--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But mortification - literally, \"making…" description: "\"“But mortification - literally, \"making death\" - is what life is all about, a slow discovery of the mortality of all that is created so that we can app..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_beauty_but-mortification-literally-making-death_230687.jpg" --- # But mortification - literally, "making death" - is what… ![“But mortification - literally, "making death" - is what life is all about, a slow discovery of the mortality of all that is created so that we can appreciate its beauty without clinging to it as if it were a lasting possession. Our lives can indeed be seen as a process of becoming familiar with…” quote by Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_beauty_but-mortification-literally-making-death_230687.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_beauty_but-mortification-literally-making-death_230687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_beauty_but-mortification-literally-making-death_230687.jpg) > ““But mortification - literally, "making death" - is what life is all about, a slow discovery of the mortality of all that is created so that we can appreciate its beauty without clinging to it as if it were a lasting possession. Our lives can indeed be seen as a process of becoming familiar with death, as a school in the art of dying . . . all these times have passed by like friendly visitors, leaving you with dear memories but also with the sad recognition of the shortness of life. In every arrival there is a leave-taking; in every reunion there is a separation; in each one's growing up there is a growing old; in every smile there is a tear; and in every success there is a loss. All living is dying and all celebration is mortification too.”” [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is a gradual awareness of mortality that deepens appreciation of beauty and reduces attachment to permanence. **In simple terms:** Understanding death makes us cherish life more. Key Takeaway Embrace impermanence to value each moment. Themes mortality appreciation impermanence growth loss Mood reflective melancholic hopeful Type philosophical spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - end‑of‑life care - creative projects - relationship building Key Concepts existentialism spirituality mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of death change your daily choices? - What practices help you hold beauty without clinging? A Different Perspective Recognition of mortality can cause anxiety or nihilism if not balanced with meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Growing old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-old/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mortification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortification/) [Shortness of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortness-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Monogamy is god's way of making death seem like a more reasonable option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/monogamy-is-god-s-way-of-making-death-seem-like-a-more-reasonable/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [“I was not good at the whole making-death-a-positive-transition thing. How could I? I wanted her to fight to the last breath. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/i-was-not-good-at-the-whole-making-death-a-positive-transition-thing/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [I'm excited we can be part of making the death penalty history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/i-m-excited-we-can-be-part-of-making-the-death-penalty-history/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [“Our life is a short time in expectation, a time in which sadness and joy kiss each other at every moment. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/our-life-is-a-short-time-in-expectation-a-time-in-which-sadness-and/) [Henri J.M. 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