--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death and pain dominate this world, for…" description: "\"Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them; h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/denise-levertov-4487_death_death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-t_14575.png" --- # Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are… ![“Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them; have seen in the folding of white bedspreads according to rule the starched pleats of a shroud.” quote by Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/denise-levertov-4487_death_death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-t_14575.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/denise-levertov-4487_death_death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-t_14575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/denise-levertov-4487_death_death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-t_14575.png) > “Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them; have seen in the folding of white bedspreads according to rule the starched pleats of a shroud.” [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on how suffering and the awareness of death persist even after physical healing, suggesting that mortality's shadow remains in the psyche. **In simple terms:** Pain and mortality linger beyond cure. Key Takeaway Healing does not erase existential fragility. Themes mortality suffering psychological aftermath human vulnerability existential awareness Mood somber reflective introspective Type philosophical poetic lament When to use this quote - post‑illness recovery - grieving a loved one - confronting personal illness - reflecting on aging Key Concepts the body-mind split the metaphor of shroud the persistence of fear Practical Applications - psychotherapy for trauma - literary exploration of mortality Questions to Reflect On - How does surviving illness change one's view of life? - In what ways do we carry invisible scars after recovery? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pleats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleats/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“I'll become a doctor who can cure any disease! 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Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Without words like blame, victim, and fault, I do believe about 50% of the unhappiness in the world would be cured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dooley/without-words-like-blame-victim-and-fault-i-do-believe-about-50-of/) [Mike Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dooley/) > [“Scott: What's the cure? Doctor: There is none. Scott: But that isn't what I heard. The optimist in me translated the gloomy news as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/scott-what-s-the-cure-doctor-there-is-none-scott-but-that-isn-t-what/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Many children with cancer in the developing world can be cured. But without appropriate treatment, few survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitriona-balfe/many-children-with-cancer-in-the-developing-world-can-be-cured-but/) [Caitriona Balfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitriona-balfe/) > [“That's what's so great about the story. It's real. What I mean is, even if it didn't actually happen-and there's debate about the Legends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/that-s-what-s-so-great-about-the-story-it-s-real-what-i-mean-is-even/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [But I am very confident that David Pleat, the director of football or whatever his title is now days - I am very confident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-davies/but-i-am-very-confident-that-david-pleat-the-director-of-football-or/) Billy Davies > [I see so many guys, really athletic guys, wearing pleats and I just shake my head. Like, Tiger Woods used to wear pleated pants!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/i-see-so-many-guys-really-athletic-guys-wearing-pleats-and-i-just/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [She already got the blue dress on I ironed this morning, the one with sixty-five pleats on the waist, so tiny I got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/she-already-got-the-blue-dress-on-i-ironed-this-morning-the-one-with/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [I never liked that ending either. More love streaming out the wrong way, and I don't want to be the kind that says the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/i-never-liked-that-ending-either-more-love-streaming-out-the-wrong/) [Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/) > [The core spirit of Pleats Please is joy, and what better emotion to wear on your skin every day?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issey-miyake/the-core-spirit-of-pleats-please-is-joy-and-what-better-emotion-to/) [Issey Miyake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issey-miyake/) > [Always flat front. You've got to be deeply suspicious of a man who consciously goes with pleats. Why would you do that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/always-flat-front-you-ve-got-to-be-deeply-suspicious-of-a-man-who/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [Verily, the best of husbands hath many raw edges, and many unnecessary pleats in his temper, and many wrinkles in his disposition, which must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/verily-the-best-of-husbands-hath-many-raw-edges-and-many-unnecessary/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [When you walk in a saree, you must kick the pleats. It becomes more comfortable that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/when-you-walk-in-a-saree-you-must-kick-the-pleats-it-becomes-more/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) ## More by Denise Levertov > [The artist must create himself or be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-artist-must-create-himself-or-be-born-again/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I believe every space and comma is a living part of the poem and has its function, just as every muscle and pore of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-believe-every-space-and-comma-is-a-living-part-of-the-poem-and-has/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Each part of speech a spark awaiting redemption, each a virtue, a power in abeyance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/each-part-of-speech-a-spark-awaiting-redemption-each-a-virtue-a-power/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [It is fatal to one's artistic life to talk about something this is in process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/it-is-fatal-to-one-s-artistic-life-to-talk-about-something-this-is-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [If woman is inconstant, good, I am faithful to ebb and flow, I fall in season and now is a time of ripening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/if-woman-is-inconstant-good-i-am-faithful-to-ebb-and-flow-i-fall-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Putting his hope in certain death, lowering his head again to the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/putting-his-hope-in-certain-death-lowering-his-head-again-to-the-grass/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [slowly the pale dew-beads of light lapped up from flowers can thicken, darken to gold: honey of the human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/slowly-the-pale-dew-beads-of-light-lapped-up-from-flowers-can-thicken/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [“I am, a shadow that grows longer as the sun moves, drawn out on a thread of wonder. If I bear burdens they begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-am-a-shadow-that-grows-longer-as-the-sun-moves-drawn-out-on-a/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [In city, in suburb, in forest, no way to stretch out the arms - so if you would grow, go straight up or deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/in-city-in-suburb-in-forest-no-way-to-stretch-out-the-arms-so-if-you/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I like to find what's not found at once, but lies within something of another nature, in repose, distinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-like-to-find-what-s-not-found-at-once-but-lies-within-something-of/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [There is no savor more sweet, more salt than to be glad to be what, woman, and who, myself, I am...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/there-is-no-savor-more-sweet-more-salt-than-to-be-glad-to-be-what/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [This wild night, gathering the washing as if it were flowers animal vines twisting over theline and slapping my face lightly, soundless merriment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/this-wild-night-gathering-the-washing-as-if-it-were-flowers-animal/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The fire in leaf and grass so green it seems each summer the last summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-fire-in-leaf-and-grass-so-green-it-seems-each-summer-the-last/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I see him across the street, the blind man, and now he says he can find his way. He knows where he is going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-see-him-across-the-street-the-blind-man-and-now-he-says-he-can-find/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [“Trying to remember old dreams. A voice. Who came in. And meanwhile the rain, all day, all evening, quiet steady sound. Before it grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/trying-to-remember-old-dreams-a-voice-who-came-in-and-meanwhile-the/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) [Explore all 110 Denise Levertov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them; have seen in the folding of white bedspreads according to rule the starched pleats of a shroud.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denise Levertov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/denise-levertov-4487_death_death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-t_14575.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/denise-levertov-4487_death_death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-t_14575.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/denise-levertov-4487_death_death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-t_14575.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still…” — Denise Levertov", "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": "Denise Levertov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Death and pain dominate this world,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/#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 } } ] } ```