---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What could I say that wouldn't shock her…"
description: "\"“What could I say that wouldn't shock her even more? I need the mortuary because it connects me to death in a safe way? I need the mortuary because I n..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/dan-wells-2142_death_what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her_2786116.png"
---

#  What could I say that wouldn't shock her even more? I need…

![“What could I say that wouldn't shock her even more? I need the mortuary because it connects me to death in a safe way? I need the mortuary because I need to see the bodies open up like flowers and talk to me and tell me what they know?” quote by Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/dan-wells-2142_death_what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her_2786116.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/dan-wells-2142_death_what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her_2786116.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/dan-wells-2142_death_what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her_2786116.png)

> ““What could I say that wouldn't shock her even more? I need the mortuary because it connects me to death in a safe way? I need the mortuary because I need to see the bodies open up like flowers and talk to me and tell me what they know?””

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker seeks a mortuary as a safe conduit to confront death, desiring to learn from the dead like blooming flowers.

**In simple terms:** Mortuary offers a safe way to explore death and gain knowledge.

Key Takeaway

Use mortality to inspire personal growth.

Themes

death psychology spirituality

Mood

haunting introspective

Type

psychological philosophical

When to use this quote

- grief counseling
- creative writing
- philosophical inquiry

Key Concepts

mortality learning existential curiosity

Questions to Reflect On

- What draws people to death‑related spaces?
- How can we balance curiosity and respect?

A Different Perspective

Obsession with death can be unhealthy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Connects Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connects-death-3345099/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Mortuary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortuary/) [Mortuary Connects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortuary-connects-3345097/) [Mortuary Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortuary-need-3345096/) [Need Mortuary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-mortuary-3345098/)

## Related quotes

> [“the quintessential small town mortuary owner. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-harman/the-quintessential-small-town-mortuary-owner-when/)

[Dianne Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-harman/)

> [“The water under the bridge looked strangely enticing. For a mortuary, it was oddly breathtaking. I felt in tune with all the beings lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-fox/the-water-under-the-bridge-looked-strangely-enticing-for-a-mortuary/)

[Ellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-fox/)

> [And in bed, deep inside the building, are all the headaches that won't go away. The failed kidneys, the rashes, the ragged-edged moles, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/and-in-bed-deep-inside-the-building-are-all-the-headaches-that-won-t/)

[Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/)

> [Equality is a mortuary word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/equality-is-a-mortuary-word/)

[Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/)

> [A lot of bands have intense names, like "Rigor Mortis" or "Mortuary". We weren't that intense, we called ourselves "Injured". Later on we changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/a-lot-of-bands-have-intense-names-like-rigor-mortis-or-mortuary-we/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I wouldn't wish the eighties on anyone, it was the time when all that was rotten bubbled to the surface. If you were not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jarman/i-wouldn-t-wish-the-eighties-on-anyone-it-was-the-time-when-all-that-2/)

[Derek Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jarman/)

> [I wouldn't wish the eighties on anyone, it was the time when all that was rotten bubbled to the surface. If you were not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jarman/i-wouldn-t-wish-the-eighties-on-anyone-it-was-the-time-when-all-that/)

[Derek Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jarman/)

> [Jump way back to one time, Evie and me did this fashion shoot in a junk yard, in a slaughterhouse, in a mortuary. We'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/jump-way-back-to-one-time-evie-and-me-did-this-fashion-shoot-in-a/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“herself for such a place—something between a sweat shop and a mortuary. Instead, she caught”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-lee-weyrich/herself-for-such-a-place-something-between-a-sweat-shop-and-a/)

[Becky Lee Weyrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-lee-weyrich/)

> [“Most people are not really scared of death. They are merely terrified of being taken to a mortuary and/or being buried or cremated and/or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-people-are-not-really-scared-of-death-they-are-merely-terrified/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [ \[Stephanie\] 'You see, Mrs. Mayer was going on about George's lodge, and how he wanted to be buried with his ring, and so Grandma… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/stephanie-you-see-mrs-mayer-was-going-on-about-george-s-lodge-and-how/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“What kind of mortuary is this, anyway? It hasn't even got electricity. This sort of town needs more and more of it, what with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-dowlatabadi/what-kind-of-mortuary-is-this-anyway-it-hasn-t-even-got-electricity/)

[Mahmoud Dowlatabadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-dowlatabadi/)

> [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/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

## More by Dan Wells

> [“I’ve picked a side,” she said darkly. “And everyone’s on it. And that’s exactly who I’m going to save.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-ve-picked-a-side-she-said-darkly-and-everyone-s-on-it-and-that-s/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-that-was-horrifying-i-was/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“You're talking to me and I'm not scary." Said Kira. "Yes you are!" said Afa.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/you-re-talking-to-me-and-i-m-not-scary-said-kira-yes-you-are-said-afa/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“Curing RM is in the realm of magical pixies and talking dogs that piss whiskey. It's impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/curing-rm-is-in-the-realm-of-magical-pixies-and-talking-dogs-that/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“She thought no one could see her. I thought she was beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/she-thought-no-one-could-see-her-i-thought-she-was-beautiful/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Facts are too busy being true to worry about how you feel about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/facts-are-too-busy-being-true-to-worry-about-how-you-feel-about-them/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [My wit is like your legs," said Xochi. " It would be selfish of me to keep it hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/my-wit-is-like-your-legs-said-xochi-it-would-be-selfish-of-me-to-keep/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“If you can’t know the truth,” said Isolde, “live the most awesome lie you can think of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/if-you-can-t-know-the-truth-said-isolde-live-the-most-awesome-lie-you/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“Skousen remembered a world falling apart. Kira remembered a world pulling together to save itself. That was the difference. That was why Skousen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/skousen-remembered-a-world-falling-apart-kira-remembered-a-world/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“Finally Marcus stepped forward. "If you insist on going through me to get him, it's your call. But I warn you, I will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/finally-marcus-stepped-forward-if-you-insist-on-going-through-me-to/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Fear is a ... it's a weird thing, when you think about it. People are only afraid of other things, they're never afraid of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/fear-is-a-it-s-a-weird-thing-when-you-think-about-it-people-are-only/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“We're taking you to the hospital,' it said, 'you're going into shock. Can you tell us how you feel?' 'I feel ...' What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/we-re-taking-you-to-the-hospital-it-said-you-re-going-into-shock-can/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [I stared at her closely, studying her face, her eyes, everything. This was the angel that tamed a demon; the soul that trapped him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-stared-at-her-closely-studying-her-face-her-eyes-everything-this/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“So, your plan is to murder a superior enemy army," said Tovar, "and then outrun the wind. I'm glad it's so simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/so-your-plan-is-to-murder-a-superior-enemy-army-said-tovar-and-then/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Love's not the point. We just do what we always do, and we get by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/love-s-not-the-point-we-just-do-what-we-always-do-and-we-get-by/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

[Explore all 175 Dan Wells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [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 do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

[J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/)

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

[Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/)

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“What could I say that wouldn't shock her even more? I need the mortuary because it connects me to death in a safe way? I need the mortuary because I need to see the bodies open up like flowers and talk to me and tell me what they know?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Wells"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her-even-more-i-need-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her-even-more-i-need-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/dan-wells-2142_death_what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her_2786116.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/dan-wells-2142_death_what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her_2786116.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/dan-wells-2142_death_what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her_2786116.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What could I say that wouldn't shock her even more? I need the mortuary because it connects me to death in a…” — Dan Wells",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dan Wells",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What could I say that wouldn't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her-even-more-i-need-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/what-could-i-say-that-wouldn-t-shock-her-even-more-i-need-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
