--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would take less than a second for you…" description: "\"It would take less than a second for you to die. But that's quite long enough to be in mortal agony, don't you think?\" — Eoin Colfer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/eoin-colfer-736_agony_it-would-take-less-than-a-second-for-you_1342014.png" --- # It would take less than a second for you to die. But… ![“It would take less than a second for you to die. But that's quite long enough to be in mortal agony, don't you think?” quote by Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/eoin-colfer-736_agony_it-would-take-less-than-a-second-for-you_1342014.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/eoin-colfer-736_agony_it-would-take-less-than-a-second-for-you_1342014.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/eoin-colfer-736_agony_it-would-take-less-than-a-second-for-you_1342014.png) > “It would take less than a second for you to die. But that's quite long enough to be in mortal agony, don't you think?” [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is fleeting; even brief moments can feel excruciatingly long when facing death. **In simple terms:** Death feels long in agony. Key Takeaway Cherish each moment. Themes mortality pain time perspective Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - medical emergencies - dangerous sports - war zones - high‑risk jobs Key Concepts existential dread temporal perception Questions to Reflect On - How would you change your priorities if you felt time was limited? - What does “long enough” mean to you? A Different Perspective The statement exaggerates subjective experience; not all die quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Die Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-quite-3594614/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Mortal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-mortal-4536870/) [Mortal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal/) [Mortal Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-agony-1398370/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“You are mortal. You will not last long.' ... 'That's what mortal means,' I say with a sigh that I don't have to fake.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-are-mortal-you-will-not-last-long-that-s-what-mortal-means-i-say/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Good God! how often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/good-god-how-often-are-we-to-die-before-we-go-quite-off-this-stage-in/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“I’VE never seen such a look of mortal agony on a human face before. She screamed quite a bit before she died, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/i-ve-never-seen-such-a-look-of-mortal-agony-on-a-human-face-before/) [Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/) > [In my own work, I don't have favorite characters, but I have characters that I relate to the most. And I relate the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/in-my-own-work-i-don-t-have-favorite-characters-but-i-have-characters/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Darkness is only in the mortal eye, that thinks it sees, but sees not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/darkness-is-only-in-the-mortal-eye-that-thinks-it-sees-but-sees-not/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [By the time I'm old, I'm sure I'll have lived a full enough life. I think we're mortal for a reason. Life gets tiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-furlong/by-the-time-i-m-old-i-m-sure-i-ll-have-lived-a-full-enough-life-i/) [Edward Furlong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-furlong/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“human beings can’t be legends, being mortal,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-smith/human-beings-can-t-be-legends-being-mortal/) [Ali Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-smith/) > [“It was more than any mortal man could resist, so he let go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/it-was-more-than-any-mortal-man-could-resist-so-he-let-go/) [Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/) > [“The evilness is a good choice if we're only mortal humans, or maybe it'll be...?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-salazar/the-evilness-is-a-good-choice-if-we-re-only-mortal-humans-or-maybe-it/) [Josh Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-salazar/) > [A wicked mortal is not the idea of God. He is little else than the expression of error. To suppose that sin, lust, hatred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/a-wicked-mortal-is-not-the-idea-of-god-he-is-little-else-than-the/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [We civilizations now know ourselves mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/we-civilizations-now-know-ourselves-mortal/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [Were not the gods forms created like me and you, mortal, transient?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/were-not-the-gods-forms-created-like-me-and-you-mortal-transient/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [To love is to be vulnerable: if God loves, then God is mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cupitt/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-if-god-loves-then-god-is-mortal/) [Don Cupitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cupitt/) > [“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/) ## More by Eoin Colfer > [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [And I will not be beaten by that jackass." "Jackass?" said Foaly, wounded. "My favorite uncle is a jackass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-i-will-not-be-beaten-by-that-jackass-jackass-said-foaly-wounded/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/thankfully-the-rest-of-the-world-assumed-that-the-irish-were-crazy-a/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [The craft's occupants clutched their armrests, and more than one of them closed their eyes. But not Artemis. He couldn't. There was something morbidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-craft-s-occupants-clutched-their-armrests-and-more-than-one-of/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“There were only two men on the planet better educated in the various martial arts than Butler, and he was related to one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-were-only-two-men-on-the-planet-better-educated-in-the-various/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [If Elmore Leonard met Jim Thompson down a dark alley at midnight they might emerge a week later with thick beards, bloodshot eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/if-elmore-leonard-met-jim-thompson-down-a-dark-alley-at-midnight-they/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Sig Sauer. Nine millimetres. Thirteen in the magazine. Big bullets. One of these hits you and it could blow your head off; something even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sig-sauer-nine-millimetres-thirteen-in-the-magazine-big-bullets-one/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Onscreen, Foaly rubbed his eyelids with his index fingers. "Yeah, yeah. Here we go. Captain Short goes rogue once more. Hands up who's surprised.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/onscreen-foaly-rubbed-his-eyelids-with-his-index-fingers-yeah-yeah/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [(about his terrible attempt at making a sandwich) It's more difficult than it looks. (Artemis Fowl)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/about-his-terrible-attempt-at-making-a-sandwich-it-s-more-difficult/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“ It's now or never , thought Otto. Now, now! thought Witmeyer. And so Ram kissed Thundercat, and suddenly neither bed of roses nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/it-s-now-or-never-thought-otto-now-now-thought-witmeyer-and-so-ram/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Explore all 371 Eoin Colfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## More Agony quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love masters agony; the soul that seemed Forsaken feels her present God again And in her Father's arms Contented dies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keble/love-masters-agony-the-soul-that-seemed-forsaken-feels-her-present/) [John Keble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keble/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-cure-is-in-the-house-not-brought-by-other-hands-from-distant/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Being ill like this combines shock - this time I will die - with a pain and agony that are unfamiliar, that wrench me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/being-ill-like-this-combines-shock-this-time-i-will-die-with-a-pain/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 813 Agony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It would take less than a second for you to die. 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