--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let death and exile, and all other things…" description: "\"Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you win never entertain any abject th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/epictetus-413_death_let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things_2947740.jpg" --- # Let death and exile, and all other things which appear… ![“Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you win never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/epictetus-413_death_let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things_2947740.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/epictetus-413_death_let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things_2947740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/epictetus-413_death_let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things_2947740.jpg) > “Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you win never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplating death and exile daily helps avoid despair and excessive desire for material things. **In simple terms:** Daily thought of death reduces desire. Key Takeaway Practice mortality awareness. Themes stoicism mortality detachment Mood calm detached Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - stress management - minimalism - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How does mortality contemplation affect you? - Can it improve contentment? A Different Perspective May cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abject Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abject-thought-554412/) [Chiefly Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefly-death-4427677/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-exile-361410/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Exile Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile-things-4427678/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Let Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-death-293670/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) ## Related quotes > [“Keep the prospect of death, exile and all such apparent tragedies before you every day – especially death – and you will never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/keep-the-prospect-of-death-exile-and-all-such-apparent-tragedies/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Let death be daily before your eyes, and you will never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/let-death-be-daily-before-your-eyes-and-you-will-never-entertain-any/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“In Genesis, and indeed for much of the Old Testament, the controlling image for death is exile. Adam and Eve were told that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/in-genesis-and-indeed-for-much-of-the-old-testament-the-controlling/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [We deliberate about the parcels of life, but not about life itself, and so we arrive all unawares at its different epochs, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/we-deliberate-about-the-parcels-of-life-but-not-about-life-itself-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [When I die, don't let my death stop the resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muqtada-al-sadr/when-i-die-don-t-let-my-death-stop-the-resistance/) [Muqtada al Sadr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muqtada-al-sadr/) > [“Let sickness prostrate us, have we not seen hundreds of believers as happy in the weakness of disease as they would have been in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/let-sickness-prostrate-us-have-we-not-seen-hundreds-of-believers-as/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“But don't cry over it he wouldn't want you to cry over him. Smile because you were able to meet him and get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-don-t-cry-over-it-he-wouldn-t-want-you-to-cry-over-him-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let me arise and open the gate, to breathe the wild warm air of the heath, And to let in Love, and to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-fane/let-me-arise-and-open-the-gate-to-breathe-the-wild-warm-air-of-the/) [Violet Fane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-fane/) > [“We think we only die at the end of our physical life but really, we die every day. Every decision we make that moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-beshqoy/we-think-we-only-die-at-the-end-of-our-physical-life-but-really-we/) [Natalia Beshqoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-beshqoy/) > [Name none of the fallen, for they stand in our place, and stand there still in each moment of our lives. Let my death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/name-none-of-the-fallen-for-they-stand-in-our-place-and-stand-there/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Don't let death make you sad, don't let it make you think differently of the person! but most important, DON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-death-make-you-sad-don-t-let-it-make-you-think-differently/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I had always thought that life was the actual thing, the natural thing, and that death was simply the end of living. Now, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nando-parrado/i-had-always-thought-that-life-was-the-actual-thing-the-natural-thing/) [Nando Parrado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nando-parrado/) > [When my friend Melot set the trap, I think I knew it. I turned to death full face, as I had turned to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/when-my-friend-melot-set-the-trap-i-think-i-knew-it-i-turned-to-death/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“I know what's wrong with me - I could never stand still for death! Which you've got to do by a certain age, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-know-what-s-wrong-with-me-i-could-never-stand-still-for-death-which/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## 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": "Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you win never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things-which-appear-terrible-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things-which-appear-terrible-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/epictetus-413_death_let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things_2947740.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/epictetus-413_death_let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things_2947740.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/epictetus-413_death_let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things_2947740.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly…” — Epictetus", "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": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let death and exile, and all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things-which-appear-terrible-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/let-death-and-exile-and-all-other-things-which-appear-terrible-be/#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 } } ] } ```