--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So once you're dead there's just nothing?…" description: "\"So once you're dead there's just nothing? Mari: Basically... Korogi: I get so scared when I start thinking about this stuff. I can hardly breathe, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/haruki-murakami-21_believe_so-once-you-re-dead-there-s-just-nothing_2346381.jpg" --- # So once you're dead there's just nothing? Mari… ![“So once you're dead there's just nothing? Mari: Basically... Korogi: I get so scared when I start thinking about this stuff. I can hardly breathe, and my whole body wants to shrink into a corner. It's so much easier to just believe in reincarnation.” quote by Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/haruki-murakami-21_believe_so-once-you-re-dead-there-s-just-nothing_2346381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/haruki-murakami-21_believe_so-once-you-re-dead-there-s-just-nothing_2346381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/haruki-murakami-21_believe_so-once-you-re-dead-there-s-just-nothing_2346381.jpg) > “So once you're dead there's just nothing? Mari: Basically... Korogi: I get so scared when I start thinking about this stuff. I can hardly breathe, and my whole body wants to shrink into a corner. It's so much easier to just believe in reincarnation.” [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing death triggers existential fear, leading some to seek comfort in reincarnation beliefs. **In simple terms:** Death fear drives belief in rebirth. Key Takeaway Consider personal coping mechanisms. Themes existence fear spirituality Mood melancholic thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - philosophical debate - creative writing Key Concepts mortality anxiety belief systems Questions to Reflect On - How does fear shape belief in afterlife? - What alternatives help cope with death anxiety? A Different Perspective Belief may avoid confronting mortality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Reincarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-reincarnation/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Just believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-believe/) [Korogi Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korogi-scared-5697196/) [Reincarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reincarnation/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-start-1257915/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Inequalities of Fate very curious. Should like, on this account, to believe in Reincarnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-delafield/inequalities-of-fate-very-curious-should-like-on-this-account-to/) [E. M. Delafield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-delafield/) > [Life is an endless cycle for those who believe in reincarnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-baggio/life-is-an-endless-cycle-for-those-who-believe-in-reincarnation/) [Roberto Baggio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-baggio/) > [I started out really young, when I was four, five, six, writing poems, before I could play an instrument. I was writing about things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/i-started-out-really-young-when-i-was-four-five-six-writing-poems/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [I believe in reincarnation, and I believe I've lived quite a few lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-believe-in-reincarnation-and-i-believe-i-ve-lived-quite-a-few-lives/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I don't believe in reincarnation. I feel like we're here for such an appallingly brief period of time. I believe we each get this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/i-don-t-believe-in-reincarnation-i-feel-like-we-re-here-for-such-an/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [But Buddy was an upper. He was happy. He loved music, and he was really happy. I don't know... I don't believe in reincarnation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/but-buddy-was-an-upper-he-was-happy-he-loved-music-and-he-was-really/) [Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/) > [My mother made me believe in reincarnation, in karma. If I live a good life, I believe I will be reincarnated as a higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/my-mother-made-me-believe-in-reincarnation-in-karma-if-i-live-a-good/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I'd rather believe in reincarnation than hell. The idea of an afterlife is much so more tolerable when returning is an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-feldman/i-d-rather-believe-in-reincarnation-than-hell-the-idea-of-an/) [Deborah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-feldman/) > [ I believe in reincarnation,” \[Bjorn\] said. I KNOW. “I tried to live a good life. Does that help?” THAT’S NOT UP TO ME. Death… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-believe-in-reincarnation-bjorn-said-i-know-i-tried-to-live-a-good/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I don't believe in reincarnation because there's an expert on this question, and he's Jesus of Nazareth. He's the only person in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/i-don-t-believe-in-reincarnation-because-there-s-an-expert-on-this/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [I believe in reincarnation of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-vodianova/i-believe-in-reincarnation-of-the-soul/) [Natalia Vodianova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-vodianova/) > [“If you do not believe in reincarnation then the word “prarabdh” (karma effect) should not be present in your vocabulary. Christian, Muslim, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-you-do-not-believe-in-reincarnation-then-the-word-prarabdh-karma/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Unless you believe in reincarnation, this is your one shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/unless-you-believe-in-reincarnation-this-is-your-one-shot/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [I don't believe in reincarnation. That's a cop-out, I know. I don't really want to be reincarnated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-believe-in-reincarnation-that-s-a-cop-out-i-know-i-don-t/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [Do people who believe in reincarnation ever say, Darn, I'm still writing the year 1612 on my checks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/do-people-who-believe-in-reincarnation-ever-say-darn-i-m-still/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) ## More by Haruki Murakami > [I always feel like I'm struggling to become someone else. Like I'm trying to find a new place, grab hold of a new life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-always-feel-like-i-m-struggling-to-become-someone-else-like-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [If writing novels is like planting a forest, then writing short stories is more like planting a garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-writing-novels-is-like-planting-a-forest-then-writing-short/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“The sad truth is that what I could recall in five seconds all too soon needed ten, then thirty, thena full minute...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-sad-truth-is-that-what-i-could-recall-in-five-seconds-all-too/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Intelligent teenage girls were often instinctively theatrical, purposely eccentric, mouthing highly suggestive words to confuse people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/intelligent-teenage-girls-were-often-instinctively-theatrical/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Memory is like fiction; or else it's fiction that's like memory. This really came home to me once I started writing fiction, that memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/memory-is-like-fiction-or-else-it-s-fiction-that-s-like-memory-this/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. So maybe I'm just scared of my own shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-most-dangerous-creature-here-would-have-to-be-me-so-maybe-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [If you listen to the radio for a whole hour there's maybe one decent song. The rest is mass-produced garbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-you-listen-to-the-radio-for-a-whole-hour-there-s-maybe-one-decent/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“that one of our problems was our inability to recognize and accept our own deformities”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/that-one-of-our-problems-was-our-inability-to-recognize-and-accept/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“One by one, I'll face the tasks before me and complete them as best I can. Focusing on each stride forward, but at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/one-by-one-i-ll-face-the-tasks-before-me-and-complete-them-as-best-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Eleven o'clock had come and gone. I had to find a way to bring this conversation to a successful conclusion and get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/eleven-o-clock-had-come-and-gone-i-had-to-find-a-way-to-bring-this/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Some people get a kick out of reading railway timetables and that's all they do all day. Some people make huge model boats out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/some-people-get-a-kick-out-of-reading-railway-timetables-and-that-s/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“When the time comes, everybody’s got to end up where they belong. Only me, I didn’t have a place to call my own. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-the-time-comes-everybody-s-got-to-end-up-where-they-belong-only/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“You let something out of the bag before yourself knew what it was all about”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-let-something-out-of-the-bag-before-yourself-knew-what-it-was-all/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) [Explore all 2,928 Haruki Murakami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So once you're dead there's just nothing? Mari: Basically... Korogi: I get so scared when I start thinking about this stuff. I can hardly breathe, and my whole body wants to shrink into a corner. 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