--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All fates are ‘worse than death’." description: "\"All fates are ‘worse than death’.\" — Evelyn Waugh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/evelyn-waugh-850_death_all-fates-are-worse-than-death-2985309_2985309.png" --- # All fates are ‘worse than death’. ![“All fates are ‘worse than death’.” quote by Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/evelyn-waugh-850_death_all-fates-are-worse-than-death-2985309_2985309.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/evelyn-waugh-850_death_all-fates-are-worse-than-death-2985309_2985309.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/evelyn-waugh-850_death_all-fates-are-worse-than-death-2985309_2985309.png) > “All fates are ‘worse than death’.” [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Claims fate is worse than death, suggesting despair. **In simple terms:** Fate can be worse than death. Key Takeaway Seek meaning beyond fate. Themes fate despair existential death meaning Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - creative writing - therapy - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy literature Questions to Reflect On - What gives life meaning despite fate? - How can we confront existential dread? A Different Perspective Overly fatalistic view may limit agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Fates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fates/) [Fates Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fates-worse-4663354/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse/) [Worse Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-death/) ## Related quotes > [Officially there are no fates worse than death. Unofficially, there is a profusion of such fates. For some people, just living with the thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/officially-there-are-no-fates-worse-than-death-unofficially-there-is/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [As children grow, they gravitate to their fates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/as-children-grow-they-gravitate-to-their-fates/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“In my view, fate is like intelligence, or beauty, or type z + lymphocytes - some individuals have a greater supply than others. I,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-my-view-fate-is-like-intelligence-or-beauty-or-type-z-lymphocytes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To live in fear and falsehood is worse than death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zend-avesta/to-live-in-fear-and-falsehood-is-worse-than-death/) [Zend - Avesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zend-avesta/) > [Losing the Super Bowl is worse than death. You have to get up the next morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/losing-the-super-bowl-is-worse-than-death-you-have-to-get-up-the-next/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [The loss of liberty to a generous mind is worse than death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-loss-of-liberty-to-a-generous-mind-is-worse-than-death/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“This is worse than death. Now i have to spend eternity with my nagging wife and mother-in-law. what did i do to deserve this?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corwin/this-is-worse-than-death-now-i-have-to-spend-eternity-with-my-nagging/) [John Corwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corwin/) > [We are our own fates.- Our deeds are our own doomsmen.- Man's life was made not for creeds but actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bulwer-lytton-1st-earl-of-lytton/we-are-our-own-fates-our-deeds-are-our-own-doomsmen-man-s-life-was/) [Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bulwer-lytton-1st-earl-of-lytton/) > [“Bad fates do not always follow those who deserve them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/bad-fates-do-not-always-follow-those-who-deserve-them/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [I wonder which is worse-the death, not knowing what comes after, or the wedding, when you think you know, but you're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyn-mccrumb/i-wonder-which-is-worse-the-death-not-knowing-what-comes-after-or-the/) [Sharyn McCrumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyn-mccrumb/) > [Abortion is the insurance against that fate worse than death which is called a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/abortion-is-the-insurance-against-that-fate-worse-than-death-which-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [To me, the thing that is worse than death is betrayal. You see, I could conceive death, but I could not conceive betrayal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/to-me-the-thing-that-is-worse-than-death-is-betrayal-you-see-i-could/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Indeed, the failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/indeed-the-failure-to-understand-that-there-are-things-much-worse/) [Jk Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [There is no worse death than the end of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pelagius/there-is-no-worse-death-than-the-end-of-hope/) [Pelagius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pelagius/) > [Better that we should err in action than wholly refuse to perform. The storm is so much better than the calm, as it declares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/better-that-we-should-err-in-action-than-wholly-refuse-to-perform-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) ## More by Evelyn Waugh > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [One can write, think and pray exclusively of others; dreams are all egocentric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/one-can-write-think-and-pray-exclusively-of-others-dreams-are-all/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Sometimes," Helena continued, "I have a terrible dream of the future. Not now, but presently, people may forget their loyalty to their kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/sometimes-helena-continued-i-have-a-terrible-dream-of-the-future-not/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Rex has never been unkind to me intentionally. It's just that he isn't a real person at all; he's just a few faculties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/rex-has-never-been-unkind-to-me-intentionally-it-s-just-that-he-isn-t/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [If it could only be like this always – always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe and Aloysius in a good temper...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-it-could-only-be-like-this-always-always-summer-always-alone-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“My dear, I should like to stick you full of barbed arrows like a p-p-pin cushion...Where do you lurk? I shall come down your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/my-dear-i-should-like-to-stick-you-full-of-barbed-arrows-like-a-p-p/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [There is something incomparably thrilling in first opening a brand new book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/there-is-something-incomparably-thrilling-in-first-opening-a-brand/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Beware the Anglo-Catholics. They're all sodomites with unpleasant accents." --Cousin Jasper”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/beware-the-anglo-catholics-they-re-all-sodomites-with-unpleasant/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“The fortnight at Venice passed quickly and sweetly-- perhaps too sweetly; I was drowning in honey, stingless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-fortnight-at-venice-passed-quickly-and-sweetly-perhaps-too/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“It’s awful to think that I shall probably never, as long as I live, see you dancing like that again all by yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/it-s-awful-to-think-that-i-shall-probably-never-as-long-as-i-live-see/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [I've always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again, punished again. But the worse I am, the more I need God. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be-bad-again-punished-again-but/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Limbo is the place. In Limbo one has natural happiness without the beatific vision; no harps; no communal order; but wine and conversation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/limbo-is-the-place-in-limbo-one-has-natural-happiness-without-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“What is adolescence without trash?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/what-is-adolescence-without-trash/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Perhaps host and guest is really the happiest relation for father and son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/perhaps-host-and-guest-is-really-the-happiest-relation-for-father-and/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) [Explore all 347 Evelyn Waugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## 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": "All fates are ‘worse than death’.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Evelyn Waugh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/all-fates-are-worse-than-death/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/all-fates-are-worse-than-death/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/evelyn-waugh-850_death_all-fates-are-worse-than-death-2985309_2985309.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/evelyn-waugh-850_death_all-fates-are-worse-than-death-2985309_2985309.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/evelyn-waugh-850_death_all-fates-are-worse-than-death-2985309_2985309.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All fates are ‘worse than death’.” — Evelyn Waugh", "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": "Evelyn Waugh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All fates are ‘worse than death’.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/all-fates-are-worse-than-death/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/all-fates-are-worse-than-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 } } ] } ```