--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is need for some kind of…" description: "\"There is need for some kind of make-believe in order to face death unflinchingly. To our real, naked selves there is not a thing on earth or in heaven ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/eric-hoffer-343_believe_there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-beli_632744.jpg" --- # There is need for some kind of make-believe in order to… ![“There is need for some kind of make-believe in order to face death unflinchingly. To our real, naked selves there is not a thing on earth or in heaven worth dying for.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/eric-hoffer-343_believe_there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-beli_632744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/eric-hoffer-343_believe_there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-beli_632744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/eric-hoffer-343_believe_there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-beli_632744.jpg) > “There is need for some kind of make-believe in order to face death unflinchingly. To our real, naked selves there is not a thing on earth or in heaven worth dying for.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing death requires a fictional narrative; without a compelling story, existence feels empty and unworthy of sacrifice. **In simple terms:** Imagined purpose helps confront mortality. Key Takeaway Cultivate meaningful narratives to give life purpose. Themes mortality meaning psychology Mood somber hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - rituals - artistic creation - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism mythmaking Questions to Reflect On - What personal stories give you strength? - How do you balance realism with hopeful imagination? A Different Perspective Not everyone finds solace in constructed myths; some seek concrete meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Unflinchingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-unflinchingly-5095902/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Face Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-death/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Make believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-believe/) [Naked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked/) [Naked Selves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked-selves-2696946/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [“The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-silence-of-aloneness-reveals-to-their-eyes-their-naked-selves-and/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [To our real, naked selves there is not a thing on earth or in heaven worth dying for. It is only when we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/to-our-real-naked-selves-there-is-not-a-thing-on-earth-or-in-heaven/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The leader personifies the certitude of the creed and the defiance and grandeur of power. He articulates and justifies the resentment damned up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-leader-personifies-the-certitude-of-the-creed-and-the-defiance/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [ \[The designated or chosen leader tries to\] articulate and justify the resentment dammed up in the souls of the frustrated. He kindles the vision… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-designated-or-chosen-leader-tries-to-articulate-and-justify-the/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“One only realizes the value of air when one is deprived of it and one only begins to value life in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/one-only-realizes-the-value-of-air-when-one-is-deprived-of-it-and-one/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“In the face of death, he had nothing to lose by speaking of the intimacies of love. Yet, in the face of life, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-brooker/in-the-face-of-death-he-had-nothing-to-lose-by-speaking-of-the/) [Gerard Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-brooker/) > [We can either laugh in the face of death or die trying not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-grippando/we-can-either-laugh-in-the-face-of-death-or-die-trying-not-to/) [James Grippando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-grippando/) > [Any man who has seen the face of death knows better than to seek him out a second time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/any-man-who-has-seen-the-face-of-death-knows-better-than-to-seek-him/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [If we can't face death, we'll never overcome it. You have to look it straight in the eye. Then you can turn around and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-we-can-t-face-death-we-ll-never-overcome-it-you-have-to-look-it/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [.. almost everything all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/almost-everything-all-external-expectations-all-pride-all-fear-of/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“Braith opened her eyes and screamed at what hovered above her, “Gods! Death comes for me!” The horrifying face of death curled its lip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-aiken/braith-opened-her-eyes-and-screamed-at-what-hovered-above-her-gods/) [G.A. Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken/) > [“I might face death any minute now! But I should try not to put myself in harms' way as long as I can live.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samad-beh-rang/i-might-face-death-any-minute-now-but-i-should-try-not-to-put-myself/) [Samad Beh-Rang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samad-beh-rang/) > [“Why?" he asked instead. "Why do such things when my death would have benefited you far more?" Yhalen bent over his knees, resting forehead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-l-nunn/why-he-asked-instead-why-do-such-things-when-my-death-would-have/) [P.L. Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-l-nunn/) > [When I planned to ski Everest, the first thing I faced was, 'How can I return alive?' All the preparation and training was based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuichiro-miura/when-i-planned-to-ski-everest-the-first-thing-i-faced-was-how-can-i/) [Yuichiro Miura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuichiro-miura/) > [“If you´re not ready to face death, you´re not ready to face life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-not-ready-to-face-death-you-re-not-ready-to-face-life/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is need for some kind of make-believe in order to face death unflinchingly. To our real, naked selves there is not a thing on earth or in heaven worth dying for.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-believe-in-order-to-face-death/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-believe-in-order-to-face-death/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/eric-hoffer-343_believe_there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-beli_632744.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/eric-hoffer-343_believe_there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-beli_632744.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/eric-hoffer-343_believe_there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-beli_632744.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is need for some kind of make-believe in order to face death unflinchingly. To our real, naked selves…” — Eric Hoffer", "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": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is need for some kind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-believe-in-order-to-face-death/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-is-need-for-some-kind-of-make-believe-in-order-to-face-death/#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 } } ] } ```