **In simple terms:** Death makes life feel more vivid. Key Takeaway Embrace life fully now. Themes mortality appreciation vibrancy Mood reflective inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal loss - health crises - milestones - daily gratitude Key Concepts existentialism carpe diem Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of death change your daily choices? - What does "alive" mean to you? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize danger, ignoring practical safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Good night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-night/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) ## Related quotes > [Most all of the writers I admired when I was in my teens and twenties died young. Fitzgerald lived the longest. He was 44.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/most-all-of-the-writers-i-admired-when-i-was-in-my-teens-and-twenties/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [There's one of my new poems actually - is a good example of where my poetry has ended up. My earlier river poetry was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adamson/there-s-one-of-my-new-poems-actually-is-a-good-example-of-where-my/) [Robert Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adamson/) > [It's not name dropping, but not many people can say, like me, that they spent the day with the likes of Francis Bacon or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernard/it-s-not-name-dropping-but-not-many-people-can-say-like-me-that-they/) [Jeffrey Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernard/) > [I haven't been reading anything on tour so far, I haven't had a minute. Any moment that I've had recently on the tour has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-azar/i-haven-t-been-reading-anything-on-tour-so-far-i-haven-t-had-a-minute/) [Carla Azar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-azar/) > [I've been influenced by poets as diverse as Dylan Thomas, Lewis Carroll, and Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-prelutsky/i-ve-been-influenced-by-poets-as-diverse-as-dylan-thomas-lewis/) [Jack Prelutsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-prelutsky/) > [My father had wanted to name me for Dylan Thomas. He had seen him speak on one of those drunken poetry tours he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-walsh/my-father-had-wanted-to-name-me-for-dylan-thomas-he-had-seen-him/) [Dylan Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-walsh/) > [ If poetry were nothing but texture, \[Dylan\] Thomas would be as good as any poet alive. The what of his poems is hardly essential… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/if-poetry-were-nothing-but-texture-dylan-thomas-would-be-as-good-as/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [I've been interested in writing and storytelling since I learned to read, but it wasn't until I read Dylan Thomas, when I was 14,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-ve-been-interested-in-writing-and-storytelling-since-i-learned-to/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Under Milk Wood' was given to me when I was quite young, in Sydney. I didn't even know what Wales was, let alone anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-michael-of-kent/under-milk-wood-was-given-to-me-when-i-was-quite-young-in-sydney-i/) [Princess Michael of Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-michael-of-kent/) > [I definitely notice the absence of character in most poetry, which is not so say that I'm an innovator in that regard. Character-based poems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-definitely-notice-the-absence-of-character-in-most-poetry-which-is/) [Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/) > [The heroes of our youth grow old - 'the boys of summer in their ruin,' in Dylan Thomas's verse - yet we seem the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thorn/the-heroes-of-our-youth-grow-old-the-boys-of-summer-in-their-ruin-in/) [John Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thorn/) > [Now that my kids are out of the house, I'm finally able to get to the classics I never read: Emily Bronte, Dylan Thomas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/now-that-my-kids-are-out-of-the-house-i-m-finally-able-to-get-to-the/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [The force that drives the green fuse, as Dylan Thomas said, cannot be understood. So self-discovery is to accept your daily meditation, to observe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-force-that-drives-the-green-fuse-as-dylan-thomas-said-cannot-be/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I'm doing a Dylan Thomas film, Map of Love, with Mick Jagger producing again. It's a wonderful script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dougray-scott/i-m-doing-a-dylan-thomas-film-map-of-love-with-mick-jagger-producing/) [Dougray Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dougray-scott/) > [“When I was thirteen, I used to get high on Dylan Thomas, Blake, Wilde, and Yeats.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-holland/when-i-was-thirteen-i-used-to-get-high-on-dylan-thomas-blake-wilde/) Jolie Holland ## More by Christopher Titus > [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/) > [Ladies, if you're at the mall and you think your man is looking at other girls just remember: If your man is at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/ladies-if-you-re-at-the-mall-and-you-think-your-man-is-looking-at/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [I find that Americans are all in the middle somewhere, except for the extreme nuts, and extreme nuts on both sides are the loudest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-find-that-americans-are-all-in-the-middle-somewhere-except-for-the/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [My father? A hard drinking man from the 70's. We actually have no pictures of my dad where he is not holding a beer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/my-father-a-hard-drinking-man-from-the-70-s-we-actually-have-no/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Everybody I've ever met was destroyed by a member of the opposite sex early on and that damage you took into every relationship after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/everybody-i-ve-ever-met-was-destroyed-by-a-member-of-the-opposite-sex/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Psychiatrist are like mind hookers. Give them 200 dollars and they just screw with your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/psychiatrist-are-like-mind-hookers-give-them-200-dollars-and-they/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [All of Dad's relationships ended exactly the same: subpoena, beep of a moving van backing up the driveway, pile of his clothes burning on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/all-of-dad-s-relationships-ended-exactly-the-same-subpoena-beep-of-a/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Texas is a hell hole, man. Dirt, cactus, lizards, dirt, cactus, the Bush family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/texas-is-a-hell-hole-man-dirt-cactus-lizards-dirt-cactus-the-bush/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Sometimes failure makes your future because you set the past on fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/sometimes-failure-makes-your-future-because-you-set-the-past-on-fire/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [When you are a screwed up person, you have a responsibility to keep your normal friends from getting walked on. 'Cos, how bad could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/when-you-are-a-screwed-up-person-you-have-a-responsibility-to-keep/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [If you're a racist, right now, in 2011... You just look like a retard, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/if-you-re-a-racist-right-now-in-2011-you-just-look-like-a-retard-man/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Why should I learn English? I'm never going to England. Shah, pffff, ur, doy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/why-should-i-learn-english-i-m-never-going-to-england-shah-pffff-ur/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Passion, manners, and 80 ounces of beer will win the heart of any woman. And if it doesn't, you'll be too hammered to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/passion-manners-and-80-ounces-of-beer-will-win-the-heart-of-any-woman/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [The most powerful person in your life is the one that knows all your secrets and all your lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/the-most-powerful-person-in-your-life-is-the-one-that-knows-all-your/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Haiti fell over? Who built Haiti? Two of the three little pigs?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/haiti-fell-over-who-built-haiti-two-of-the-three-little-pigs/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) [Explore all 198 Christopher Titus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) ## 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": "The closer you get to death, the more alive you feel. Dylan Thomas wrote, Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. My dad always taught me to live like that. Dad wrote a poem too. It goes, Dune buggies. 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