---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death is so close, always, a breath away"
description: "\"“Death is so close, always, a breath away”\" — Harlan Coben"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/harlan-coben-847_away_death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away-1_1849730.png"
---

#  Death is so close, always, a breath away

![“Death is so close, always, a breath away” quote by Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/harlan-coben-847_away_death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away-1_1849730.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/harlan-coben-847_away_death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away-1_1849730.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/harlan-coben-847_away_death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away-1_1849730.png)

> ““Death is so close, always, a breath away””

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

## 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 perpetually near, a constant reminder of mortality that hovers like a breath away.

**In simple terms:** Death is always close.

Key Takeaway

Live fully, aware of mortality.

Themes

mortality awareness urgency existence vulnerability

Mood

somber thoughtful urgent

Type

philosophical psychological literary

When to use this quote

- health crises
- personal loss
- risk assessment

Key Concepts

Memento mori existential tension life appreciation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does awareness of death shape choices?
- What comforts you in mortality?

A Different Perspective

Constant proximity to death can cause anxiety.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

## Related quotes

> [The magic is in the breaking the cycle of response by observing something in nature, something a close to you as your breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-magic-is-in-the-breaking-the-cycle-of-response-by-observing/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It seemed like my professional life would take a more scientific route. I guess that plan started to become undone when, at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnon-goldfinger/it-seemed-like-my-professional-life-would-take-a-more-scientific/)

[Arnon Goldfinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnon-goldfinger/)

> [No acting, no production, could take the place of that moment when you come out in the dark on to the stage and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/no-acting-no-production-could-take-the-place-of-that-moment-when-you/)

[Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/)

> [“He chuckles. "Evolution." He leans over as if telling me a secret. "I'll have you know that I've been this perfect since the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/he-chuckles-evolution-he-leans-over-as-if-telling-me-a-secret-i-ll/)

[Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/)

> [“Walking, talking, reading, drawing, praying, telling stories: the nourishment is there, as close as our own breath. We only have to pause a moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcewen/walking-talking-reading-drawing-praying-telling-stories-the/)

Christian McEwen

> [Close to your breath, I have embraced the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/close-to-your-breath-i-have-embraced-the-world/)

Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann

> [Where there's a doctor it's always a bad sign. Even when they are not doing the killing themselves it means a death is close,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/where-there-s-a-doctor-it-s-always-a-bad-sign-even-when-they-are-not/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [The true measure of a man is how he behaves when death is close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-katsu/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-how-he-behaves-when-death-is-close/)

[Alma Katsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-katsu/)

> [Death is close enough at hand so we do not need to be afraid of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/death-is-close-enough-at-hand-so-we-do-not-need-to-be-afraid-of-life/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Would words shatter the immensity of life and death so close to one another?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-abulhawa/would-words-shatter-the-immensity-of-life-and-death-so-close-to-one/)

[Susan Abulhawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-abulhawa/)

> [The sudden hand of Death close up mine eye!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-sudden-hand-of-death-close-up-mine-eye/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Death is very close, he thought. When you think in this manner. I can feel it, he decided. How near I am. Nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/death-is-very-close-he-thought-when-you-think-in-this-manner-i-can/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [See them together and you will feel a force that will take your breath away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/see-them-together-and-you-will-feel-a-force-that-will-take-your/)

[Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/)

> [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/)

[Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/)

> [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/)

[Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/)

## More by Harlan Coben

> [“He flipped through the music stations as he drove, searching for some nonexistent perfect song that would be, as Stevie Nicks might sing, “hauntingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/he-flipped-through-the-music-stations-as-he-drove-searching-for-some/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [“The whole place had a feel and aura about as warm as a cold sore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-whole-place-had-a-feel-and-aura-about-as-warm-as-a-cold-sore/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [When I was seventeen, I worked as a counsellor at a co-ed sleep-away camp for eight weeks. I loved it but it could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/when-i-was-seventeen-i-worked-as-a-counsellor-at-a-co-ed-sleep-away/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [Man plans. God laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/man-plans-god-laughs/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [“You could trust nature but not man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/you-could-trust-nature-but-not-man/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [I like to see the difference between good and evil as kind of like the foul line at a baseball game. It's very thin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-like-to-see-the-difference-between-good-and-evil-as-kind-of-like/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [The state of New Jersey is really two places - terrible cities and wonderful suburbs. I live in the suburbs, the final battleground of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-state-of-new-jersey-is-really-two-places-terrible-cities-and/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [“Esperanza's side had so many colors, Crayola sent a scout.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/esperanza-s-side-had-so-many-colors-crayola-sent-a-scout/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [You know, people call mystery novels or thrillers 'puzzles.' I never understood that, because when I buy a puzzle, I already know what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/you-know-people-call-mystery-novels-or-thrillers-puzzles-i-never/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [“Awareness started to creep in, clawing its way past the pain and numbness. He was lying on cold ground, his right cheek on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/awareness-started-to-creep-in-clawing-its-way-past-the-pain-and/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [“Her smile shames the sun”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/her-smile-shames-the-sun/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [This is the price you pay for having a great father. You get the wonder, the joy, the tender moments - and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/this-is-the-price-you-pay-for-having-a-great-father-you-get-the/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [“The words kept landing like punches, dazing Adam, sapping his resistance, leaving him shaken and confused and ready to take a standing eight count.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-words-kept-landing-like-punches-dazing-adam-sapping-his/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [I'm not very happy idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-m-not-very-happy-idle/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [“Making friends?” Tripp asked. “I’m a people person,” Adam said. “You know he’s the VP of the board, right?” “I must remember to genuflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/making-friends-tripp-asked-i-m-a-people-person-adam-said-you-know-he/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

[Explore all 351 Harlan Coben quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

## More Away quotes

> [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/)

[Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/)

> [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/)

[Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/)

> [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/)

[Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/)

> [You just say the word, and I'll make the rest of the world go away. I'll take you someplace safe, where no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-just-say-the-word-and-i-ll-make-the-rest-of-the-world-go-away-i/)

[Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/)

> [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [Beauty fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-fades-away/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You can't kind of take away, you either do or you don't. If you kind of take away something you're a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/you-can-t-kind-of-take-away-you-either-do-or-you-don-t-if-you-kind-of/)

[John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/)

> [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/)

[Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/)

> [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/)

[Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/)

> [If you take away the predators in the prairies and the national parks, you suddenly have an explosion of elk, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/if-you-take-away-the-predators-in-the-prairies-and-the-national-parks/)

[Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/)

> [“Please don't go away. You--you matter. To me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/please-don-t-go-away-you-you-matter-to-me/)

[Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/)

> [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/)

[Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

Browse all 4,933 Away quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Death is so close, always, a breath away”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harlan Coben"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Away"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/harlan-coben-847_away_death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away-1_1849730.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/harlan-coben-847_away_death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away-1_1849730.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/harlan-coben-847_away_death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away-1_1849730.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Death is so close, always, a breath away” — Harlan Coben",
                "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": "Harlan Coben",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Death is so close, always, a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/death-is-so-close-always-a-breath-away/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
