--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't have to be afraid of dying…" description: "\"We don't have to be afraid of dying because it's not really death that scares us. We are afraid of not having lived.\" — Harold S. Kushner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/harold-s-kushner-4877_death_we-don-t-have-to-be-afraid-of-dying-beca_2890757.png" --- # We don't have to be afraid of dying because it's not… ![“We don't have to be afraid of dying because it's not really death that scares us. We are afraid of not having lived.” quote by Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/harold-s-kushner-4877_death_we-don-t-have-to-be-afraid-of-dying-beca_2890757.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/harold-s-kushner-4877_death_we-don-t-have-to-be-afraid-of-dying-beca_2890757.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/harold-s-kushner-4877_death_we-don-t-have-to-be-afraid-of-dying-beca_2890757.png) > “We don't have to be afraid of dying because it's not really death that scares us. We are afraid of not having lived.” [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of not living fully outweighs fear of death; the desire for a meaningful life drives us. **In simple terms:** We fear not living more than dying. Key Takeaway Prioritize living a fulfilling life. Themes mortality meaning purpose fear life philosophy Mood hopeful serious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - travel - volunteering - creative projects Key Concepts existential psychology legacy building mindful living Questions to Reflect On - What does a life well lived look like for you? - How can you act now toward that vision? A Different Perspective Fear of death can still be paralyzing for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Its not dying that you need to be afraid of, its never having lived in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-not-dying-that-you-need-to-be-afraid-of-its-never-having-lived-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not dying you need to be afraid of, it's never having lived in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/it-s-not-dying-you-need-to-be-afraid-of-it-s-never-having-lived-in/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [“Aren't you afraid of dying? Not really. 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Of losing her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/i-m-not-afraid-of-anything-yet-i-think-i-m-afraid-of-charlie-not/) [K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/) > [I'm not afraid of having big banks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-warsh/i-m-not-afraid-of-having-big-banks/) [Kevin Warsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-warsh/) ## More by Harold S. Kushner > [When a mentally retarded child is born, the religious question we often ask is, "Why does God let this happen?" The better question to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/when-a-mentally-retarded-child-is-born-the-religious-question-we/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [Seek something outside your nine-to-five job as an additional source of fulfillment and as a way to feel the joy of helping others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/seek-something-outside-your-nine-to-five-job-as-an-additional-source/) [Harold S. 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Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [There seems to be something in the human soul that causes us to think less of ourselves every time we do something wrong... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/there-seems-to-be-something-in-the-human-soul-that-causes-us-to-think/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [There is a Jewish notion that holiness is found with other people. To understand what life really is, one has to share it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/there-is-a-jewish-notion-that-holiness-is-found-with-other-people-to/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [The path to God is rarely a steady climb upward. We climb, we fall back, and we climb higher again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/the-path-to-god-is-rarely-a-steady-climb-upward-we-climb-we-fall-back/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [You don't have to be religious to have a soul; everybody has one. You don't have to be religious to perfect your soul; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/you-don-t-have-to-be-religious-to-have-a-soul-everybody-has-one-you/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [When your life is filled with the desire to see the holiness in everyday life, something magical happens: Ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/when-your-life-is-filled-with-the-desire-to-see-the-holiness-in/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [When I talk to people who feel this emptiness and lack of fulfillment, I recommend they find a source of balance in their lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/when-i-talk-to-people-who-feel-this-emptiness-and-lack-of-fulfillment/) [Harold S. 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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. 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