--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s the thing about death that makes…" description: "\"“That’s the thing about death that makes it useful. Death was always a reminder to the living to live—to live in the present and to look forward to the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jennifer-l-armentrout-96_death_that-s-the-thing-about-death-that-makes_116374.jpg" --- # That’s the thing about death that makes it useful. Death… ![“That’s the thing about death that makes it useful. Death was always a reminder to the living to live—to live in the present and to look forward to the future.” quote by Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jennifer-l-armentrout-96_death_that-s-the-thing-about-death-that-makes_116374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jennifer-l-armentrout-96_death_that-s-the-thing-about-death-that-makes_116374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jennifer-l-armentrout-96_death_that-s-the-thing-about-death-that-makes_116374.jpg) > ““That’s the thing about death that makes it useful. Death was always a reminder to the living to live—to live in the present and to look forward to the future.”” [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awareness of mortality motivates living fully in the present and planning hopeful futures. **In simple terms:** Death reminds us to live now and look ahead. Key Takeaway Mortality fuels purposeful living. Themes death mindfulness future orientation motivation Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - making a bucket list - setting short‑term goals - practicing daily gratitude Key Concepts existential awareness psychological resilience Practical Applications - use mortality reminders to prioritize values - schedule regular reflection sessions Questions to Reflect On - How does the thought of death shape your daily choices? - Can focusing on the future distract from present joys? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-dominic/do-not-weep-for-i-shall-be-more-useful-to-you-after-my-death-and-i/) Saint Dominic > [“parents have the young ones touch the person’s face. Children need to understand the reality of life and death as a reminder to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/parents-have-the-young-ones-touch-the-person-s-face-children-need-to/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Life Is Beautiful is a powerful reminder that living is a gift and we must make the best of it, every day of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/life-is-beautiful-is-a-powerful-reminder-that-living-is-a-gift-and-we/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [I don't know what it is about death that makes it so hard. I suppose it's the one-sided communication; the fact that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-about-death-that-makes-it-so-hard-i-suppose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“I think that it is death alone that makes things poignant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/i-think-that-it-is-death-alone-that-makes-things-poignant/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders round as ravens claws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/death-makes-angels-of-us-all-and-gives-us-wings-where-we-had-2/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [“There’s something about death that makes people want to live. We wanted to live that day, and I don’t blame us for it. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-santopolo/there-s-something-about-death-that-makes-people-want-to-live-we/) [Jill Santopolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-santopolo/) > [Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders smooth as ravens claws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/death-makes-angels-of-us-all-and-gives-us-wings-where-we-had/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [“There's something about imminent death that makes all the threads weave into a picture...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/there-s-something-about-imminent-death-that-makes-all-the-threads/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [You never know what life means till you die; even throughout life, tis death that makes life live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/you-never-know-what-life-means-till-you-die-even-throughout-life-tis/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [Death is what makes life an event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/death-is-what-makes-life-an-event/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Death is what makes life fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/death-is-what-makes-life-fun/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [“Death is what makes life possible. It's the balance, Meridian. There always has to be balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-kizer/death-is-what-makes-life-possible-it-s-the-balance-meridian-there/) [Amber Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-kizer/) > [“For knowledge of death makes us wish to extend our lives at the expense of others. And this is the root of the struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/for-knowledge-of-death-makes-us-wish-to-extend-our-lives-at-the/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Death makes its own choices. Has reasoning an order has a taste…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelo-tsanatelis/death-makes-its-own-choices-has-reasoning-an-order-has-a-taste/) [Angelo Tsanatelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelo-tsanatelis/) ## More by Jennifer L. Armentrout > [“I needed to stop staring at his bicep...and chest...and tattoo. Never thought the sun could be so...sexy. Wow. This was awkward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-needed-to-stop-staring-at-his-bicep-and-chest-and-tattoo-never/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“If you want a woman with a tight little kitty, the find one with itty bitty titties!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/if-you-want-a-woman-with-a-tight-little-kitty-the-find-one-with-itty/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Pretty much all women who wear pantsuits are evil. Kat's head tipped to the side. Okay. I do have to agree with that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/pretty-much-all-women-who-wear-pantsuits-are-evil-kat-s-head-tipped/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils. 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You’re just a silly little human.” His arm shot out so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/you-know-my-sister-and-i-can-t-understand-what-dawson-sees-in-you-you/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“He stepped aside, allowing me back into the hallway. As we headed to another elevator, he was glued to my hip. "As close as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/he-stepped-aside-allowing-me-back-into-the-hallway-as-we-headed-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“He bent down, pressing his head against her forehead. “Seriously though, I want this – I want you … More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/he-bent-down-pressing-his-head-against-her-forehead-seriously-though/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Everybody, no matter what is happening around them, deserves the kind of love that man feels for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/everybody-no-matter-what-is-happening-around-them-deserves-the-kind/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“I can't believe you ate all the ice cream, Daemon!"I cringed and stopped inside the dining room. There was no way I was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-can-t-believe-you-ate-all-the-ice-cream-daemon-i-cringed-and/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Aiden grabbed my arm, pulling me right against his chest. The unexpected contact fried my brain. “If I was like every other pure-blood, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/aiden-grabbed-my-arm-pulling-me-right-against-his-chest-the/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Fine!” I threw my hands up in the air. “Yes, you mean something to me. What you did for me on Thanksgiving—that made me…”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/fine-i-threw-my-hands-up-in-the-air-yes-you-mean-something-to-me-what/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Please tell me that I undressed myself last night.” A half-smile formed. “Is that what you want to hear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/please-tell-me-that-i-undressed-myself-last-night-a-half-smile-formed/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“It’s not great. What kind of connection is this? A one-way hotline to Pervyville?” I took a step forward, on a roll now. “It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/it-s-not-great-what-kind-of-connection-is-this-a-one-way-hotline-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) [Explore all 1,277 Jennifer L. Armentrout quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) ## 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. 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