--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are born and we die; and between these…" description: "\"We are born and we die; and between these two most important events in our lives more or less time elapses which we have to waste somehow or other. In ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/clarence-darrow-1714_born_we-are-born-and-we-die-and-between-these_1712357.png" --- # We are born and we die; and between these two most… ![“We are born and we die; and between these two most important events in our lives more or less time elapses which we have to waste somehow or other. In the end it does not seem to matter much whether we have done so in making money, or practicing law, or reading or playing, or in any other way, as…” quote by Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/clarence-darrow-1714_born_we-are-born-and-we-die-and-between-these_1712357.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/clarence-darrow-1714_born_we-are-born-and-we-die-and-between-these_1712357.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/clarence-darrow-1714_born_we-are-born-and-we-die-and-between-these_1712357.png) > “We are born and we die; and between these two most important events in our lives more or less time elapses which we have to waste somehow or other. In the end it does not seem to matter much whether we have done so in making money, or practicing law, or reading or playing, or in any other way, as long as we felt we were deriving a maximum of happiness out of our doings.” [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s main measure is happiness, not wealth or status; we should seek joy in our actions. **In simple terms:** Happiness matters more than money or fame. Key Takeaway Prioritize joy in what you do. Themes happiness purpose life evaluation Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - family time - personal projects - leisure activities Key Concepts existentialism well‑being value of work Questions to Reflect On - What activities truly bring you joy? - How do you balance joy with responsibility? A Different Perspective Happiness can be fleeting and subjective, making it hard to gauge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Born Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-die/) [Die Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-important-1020025/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Doings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doings/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Doings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-doings-1258288/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Making money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-money/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Maximum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maximum/) [Maximum Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maximum-happiness-1258289/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Practicing law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicing-law/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I wish that every Latter-day Saint could say and mean it with all his heart: 'I'll go where you want me to go. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/i-wish-that-every-latter-day-saint-could-say-and-mean-it-with-all-his/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Because of the friends I have known, the honorable people I have met, I know I am no solitary hero of unique causes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/because-of-the-friends-i-have-known-the-honorable-people-i-have-met-i/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [I want to be interested in the music I make until I die. 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It is an important question to ask yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-robertson/the-thing-is-jesus-died-for-us-so-we-should-be-able-to-die-for-him-it/) [Sadie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-robertson/) > [Everybody has to die, Firdaus. I will die, and you will die. The important thing is how to live until you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/everybody-has-to-die-firdaus-i-will-die-and-you-will-die-the/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [“In general…there’s no point in writing hopeless novels. We all know we’re going to die; what’s important is the kind of men and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/in-general-there-s-no-point-in-writing-hopeless-novels-we-all-know-we/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [We're born, we live, we die. The most important thing out of those three is to live your life the way you want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-leto/we-re-born-we-live-we-die-the-most-important-thing-out-of-those-three/) [Shannon Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-leto/) > [We all know we're going to die; what's important is the kind of men and women we are in the face of this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-all-know-we-re-going-to-die-what-s-important-is-the-kind-of-men/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I would like to make a bold claim right here at the outset: the fact that we die is the most important fact about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-may/i-would-like-to-make-a-bold-claim-right-here-at-the-outset-the-fact/) [Todd May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-may/) > [“If the thing they were fighting for was important enough to die for then it was also important enough for them to be thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/if-the-thing-they-were-fighting-for-was-important-enough-to-die-for/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [You 'mustn't' nothing in your life. I don't 'must' nothing in the life, just die. It's important, yeah, but I have also a future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sagan/you-mustn-t-nothing-in-your-life-i-don-t-must-nothing-in-the-life/) [Peter Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sagan/) > [“distracting opportunities have to die for your most important goals to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/distracting-opportunities-have-to-die-for-your-most-important-goals/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“To die is more important than trying to be alive. When we try to be alive, we have trouble. Rather than trying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/to-die-is-more-important-than-trying-to-be-alive-when-we-try-to-be/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) ## More by Clarence Darrow > [We know life is futile. A man who considers that his life is of very wonderful importance is awfully close to a padded cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/we-know-life-is-futile-a-man-who-considers-that-his-life-is-of-very/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Great wealth often curses all who touch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/great-wealth-often-curses-all-who-touch-it/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Punishment as punishment is not admissible unless the offender has had the free will to select his course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/punishment-as-punishment-is-not-admissible-unless-the-offender-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“One of the bravest, grandest champions of human liberty the world has ever seen. {Darrow on the great Robert Ingersoll }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-of-the-bravest-grandest-champions-of-human-liberty-the-world-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I cannot tell and I shall never know how many words of mine might have given birth to cruelty in place of love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-cannot-tell-and-i-shall-never-know-how-many-words-of-mine-might/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and if no man rebelled, those wrongs would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/as-long-as-the-world-shall-last-there-will-be-wrongs-and-if-no-man/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-have-never-killed-a-man-but-i-have-read-many-obituaries-with-great/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/lost-causes-are-the-only-ones-worth-fighting-for/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [One believes in the truthfulness of a man because of his long experience with the man, and because the man has always told a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-believes-in-the-truthfulness-of-a-man-because-of-his-long/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Physical deformity, calls forth our charity. But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/physical-deformity-calls-forth-our-charity-but-the-infinite/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Men have always been obliged to fight to preserve liberty. Constitutions and laws do not safeguard liberty. It can be preserved only by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/men-have-always-been-obliged-to-fight-to-preserve-liberty/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“ Robert G. Ingersoll was a great man. a wonderful intellect, a great soul of matchless courage, one of the great men of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/robert-g-ingersoll-was-a-great-man-a-wonderful-intellect-a-great-soul/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Everybody is a potential murderer. I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/everybody-is-a-potential-murderer-i-ve-never-killed-anyone-but-i/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [The first half of our lives are ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/the-first-half-of-our-lives-are-ruined-by-our-parents-and-the-second/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [If there is a soul, what is it, and where did it come from, and where does it go? Can anyone who is guided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-there-is-a-soul-what-is-it-and-where-did-it-come-from-and-where/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) [Explore all 213 Clarence Darrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## More Born quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. 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And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [If you can believe it, Hollywood wanted to change my birthdate. I was born after Valentine's Day, so they wanted to change it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/if-you-can-believe-it-hollywood-wanted-to-change-my-birthdate-i-was/) [Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/) [Browse all 11,606 Born quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are born and we die; and between these two most important events in our lives more or less time elapses which we have to waste somehow or other. 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