---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you’re sick and dying, the ego is…"
description: "\"“When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the first thing to go. I know there’re gurus who teach people how to release the ego, to conquer ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/j-r-rain-19908_death_when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-an_467117.jpg"
---

#  When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the…

![“When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the first thing to go. I know there’re gurus who teach people how to release the ego, to conquer the ego. I get it now, but I didn’t back when I was healthy. It’s moot now. The guy who falls off the toilet and knocks himself out no longer has an…” quote by J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/j-r-rain-19908_death_when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-an_467117.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/j-r-rain-19908_death_when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-an_467117.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/j-r-rain-19908_death_when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-an_467117.jpg)

> ““When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the first thing to go. I know there’re gurus who teach people how to release the ego, to conquer the ego. I get it now, but I didn’t back when I was healthy. It’s moot now. The guy who falls off the toilet and knocks himself out no longer has an ego.””

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Facing mortality reveals the futility of ego; when life ends, ego no longer matters.

**In simple terms:** Ego becomes irrelevant when dying.

Key Takeaway

Let go of ego before crisis.

Themes

mortality ego humility

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- terminal illness
- spiritual practice
- personal crisis

Key Concepts

existentialism self-transcendence

Questions to Reflect On

- How would you live differently without ego?
- What practices help diminish ego now?

A Different Perspective

Ego can still affect decisions while alive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Sick and dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick-and-dying/)

## Related quotes

> [“When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the first thing to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-and-should-be-the-first-thing-2/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [The battle of yoga is with the body and with the ego. You must conquer your ego, or small self, so that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-battle-of-yoga-is-with-the-body-and-with-the-ego-you-must-conquer/)

[B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/)

> [For me, it's the slow release of my ego and certain belief systems that I identify with that give me comfort and an identity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brancatisano/for-me-it-s-the-slow-release-of-my-ego-and-certain-belief-systems/)

[Richard Brancatisano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brancatisano/)

> [When I was 22 years old, and I first got to Nashville, women or girls were objects. It was a conquest. My emptiness inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/when-i-was-22-years-old-and-i-first-got-to-nashville-women-or-girls/)

[Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/)

> [In the spiritual life the easiest way to conquer ego is to offer gratitude to God for five minutes daily. If you cannot offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/in-the-spiritual-life-the-easiest-way-to-conquer-ego-is-to-offer/)

[Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/)

> [Grateful heart can conquer ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/grateful-heart-can-conquer-ego/)

[Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/)

> [The human ego prefers anything, just about anything, to falling, or changing, or dying. The ego is that part of you that loves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-human-ego-prefers-anything-just-about-anything-to-falling-or/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [Meditation is the art of dying. Then your ego will be shocked. And it is also truer to cal I it the art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/meditation-is-the-art-of-dying-then-your-ego-will-be-shocked-and-it/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Once you are afraid of death you are bound to be afraid of life. That's why I am talking about this Hasidic approach. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-you-are-afraid-of-death-you-are-bound-to-be-afraid-of-life-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I used to get some ego thing out of saying I wasn't a star, just an actress. Forget it. I'm a star. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-used-to-get-some-ego-thing-out-of-saying-i-wasn-t-a-star-just-an/)

[Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/)

> [When I'm on stage, I know exactly where I am. It's not an ego thing or anything like that, but I am more in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-carter/when-i-m-on-stage-i-know-exactly-where-i-am-it-s-not-an-ego-thing-or/)

[Carlene Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-carter/)

> [I hate when pitchers get me out multiple times. It's probably an ego thing, but I don't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-hate-when-pitchers-get-me-out-multiple-times-it-s-probably-an-ego/)

[Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/)

> [Midway, when I was working full-fledged on TV, I realised I was loving it. I didn't have a manger, or anyone promoting me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-shah/midway-when-i-was-working-full-fledged-on-tv-i-realised-i-was-loving/)

[Shefali Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-shah/)

