--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So death, the most terrifying of ills, is…" description: "\"So death, the most terrifying of ills, is nothing to us, since so long as we exist, death is not with us; but when death comes, then we do not exist. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/epicurus-1642_concern_so-death-the-most-terrifying-of-ills-is_1634735.jpg" --- # So death, the most terrifying of ills, is nothing to us… ![“So death, the most terrifying of ills, is nothing to us, since so long as we exist, death is not with us; but when death comes, then we do not exist. It does not then concern either the living or the dead, since for the former it is not, and the latter are no more.” quote by Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/epicurus-1642_concern_so-death-the-most-terrifying-of-ills-is_1634735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/epicurus-1642_concern_so-death-the-most-terrifying-of-ills-is_1634735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/epicurus-1642_concern_so-death-the-most-terrifying-of-ills-is_1634735.jpg) > “So death, the most terrifying of ills, is nothing to us, since so long as we exist, death is not with us; but when death comes, then we do not exist. It does not then concern either the living or the dead, since for the former it is not, and the latter are no more.” [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death is irrelevant to the living because it ends consciousness; thus it should not be feared. **In simple terms:** Death ends consciousness, so no fear needed. Key Takeaway Live fully, not fearing death. Themes mortality philosophy fear ethics Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily decisions - health choices - legacy planning - stress management Key Concepts epicureanism materialism existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing death’s irrelevance change your priorities? - What daily habits reflect a fearless approach to mortality? A Different Perspective People often fear death due to unknowns, not logic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Death. I word used to say some one has passed away. perhaps your right. they are dead. but are they really? why does death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-i-word-used-to-say-some-one-has-passed-away-perhaps-your-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-does-not-concern-us-because-as-long-as-we-exist-death-is-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“Death is nothing to us. When we exist, death is not; and when death exists, we are not. All sensation and consciousness ends with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-is-nothing-to-us-when-we-exist-death-is-not-and-when-death/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death, the most dreaded of evils, is therefore of no concern to us; for while we exist death is not present, and when death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-the-most-dreaded-of-evils-is-therefore-of-no-concern-to-us-for/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [When we exist, death is not yet present, and when death is present, then we do not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/when-we-exist-death-is-not-yet-present-and-when-death-is-present-then/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“Thus that which is the most awful of evils, death, is nothing to us, since when we exist there is no death, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/thus-that-which-is-the-most-awful-of-evils-death-is-nothing-to-us/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“When we exist, death is not present, and when death is present, we do not exist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/when-we-exist-death-is-not-present-and-when-death-is-present-we-do/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“Accustom yourself to the belief that death is of no concern to us, since all good and evil lie in sensation and sensation ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/accustom-yourself-to-the-belief-that-death-is-of-no-concern-to-us/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Life is better than death. But death comes eventually to everyone. It is something which many in their prime may prefer not to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/life-is-better-than-death-but-death-comes-eventually-to-everyone-it/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [There is another side to death. Whether death happens through an act of violence to a large number of people or to an individual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/there-is-another-side-to-death-whether-death-happens-through-an-act/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Each day, we wake slightly altered, and the person we were yesterday is dead. So why, one could say, be afraid of death, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/each-day-we-wake-slightly-altered-and-the-person-we-were-yesterday-is/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“Not only are selves conditional but they die. Each day, we wake slightly altered, and the person we were yesterday is dead. So why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/not-only-are-selves-conditional-but-they-die-each-day-we-wake/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“Death is most terrifying to those who have yet to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/death-is-most-terrifying-to-those-who-have-yet-to-live/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Love is scary! Taking a vow to love someone through sickness and health, for richer for poorer, forsaking all others, until death do us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elin-hilderbrand/love-is-scary-taking-a-vow-to-love-someone-through-sickness-and/) [Elin Hilderbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elin-hilderbrand/) > [Death is terrifying because it is so ordinary. It happens all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cheever/death-is-terrifying-because-it-is-so-ordinary-it-happens-all-the-time/) [Susan Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cheever/) ## More by Epicurus > [Most beautiful is the sight of those near and dear to us when our original kinship makes us of one mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/most-beautiful-is-the-sight-of-those-near-and-dear-to-us-when-our/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Any man who does not think that what he has is more than ample, is an unhappy man, even if he is the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/any-man-who-does-not-think-that-what-he-has-is-more-than-ample-is-an/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“The opinions held by most people about the gods are not true conceptions of them but fallacious notions, according to which awful penalties are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-opinions-held-by-most-people-about-the-gods-are-not-true/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death is nothing to us: for that which is dissolved is without sensation; and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-is-nothing-to-us-for-that-which-is-dissolved-is-without/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Neither one should hesitate about dedicating oneself to philosophy when young, nor should get tired of doing it when one's old, because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/neither-one-should-hesitate-about-dedicating-oneself-to-philosophy/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-thou-wilt-make-a-man-happy-add-not-unto-his-riches-but-take-away/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Being happy is knowing how to be content with little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/being-happy-is-knowing-how-to-be-content-with-little/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Injustice is not evil in itself, but only in the fear and apprehension that one will not escape those who have been set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/injustice-is-not-evil-in-itself-but-only-in-the-fear-and-apprehension/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/riches-do-not-exhilarate-us-so-much-with-their-possession-as-they/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/i-have-never-wished-to-cater-to-the-crowd-for-what-i-know-they-do-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The pleasant life is not produced by continual drinking and dancing, nor sexual intercourse, nor rare dishes of sea food and other delicacies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-pleasant-life-is-not-produced-by-continual-drinking-and-dancing/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/be-moderate-in-order-to-taste-the-joys-of-life-in-abundance/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If the gods have the will to remove evil and cannot, then they are not all-powerful. If they are neither able nor willing, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-the-gods-have-the-will-to-remove-evil-and-cannot-then-they-are-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Of all things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/of-all-things-which-wisdom-provides-to-make-life-entirely-happy-much/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-does-not-concern-us-because-as-long-as-we-exist-death-is-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) [Explore all 209 Epicurus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) ## More Concern quotes > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. 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