--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had chosen the dead rather than the…" description: "\"“I had chosen the dead rather than the living, the thing thought rather than the thing thinking!”\" — George MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/george-macdonald-295_dead_i-had-chosen-the-dead-rather-than-the-li_768995.png" --- # I had chosen the dead rather than the living, the thing… ![“I had chosen the dead rather than the living, the thing thought rather than the thing thinking!” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/george-macdonald-295_dead_i-had-chosen-the-dead-rather-than-the-li_768995.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/george-macdonald-295_dead_i-had-chosen-the-dead-rather-than-the-li_768995.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/george-macdonald-295_dead_i-had-chosen-the-dead-rather-than-the-li_768995.png) > ““I had chosen the dead rather than the living, the thing thought rather than the thing thinking!”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing death over life reflects a desire for certainty, valuing thought over existence. **In simple terms:** Choosing death for certainty. Key Takeaway Consider the value of thought. Themes existential philosophy choice Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - literary analysis - personal reflection Key Concepts nihilism free will Questions to Reflect On - What does “the thing thought” mean? - Can thought exist without life? A Different Perspective Overlooks the value of living experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“But one thing is the thought, another thing is the deed, and another thing is the idea of the deed. The wheel of causality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/but-one-thing-is-the-thought-another-thing-is-the-deed-and-another/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The world was made for the dead. Think of all the dead there are...There's a million times more dead than living and the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-world-was-made-for-the-dead-think-of-all-the-dead-there-are-there/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Your mind must always go, even while you're shaking hands and going through all the maneuvers. I developed the ability long ago to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/your-mind-must-always-go-even-while-you-re-shaking-hands-and-going/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The mind is a vagrant thing… Thinking is not analogous to a person working in a laboratory who invents something on company time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-mind-is-a-vagrant-thing-thinking-is-not-analogous-to-a-person-2/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [“The only thing to thinking, is seeing something noticeable, that makes you see something you weren't noticing, that makes you see something that isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mclean/the-only-thing-to-thinking-is-seeing-something-noticeable-that-makes/) Norman Mclean > [The mind is a vagrant thing ... Thinking is not analogous to a person working in a laboratory who invents something on company time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-mind-is-a-vagrant-thing-thinking-is-not-analogous-to-a-person/) [Daniel J. 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And the answer is not much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-houston/one-thing-i-m-always-thinking-about-myself-is-what-am-i-willing-to/) [Pam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-houston/) > [The last thing I'm thinking about is anybody from my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-mena/the-last-thing-i-m-thinking-about-is-anybody-from-my-past/) [Erica Mena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-mena/) > [It's one thing thinking something and another thing knowing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/it-s-one-thing-thinking-something-and-another-thing-knowing-it/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [If you're for the right thing, you do it without thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-you-re-for-the-right-thing-you-do-it-without-thinking/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If everybody's thinking the same thing, then nobody's thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/if-everybody-s-thinking-the-same-thing-then-nobody-s-thinking/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [If one looks at a thing with the intention of trying to discover what it means, one ends up no longer seeing the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-magritte/if-one-looks-at-a-thing-with-the-intention-of-trying-to-discover-what/) [Rene Magritte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-magritte/) > [“Curiosity is a terrible thing, he was thinking. How is it possible to stop oneself from needing to know?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/curiosity-is-a-terrible-thing-he-was-thinking-how-is-it-possible-to/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [The music is the last thing I'm thinking about right now, in order of what's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-bacharach/the-music-is-the-last-thing-i-m-thinking-about-right-now-in-order-of/) [Burt Bacharach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-bacharach/) > [The bad thing is that thinking about thought doesn't help at all; one has to have it from nature so that the good ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-bad-thing-is-that-thinking-about-thought-doesn-t-help-at-all-one/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. 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