--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we reflect on the shortness and…" description: "\"When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness.\" — David Hume" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-hume-538_despicable_when-we-reflect-on-the-shortness-and-unc_353924.jpg" --- # When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life… ![“When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness.” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-hume-538_despicable_when-we-reflect-on-the-shortness-and-unc_353924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-hume-538_despicable_when-we-reflect-on-the-shortness-and-unc_353924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-hume-538_despicable_when-we-reflect-on-the-shortness-and-unc_353924.jpg) > “When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness.” [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplating life's brevity and uncertainty reveals the triviality of many happiness pursuits. **In simple terms:** Life's shortness makes many happiness quests seem petty. Key Takeaway Reevaluate what truly matters. Themes mortality philosophy value assessment Mood thoughtful somber Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - career choices - personal goals - relationship decisions Key Concepts existential reflection ethical living Questions to Reflect On - What pursuits feel essential despite uncertainty? - How does mortality shape your priorities? A Different Perspective May ignore the role of joy in human resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despicable/) [Despicable Pursuits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despicable-pursuits-3263403/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Despicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-despicable-3263402/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuit of happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-of-happiness/) [Reflect Shortness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflect-shortness-3263404/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Shortness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortness/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Uncertainty Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-life-461610/) [Uncertainty of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Have fun with the uncertainty of life. 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If you can communicate that experience, somewhere between math and uncertainty, life experience provides the balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/real-frontier-busting-math-explores-new-worlds-if-you-can-communicate/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [For most men, it appears to me, are in a strange uncertainty about it (life), whether it is of the devil or of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/for-most-men-it-appears-to-me-are-in-a-strange-uncertainty-about-it/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by David Hume > [“Beauty in things exists in the mind that contemplates them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/beauty-in-things-exists-in-the-mind-that-contemplates-them/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“It is impossible for us to think of any thing, which we have not antecedently felt, either by our external or internal senses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/it-is-impossible-for-us-to-think-of-any-thing-which-we-have-not/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [All morality depends upon our sentiments; and when any action or quality of the mind pleases us after a certain manner we say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/all-morality-depends-upon-our-sentiments-and-when-any-action-or/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [And indeed nothing but the most determined scepticism, along with a great degree of indolence, can justify this aversion to metaphysics. 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