--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had gone through a near-death…" description: "\"I had gone through a near-death experience, and that gives you an insight into how fleeting life is, and what's important.\" — Frank Serpico" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/frank-serpico-38160_death_i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experien_1724055.png" --- # I had gone through a near-death experience, and that gives… ![“I had gone through a near-death experience, and that gives you an insight into how fleeting life is, and what's important.” quote by Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/frank-serpico-38160_death_i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experien_1724055.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/frank-serpico-38160_death_i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experien_1724055.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/frank-serpico-38160_death_i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experien_1724055.png) > “I had gone through a near-death experience, and that gives you an insight into how fleeting life is, and what's important.” [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A near‑death event revealed life's brevity, prompting a reassessment of priorities and values. **In simple terms:** Facing death made him see what truly matters. Key Takeaway Focus on meaningful relationships and purpose. Themes mortality values reflection Mood thoughtful serene Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - health crises - career changes - personal loss - goal setting Key Concepts existential insight priority setting spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - What truly matters to you now? - How can you honor that insight daily? A Different Perspective Trauma can distort perspective if not processed health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Fleeting life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fleeting-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Near death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/near-death/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“All of life is a near-death experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunshine-o-donnell/all-of-life-is-a-near-death-experience/) [Sunshine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunshine-o-donnell/) > [I have Hurt Myself over and over, ensure confusion and distraction as my way of living with my Pitied self.. I fear too Much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samara-visser/i-have-hurt-myself-over-and-over-ensure-confusion-and-distraction-as/) [Samara Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samara-visser/) > [“The closest I ever came to a near death experience was living in LA.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deirdra-baldwin/the-closest-i-ever-came-to-a-near-death-experience-was-living-in-la/) Deirdra Baldwin > [Is this turning into a near death experience...possibly. Does this add to the adventure...absolutley! -Jase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duck-dynasty/is-this-turning-into-a-near-death-experience-possibly-does-this-add/) [Duck Dynasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duck-dynasty/) > [Death is only an experience through which you are meant to learn a great lesson: you cannot die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/death-is-only-an-experience-through-which-you-are-meant-to-learn-a/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“We've heard that you don't need a near-death experience to see Guardians. Just be more wide awake when you dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefanie-samek/we-ve-heard-that-you-don-t-need-a-near-death-experience-to-see/) Stefanie Samek > [I wouldn't wish it on people but there is a positive side to a near-death experience. People used to ask me do you fancy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mortimer/i-wouldn-t-wish-it-on-people-but-there-is-a-positive-side-to-a-near/) [Bob Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mortimer/) > [I had this crazy, a bit of a near-death experience in Estonia. I had these visions of the future but I was in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraka-larson/i-had-this-crazy-a-bit-of-a-near-death-experience-in-estonia-i-had/) [Taraka Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraka-larson/) > [“We hold in our hands a key to peace on earth, yet it has been overlooked. It is the near-death experience. It must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-michelle-lewis/we-hold-in-our-hands-a-key-to-peace-on-earth-yet-it-has-been/) April Michelle Lewis > [Once, I played a doctor who had a near-death experience, so I researched it, and it's impressive what people are saying about what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-koch/once-i-played-a-doctor-who-had-a-near-death-experience-so-i/) [Sebastian Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-koch/) > [We tend to take a great deal for granted, because you feel like you're going to live forever. It's only if you lose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-lee/we-tend-to-take-a-great-deal-for-granted-because-you-feel-like-you-re/) [Brandon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-lee/) > [“On July 13, 1994, Lint had a near-death experience, followed immediately by death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aylett/on-july-13-1994-lint-had-a-near-death-experience-followed-immediately/) [Steve Aylett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aylett/) > [“Bulgaria, I reflected as I walked back to the hotel, isn’t a country; it’s a near-death experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/bulgaria-i-reflected-as-i-walked-back-to-the-hotel-isn-t-a-country-it/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [Sometimes a little near death experience helps them put things into perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-shropshire/sometimes-a-little-near-death-experience-helps-them-put-things-into/) Anne Shropshire > [That is an incredible period I think when you have a near-death experience. You are really understanding that there is a greater self than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-tiwari/that-is-an-incredible-period-i-think-when-you-have-a-near-death/) [Maya Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-tiwari/) ## More by Frank Serpico > [The reality is that we do not wash our own laundry - it just gets dirtier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/the-reality-is-that-we-do-not-wash-our-own-laundry-it-just-gets/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [The whole f\*\*king system is corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/the-whole-f-king-system-is-corrupt/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/the-fight-for-justice-against-corruption-is-never-easy-it-never-has/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [The blue wall will always be there because the system supports it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/the-blue-wall-will-always-be-there-because-the-system-supports-it/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [Today it is becoming harder to speak out, with the inception of the Patriot Act, the president has legislated free speech to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/today-it-is-becoming-harder-to-speak-out-with-the-inception-of-the/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which honest police officers can act without fear of ridicule or reprisal from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/the-problem-is-that-the-atmosphere-does-not-yet-exist-in-which-honest/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [An honest cop still can't find a place to go and complain without fear of recrimination. The blue wall will always be there because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/an-honest-cop-still-can-t-find-a-place-to-go-and-complain-without/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [My acting career began on the streets of New York. When I was a cop, I played many impressive roles, from derelict to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/my-acting-career-began-on-the-streets-of-new-york-when-i-was-a-cop-i/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [I used to think, 'How can I write my life story? I'm still living it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/i-used-to-think-how-can-i-write-my-life-story-i-m-still-living-it/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [Cops today are nothing but an armed tax collector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/cops-today-are-nothing-but-an-armed-tax-collector/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) > [I'm retarded - I mean I'm retired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/i-m-retarded-i-mean-i-m-retired/) [Frank Serpico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) [Explore all 12 Frank Serpico quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "I had gone through a near-death experience, and that gives you an insight into how fleeting life is, and what's important.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Serpico" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experience-and-that-gives-you-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experience-and-that-gives-you-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/frank-serpico-38160_death_i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experien_1724055.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/frank-serpico-38160_death_i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experien_1724055.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/frank-serpico-38160_death_i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experien_1724055.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had gone through a near-death experience, and that gives you an insight into how fleeting life is, and…” — Frank Serpico", "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": "Frank Serpico", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-serpico/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had gone through a near-death...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experience-and-that-gives-you-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-serpico/i-had-gone-through-a-near-death-experience-and-that-gives-you-an/#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 } } ] } ```