--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the nasty thing which no polite person…" description: "\"“the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk about in public. But death, even when unmentionable, remains inescapable. The one sure fact ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/j-i-packer-2-17620_death_the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-n_339377.jpg" --- # the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk… ![“the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk about in public. But death, even when unmentionable, remains inescapable. The one sure fact of life is that one day, with or without warning, quietly or painfully, it is going to stop.” quote by J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/j-i-packer-2-17620_death_the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-n_339377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/j-i-packer-2-17620_death_the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-n_339377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/j-i-packer-2-17620_death_the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-n_339377.jpg) > ““the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk about in public. But death, even when unmentionable, remains inescapable. The one sure fact of life is that one day, with or without warning, quietly or painfully, it is going to stop.”” [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life inevitably ends; death is unavoidable and often ignored, yet it is the only certainty we have. **In simple terms:** Death is certain and unavoidable. Key Takeaway Accept mortality and live meaningfully. Themes mortality certainty reflection Mood somber contemplative Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - grief counseling - end‑of‑life planning - spiritual reflection - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts existentialism theology human condition Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging death change daily choices? - What practices help you face mortality? A Different Perspective Denial can hinder healthy coping and planning for death. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“Wonderfullest things are ever the unmentionable; deep memories yield no epitaphs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/wonderfullest-things-are-ever-the-unmentionable-deep-memories-yield/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“And among adults, adultery is an unmentionable thing, which only occurs in the Bible and in Mobile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdowell/and-among-adults-adultery-is-an-unmentionable-thing-which-only-occurs/) [Michael McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdowell/) > [Stupidity is a fact of life, but unmentionable. The new Prudery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/stupidity-is-a-fact-of-life-but-unmentionable-the-new-prudery/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [God has replaced sex as the unmentionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/god-has-replaced-sex-as-the-unmentionable/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“This is all a figurative way of speaking about what is unmentionable. What is unmentionable is pure fuck and pure cunt; it must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/this-is-all-a-figurative-way-of-speaking-about-what-is-unmentionable/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“You do that, and I take back every nasty thing I've ever said about you." He grinned, his mood changing from serious to wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-do-that-and-i-take-back-every-nasty-thing-i-ve-ever-said-about-2/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [After reading the 'Zux' Fanfic made me cry... Why Did That Directioner EvenWrite that NASTY Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/after-reading-the-zux-fanfic-made-me-cry-why-did-that-directioner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only nasty thing I like is a nasty groove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo/the-only-nasty-thing-i-like-is-a-nasty-groove/) [JoJo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo/) > [“The Oompa smiled, and it was a nasty thing to behold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/the-oompa-smiled-and-it-was-a-nasty-thing-to-behold/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [I mean, taking photographs is a very nasty thing to do. It's very cruel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-armstrong-jones/i-mean-taking-photographs-is-a-very-nasty-thing-to-do-it-s-very-cruel/) [Antony Armstrong-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-armstrong-jones/) > [They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [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/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) ## More by J.I. Packer > [“Trafton, by the way, has taken a lesson from Lewis and written a delightful children’s tale, The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic (see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/trafton-by-the-way-has-taken-a-lesson-from-lewis-and-written-a/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“as signs of inadequacy and weakness, they look on wealth as a source of stability and strength. Our proud hearts shrink from weakness, real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/as-signs-of-inadequacy-and-weakness-they-look-on-wealth-as-a-source/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“The preacher should work to convert his congregation; the wife should work to save her unbelieving husband. Christians are sent to convert, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-preacher-should-work-to-convert-his-congregation-the-wife-should/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Humility is the product of ongoing repentance as one decides against, turns from, and by watching and praying seeks to steer clear of pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/humility-is-the-product-of-ongoing-repentance-as-one-decides-against/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Taste and see that the LORD is good,” says the psalmist (Ps 34:8). To “taste” is, as we say, to “try” a mouthful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/taste-and-see-that-the-lord-is-good-says-the-psalmist-ps-34-8-to/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Historical exegesis is only the preliminary part of interpretation; application is its essence. Exegesis without application should not be called interpretation at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/historical-exegesis-is-only-the-preliminary-part-of-interpretation/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/there-is-something-exceedingly-improving-to-the-mind-in-a/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“the Son of God told his disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-son-of-god-told-his-disciples-to-baptize-in-the-name-of-the/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/so-we-are-cruel-to-ourselves-if-we-try-to-live-in-this-world-without/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Nor is it the spirit of those Christians - alas, they are many - whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/nor-is-it-the-spirit-of-those-christians-alas-they-are-many-whose/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/meditation-is-the-activity-of-calling-to-mind-and-thinking-over-and/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/you-sum-up-the-whole-of-new-testament-religion-if-you-describe-it-as/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Many have found it hard to see what claim the law can have on the Christian. We are free from the law, they say;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/many-have-found-it-hard-to-see-what-claim-the-law-can-have-on-the/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“What we have to grasp, then, is that the bad conscience of the natural man is not at all the same thing as conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/what-we-have-to-grasp-then-is-that-the-bad-conscience-of-the-natural/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“and ongoing embrace of his incarnate Son as perfectly righteous, to be honored accordingly, embraces us with him, for his sake, by virtue of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/and-ongoing-embrace-of-his-incarnate-son-as-perfectly-righteous-to-be/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) [Explore all 36 J.I. Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. 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. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk about in public. But death, even when unmentionable, remains inescapable. The one sure fact of life is that one day, with or without warning, quietly or painfully, it is going to stop.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.I. Packer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-nowadays-will-talk-about-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-nowadays-will-talk-about-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/j-i-packer-2-17620_death_the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-n_339377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/j-i-packer-2-17620_death_the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-n_339377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/j-i-packer-2-17620_death_the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-n_339377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk about in public. But death, even when…” — J.I. Packer", "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": "J.I. Packer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“the nasty thing which no polite...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-nowadays-will-talk-about-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-nowadays-will-talk-about-in/#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 } } ] } ```