--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's only when we truly know and…" description: "\"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_knowing_it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-underst_361559.jpg" --- # It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a… ![“It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” quote by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_knowing_it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-underst_361559.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_knowing_it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-underst_361559.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_knowing_it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-underst_361559.jpg) > “It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awareness of life's finiteness motivates living fully, treating each day as if it were the last. **In simple terms:** Knowing time is limited makes us cherish each day. Key Takeaway Live each day with purpose and gratitude. Themes mortality mindfulness carpe diem purpose gratitude Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - health decisions - relationship building - travel planning Key Concepts existentialism psychology time perception Questions to Reflect On - What does “living fully” look like for you? - How do you balance urgency with long‑term goals? A Different Perspective Focusing on mortality can cause anxiety or fatalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Limited time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-time/) [Live each day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-each-day/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time on earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-on-earth/) ## Related quotes > [Begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/begin-to-live-each-day-to-the-fullest-as-if-it-were-the-only-one-we/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Life is about growth and exploration, not achieving a fixed state of balance. You have a very limited time on earth to experience all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-robbins/life-is-about-growth-and-exploration-not-achieving-a-fixed-state-of/) [Mel Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-robbins/) > [It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/it-is-possible-to-become-discouraged-about-the-injustice-we-see/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [Fashion and music are two great artistic forms that can be molded by the youth culture - our taste and our passion for evolving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-abloh/fashion-and-music-are-two-great-artistic-forms-that-can-be-molded-by/) [Virgil Abloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-abloh/) > [“We have a very limited time on Earth; the times we spent with the candles are always special and magical times!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-have-a-very-limited-time-on-earth-the-times-we-spent-with-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [No more excuses, no more wasting of precious time, now is as good a time as any, to begin doing what matters most!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-more-excuses-no-more-wasting-of-precious-time-now-is-as-good-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That which we are, we are, and if we are ever to be any better, now is the time to begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/that-which-we-are-we-are-and-if-we-are-ever-to-be-any-better-now-is/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“When you think it's finished, that is the time to begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james-west/when-you-think-it-s-finished-that-is-the-time-to-begin/) [Peter James West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james-west/) > [“You go to school to get a job, and you get a job to take time off to do nothing. Why not do nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janne-teller/you-go-to-school-to-get-a-job-and-you-get-a-job-to-take-time-off-to/) [Janne Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janne-teller/) > [“It is time to awaken!” “You have a mission! It is time to begin!” “Stop wasting time! Time is growing short for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/it-is-time-to-awaken-you-have-a-mission-it-is-time-to-begin-stop/) [Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/) > [It's time to begin righting the story of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/it-s-time-to-begin-righting-the-story-of-your-life/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“It's all now you see. Yesterday won't be over until tomorrow and tomorrow began ten thousand years ago. For every Southern boy fourteen years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-s-all-now-you-see-yesterday-won-t-be-over-until-tomorrow-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Do not be discourage by the height of the mountain, one step at a time will lead you there; and now is the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/do-not-be-discourage-by-the-height-of-the-mountain-one-step-at-a-time/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [When there is nothing to fear is the time to begin fearing everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-bergam-n/when-there-is-nothing-to-fear-is-the-time-to-begin-fearing-everything/) [Jose Bergamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-bergam-n/) ## More by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross > [Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/watching-a-peaceful-death-of-a-human-being-reminds-us-of-a-falling/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Death is staring too long into the burning sun and the relief of entering a cool, dark room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/death-is-staring-too-long-into-the-burning-sun-and-the-relief-of/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [There is not much sense in suffering, since drugs can be given for pain, itching, and other discomforts. The belief has long died that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/there-is-not-much-sense-in-suffering-since-drugs-can-be-given-for/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [When I came to this country in 1958, to be a dying patient in a medical hospital was a nightmare. You were put in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/when-i-came-to-this-country-in-1958-to-be-a-dying-patient-in-a/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“La única finalidad de la vida es crecer. La lección última es aprender a amar y a ser amados incondicionalmente.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/la-nica-finalidad-de-la-vida-es-crecer-la-lecci-n-ltima-es-aprender-a/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“We need time to move through the pain of loss. We need to step into it, really to get to know it, in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-need-time-to-move-through-the-pain-of-loss-we-need-to-step-into-it/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [We have to ask ourselves whether medicine is to remain a humanitarian and respected profession or a new but depersonalized science in the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-have-to-ask-ourselves-whether-medicine-is-to-remain-a-humanitarian/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“The reality is people have always died in large numbers in natural disasters such as avalanches, earthquakes, and tornadoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/the-reality-is-people-have-always-died-in-large-numbers-in-natural/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Everything in this life has a purpose, there are no mistakes, no coincidences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/everything-in-this-life-has-a-purpose-there-are-no-mistakes-no/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [We run after values that, at death, become zero. At the end of your life, nobody asks you how many degrees you have, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-run-after-values-that-at-death-become-zero-at-the-end-of-your-life/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [In the so-called civilized world, children are physically, sexually and/or emotionally abused; they are the leaders of our future. When children are raised in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/in-the-so-called-civilized-world-children-are-physically-sexually-and/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [I look for mystery and try to decipher it while knowing it is an impossible task. I look for memory, where Mystery lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/i-look-for-mystery-and-try-to-decipher-it-while-knowing-it-is-an/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“Are we all destined to die as failures? Just”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/are-we-all-destined-to-die-as-failures-just/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“You can become a channel and a source of great inner strength. But you must give up everything in order to gain everything. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/you-can-become-a-channel-and-a-source-of-great-inner-strength-but-you/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [You have to temper the iron. Every hardship is an opportunity that you are given, an opportunity to grow. To grow is the sole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/you-have-to-temper-the-iron-every-hardship-is-an-opportunity-that-you/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) [Explore all 176 Elisabeth Kubler-Ross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) ## More Knowing quotes > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Knowing does not always allow us to prevent, but at least the things that we know, we hold them, if not in our hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/knowing-does-not-always-allow-us-to-prevent-but-at-least-the-things/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Life and death were so unpredictable. So close to each other. We existed moment to moment, never knowing who would be the next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/life-and-death-were-so-unpredictable-so-close-to-each-other-we/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The happy ending is hardly important, though we may be glad its there. The real joy is knowing that if you felt the trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-happy-ending-is-hardly-important-though-we-may-be-glad-its-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [Those who are the most happy appear to know it the least; happiness is something that for the most part seems to mainly consist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/those-who-are-the-most-happy-appear-to-know-it-the-least-happiness-is/) [Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/) > [So few men are really worth knowing, that it seems a shameful waste to let an anthropoid prejudice stand in the way of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/so-few-men-are-really-worth-knowing-that-it-seems-a-shameful-waste-to/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Trying to find this industry's tendency to celebrate the physical is a waste of time. So I'm happy to play the game. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/trying-to-find-this-industry-s-tendency-to-celebrate-the-physical-is/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-the-way-there-is-no-going-without-the-truth-there-is-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 7,350 Knowing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elisabeth Kubler-Ross" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-understand-that-we-have-a-limited/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Knowing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-understand-that-we-have-a-limited/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_knowing_it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-underst_361559.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_knowing_it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-underst_361559.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_knowing_it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-underst_361559.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth - and that we have no way…” — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross", "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": "Elisabeth Kubler-Ross", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's only when we truly know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-understand-that-we-have-a-limited/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/it-s-only-when-we-truly-know-and-understand-that-we-have-a-limited/#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 } } ] } ```