--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wake up! If you knew for certain that you…" description: "\"“Wake up! If you knew for certain that you had a terminal illness - if you had precious little time left to make use of your life and consider who you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/dan-millman-1475_fear_wake-up-if-you-knew-for-certain-that-you_1111359.jpg" --- # Wake up! If you knew for certain that you had a terminal… ![“Wake up! If you knew for certain that you had a terminal illness - if you had precious little time left to make use of your life and consider who you are, you'd not waste time on self-indulgence or fear, lethargy or ambition. Be happy now, without reason - or you never will be at all.” quote by Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/dan-millman-1475_fear_wake-up-if-you-knew-for-certain-that-you_1111359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/dan-millman-1475_fear_wake-up-if-you-knew-for-certain-that-you_1111359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/dan-millman-1475_fear_wake-up-if-you-knew-for-certain-that-you_1111359.jpg) > ““Wake up! If you knew for certain that you had a terminal illness - if you had precious little time left to make use of your life and consider who you are, you'd not waste time on self-indulgence or fear, lethargy or ambition. Be happy now, without reason - or you never will be at all.”” [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you knew life was short, you'd stop chasing superficial goals and focus on authentic happiness now. **In simple terms:** Knowing life is short shifts focus to true joy. Key Takeaway Prioritize genuine happiness over fear. Themes mortality authenticity happiness Mood reflective urgent Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - career crossroads - health diagnosis - daily decision making Key Concepts existential urgency mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What would you change if time were limited? - How do you balance joy with duty? A Different Perspective It may ignore practical responsibilities needed for survival. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-time/) [Little time left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-time-left/) [Terminal illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terminal-illness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-left/) ## Related quotes > [Wake up! If you knew for certain you had a terminal illness--if you had little time left to live--you would waste precious little of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/wake-up-if-you-knew-for-certain-you-had-a-terminal-illness-if-you-had/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“I’m quiet for a long moment, and Velva just sits with me, waiting. 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"It awakens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-revel/democracy-tends-to-ignore-even-deny-threats-to-its-existence-because/) [Jean Francois Revel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-revel/) > [The man who takes time to explain his mistakes has little time left for anything else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-man-who-takes-time-to-explain-his-mistakes-has-little-time-left/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I work more now perhaps because I know that there is so little time left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-botero/i-work-more-now-perhaps-because-i-know-that-there-is-so-little-time/) [Fernando Botero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-botero/) > [I love Virginians because Virginians are all snobs and I like snobs. 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Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“What will be will be well, for what is is well, To take interest is well, and not to take interest shall be well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/what-will-be-will-be-well-for-what-is-is-well-to-take-interest-is/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [If you keep doubting every issue you come across in life, you will never consider any issue based on its merits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/if-you-keep-doubting-every-issue-you-come-across-in-life-you-will/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [The most painful moment in ur life is when d one whom u consider ur everything …dn't even think u as his good frnd……its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskan/the-most-painful-moment-in-ur-life-is-when-d-one-whom-u-consider-ur/) [Muskan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskan/) ## More by Dan Millman > [...when you resist what happens, your mind begins to race; the same thoughts that impinge upon you are actually created by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/when-you-resist-what-happens-your-mind-begins-to-race-the-same/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Life is not suffering; it's just that you will suffer it, rather than enjoy it, until you let go of your mind's attachments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/life-is-not-suffering-it-s-just-that-you-will-suffer-it-rather-than/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Coming to appreciate your worth can, in some cases, dramatically improve your circumstances by changing the choices you make and the actions you take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/coming-to-appreciate-your-worth-can-in-some-cases-dramatically/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Inward spiritual practices such as meditation, breathing techniques and self-analysis generate insights and enhance abilities, but none are so useful as learning to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/inward-spiritual-practices-such-as-meditation-breathing-techniques/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [We are both burdened and blessed by the great responsibility of the will - the power of choice. 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If you have enough of one, you will develop the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/do-you-have-the-courage-for-it-do-you-have-the-love-if-you-have/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [As a peaceful warrior, I would choose when, where and how I would behave. With that commitment, I began to live the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/as-a-peaceful-warrior-i-would-choose-when-where-and-how-i-would/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Life is constantly supporting us and giving us gifts. It's a matter of opening ourselves to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/life-is-constantly-supporting-us-and-giving-us-gifts-it-s-a-matter-of/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“We must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence, to find that enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/we-must-pass-through-solitude-and-difficulty-isolation-and-silence-to/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Words mean little unless you realize the truth of it yourself. And when you do, you'll be free at last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/words-mean-little-unless-you-realize-the-truth-of-it-yourself-and/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“There is no need to search . . . achievement leads nowhere . . . makes no difference at all. Just be happy now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/there-is-no-need-to-search-achievement-leads-nowhere-makes-no/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [I had lost my mind and fallen into my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/i-had-lost-my-mind-and-fallen-into-my-heart/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Ships are safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. So set sail on the stormy sea of love. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/ships-are-safe-in-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for-so-set/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) [Explore all 231 Dan Millman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. 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Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. 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