> [Psychologically, when I sit down at noon, I'm it. I'm the only thing on. Nobody else does what I do. Nobody else has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/psychologically-when-i-sit-down-at-noon-i-m-it-i-m-the-only-thing-on/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I definitely have a sexual ego thing. But if I'm suggestive, it's in a nice way. Luckily, no one's ever been hurt...a few girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gibb/i-definitely-have-a-sexual-ego-thing-but-if-i-m-suggestive-it-s-in-a/)

[Andy Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gibb/)

## More by J.R. Rain

> [“Men tend to think all of their points were good, and they sure as hell didn’t need me to boost their already inflated egos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/men-tend-to-think-all-of-their-points-were-good-and-they-sure-as-hell/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“She unconsciously pulled her sticky shirt away from her skin and grimaced, as if sweating through her clothes was distasteful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/she-unconsciously-pulled-her-sticky-shirt-away-from-her-skin-and/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“Sleep is a blessing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/sleep-is-a-blessing/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“All of it gleamed in haphazard array, and most was covered by cobwebs from centuries past, along with layers of dust and grime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/all-of-it-gleamed-in-haphazard-array-and-most-was-covered-by-cobwebs/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“May he find a phalanx of horny demon bubbas in Hell, with a fondness for sharp objects.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/may-he-find-a-phalanx-of-horny-demon-bubbas-in-hell-with-a-fondness/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“golden tunnel. Light poured out of it and washed over me, and something close to singing reached my ears. Heartbreakingly beautiful singing. The voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/golden-tunnel-light-poured-out-of-it-and-washed-over-me-and-something/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“Dedication This book is dedicated to mothers everywhere: Our amazing, selfless, unsung heroes. Love you, ma.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/dedication-this-book-is-dedicated-to-mothers-everywhere-our-amazing/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“A marriage shouldn't have to be so much work. Love shouldn't crush your soul. A relationship should add to your life, not take away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/a-marriage-shouldn-t-have-to-be-so-much-work-love-shouldn-t-crush/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“My philosophy is this: Life is too short to work another minute at a job you don’t love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/my-philosophy-is-this-life-is-too-short-to-work-another-minute-at-a/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“I surveyed the others, who had all stopped in their tracks. "So what was the plan, boys? You were all going to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/i-surveyed-the-others-who-had-all-stopped-in-their-tracks-so-what-was/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the first thing to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-and-should-be-the-first-thing-2/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“The dead are everywhere. Most are buried and forgotten. A very small number walk among you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/the-dead-are-everywhere-most-are-buried-and-forgotten-a-very-small/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“These days, I do not have the strength or energy to even be negative. These days, I just am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/these-days-i-do-not-have-the-strength-or-energy-to-even-be-negative/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“She wasn’t always a demon,” he finished. “She was my mother once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/she-wasn-t-always-a-demon-he-finished-she-was-my-mother-once/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“So are we stalking your ex-husband?” “I’m a licensed private investigator,” I said. “I’m licensed to stalk.” “Really?” “In most cases.” “What about this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/so-are-we-stalking-your-ex-husband-i-m-a-licensed-private/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

[Explore all 30 J.R. Rain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

## 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": "“When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the first thing to go. I know there’re gurus who teach people how to release the ego, to conquer the ego. I get it now, but I didn’t back when I was healthy. It’s moot now. The guy who falls off the toilet and knocks himself out no longer has an ego.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J.R. Rain"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-and-should-be-the-first-thing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-and-should-be-the-first-thing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/j-r-rain-19908_death_when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-an_467117.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/j-r-rain-19908_death_when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-an_467117.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/j-r-rain-19908_death_when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-an_467117.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When you’re sick and dying, the ego is and should be the first thing to go. I know there’re gurus who teach…” — J.R. Rain",
                "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.R. Rain",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“When you’re sick and dying, the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-and-should-be-the-first-thing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/when-you-re-sick-and-dying-the-ego-is-and-should-be-the-first-thing/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
