--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are occupants. No one has any lasting…" description: "\"We are occupants. No one has any lasting purchase on life or on the planet.\" — Henry Rollins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/henry-rollins-170_lasting_we-are-occupants-no-one-has-any-lasting_518844.png" --- # We are occupants. No one has any lasting purchase on life… ![“We are occupants. No one has any lasting purchase on life or on the planet.” quote by Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/henry-rollins-170_lasting_we-are-occupants-no-one-has-any-lasting_518844.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/henry-rollins-170_lasting_we-are-occupants-no-one-has-any-lasting_518844.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/henry-rollins-170_lasting_we-are-occupants-no-one-has-any-lasting_518844.png) > “We are occupants. No one has any lasting purchase on life or on the planet.” [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life and Earth are temporary; we are merely temporary stewards. **In simple terms:** We have no permanent claim on life or planet. Key Takeaway Live responsibly, leave a positive legacy. Themes impermanence stewardship humility Mood serious contemplative Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - environmental policy - personal ethics - resource use Key Concepts ecology existentialism legacy Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do you feel as a temporary occupant? - How can you honor the planet? A Different Perspective Our actions may feel insignificant against vast time scales. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Occupants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupants-2351518/) [Occupants Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupants-lasting-4380702/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Purchase Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchase-life-4380703/) ## Related quotes > [“Hi, occupants.” “What are you? Junk mail?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tufo/hi-occupants-what-are-you-junk-mail/) [Mark Tufo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tufo/) > [“When they rolled into Darrowby in the small hours most of the occupants of the bus were unconscious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-herriot/when-they-rolled-into-darrowby-in-the-small-hours-most-of-the/) [James Herriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-herriot/) > [Occupants of public offices love power and are prone to abuse it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/occupants-of-public-offices-love-power-and-are-prone-to-abuse-it/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Youths write me and tell me that their band will go nowhere because of all the bad bands in the world. I tell them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/youths-write-me-and-tell-me-that-their-band-will-go-nowhere-because/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There are degrees of loneliness, ways in which the experience of loneliness deepens, becomes something like what we might call a way of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-dumm/there-are-degrees-of-loneliness-ways-in-which-the-experience-of/) [Thomas L. Dumm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-dumm/) > [“Remember this. Hold on to this. This is the only perfection there is, the perfection of helping others. This is the only thing we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/remember-this-hold-on-to-this-this-is-the-only-perfection-there-is/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [There will be no lasting peace either in the heart of individuals or in social customs until death is outlawed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-will-be-no-lasting-peace-either-in-the-heart-of-individuals-or/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The incorruptible things are all within the narrow gate. The peace of God which passed all understanding - the bright hope of good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-incorruptible-things-are-all-within-the-narrow-gate-the-peace-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/peace-above-all-things-is-to-be-desired-but-blood-must-sometimes-be/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) ## More by Henry Rollins > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the summer of '84, you just couldn't escape the Born in the USA record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/in-the-summer-of-84-you-just-couldn-t-escape-the-born-in-the-usa/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Sleep is for squares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/sleep-is-for-squares/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-lose-the-light-of-the-sun-i-will-write-by-candlelight-moonlight/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was raised in Washington, DC, very violent place. I grew up with violence. My introduction to music was violent. The years I've spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-raised-in-washington-dc-very-violent-place-i-grew-up-with/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel pain everyday of my life. When you see me perform, it's that pain you're seeing coming out. I put all my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-pain-everyday-of-my-life-when-you-see-me-perform-it-s-that/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel close to people like Jimi Hendrix because I connect with his music. Not the man but what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-close-to-people-like-jimi-hendrix-because-i-connect-with-his/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/young-gay-and-stuck-in-arkansas-sounds-like-a-horror-flick/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was never told to "Get up, get out there, get a job." It was never a thing either parent ever said I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-never-told-to-get-up-get-out-there-get-a-job-it-was-never-a/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's no retirement, there's just a few years of non-work by the fire with someone bringing you some tea and relative peace and playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-no-retirement-there-s-just-a-few-years-of-non-work-by-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I love being a storyteller. I love telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-love-being-a-storyteller-i-love-telling-stories/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) [Explore all 1,006 Henry Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## More Lasting quotes > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/peace-above-all-things-is-to-be-desired-but-blood-must-sometimes-be/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [The incorruptible things are all within the narrow gate. The peace of God which passed all understanding - the bright hope of good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-incorruptible-things-are-all-within-the-narrow-gate-the-peace-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [There will be no lasting peace either in the heart of individuals or in social customs until death is outlawed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-will-be-no-lasting-peace-either-in-the-heart-of-individuals-or/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Remember this. Hold on to this. This is the only perfection there is, the perfection of helping others. This is the only thing we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/remember-this-hold-on-to-this-this-is-the-only-perfection-there-is/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [There are degrees of loneliness, ways in which the experience of loneliness deepens, becomes something like what we might call a way of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-dumm/there-are-degrees-of-loneliness-ways-in-which-the-experience-of/) [Thomas L. Dumm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-dumm/) > [What we want is a lasting peace. We will oppose soft measures which invite the breaking of the peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-byrnes/what-we-want-is-a-lasting-peace-we-will-oppose-soft-measures-which/) [James F. Byrnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-byrnes/) > [I was in the drug store the other day trying to get a cold medication...Not easy. There's an entire wall of products you need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-was-in-the-drug-store-the-other-day-trying-to-get-a-cold-medication/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [More people are interested in trying to shuffle paper assets around than building lasting assets by producing real goods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/more-people-are-interested-in-trying-to-shuffle-paper-assets-around/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) > [You can't just beat a team, you have to leave a lasting impression in their minds so they never want to see you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-hamm/you-can-t-just-beat-a-team-you-have-to-leave-a-lasting-impression-in/) [Mia Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-hamm/) [Browse all 1,095 Lasting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are occupants. 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