--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we come into this life, we don't…" description: "\"When we come into this life, we don't really own anything. And we own nothing when we leave. It is only a lease we have during our lifetime, and it i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/jerold-panas-52217_generosity_when-we-come-into-this-life-we-don-t-rea_2176081.jpg" --- # When we come into this life, we don't really own anything… ![“When we come into this life, we don't really own anything. And we own nothing when we leave. It is only a lease we have during our lifetime, and it is up to us to make the most of it.” quote by Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/jerold-panas-52217_generosity_when-we-come-into-this-life-we-don-t-rea_2176081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/jerold-panas-52217_generosity_when-we-come-into-this-life-we-don-t-rea_2176081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/jerold-panas-52217_generosity_when-we-come-into-this-life-we-don-t-rea_2176081.jpg) > “When we come into this life, we don't really own anything. And we own nothing when we leave. It is only a lease we have during our lifetime, and it is up to us to make the most of it.” [Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) ## 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 temporary lease; we own nothing permanently, so we should make the most of our time **In simple terms:** Life is temporary, use it wisely Key Takeaway Live fully, cherish each moment Themes mortality impermanence purpose Mood contemplative motivational Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - travel - relationships - volunteering Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness legacy Questions to Reflect On - What would you prioritize if time were limited? - How can you balance enjoyment with future security? A Different Perspective Focus on short‑term gains can neglect long‑term stability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) ## Related quotes > [You don't come into this life wanting to be anything other than happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-moore/you-don-t-come-into-this-life-wanting-to-be-anything-other-than-happy/) [Demi Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-moore/) > [People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hope to one day co-sign a lease with another person but, well, it doesn't plague me that I have yet to do so.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-hope-to-one-day-co-sign-a-lease-with-another-person-but-well-it/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [We are all going to die, sometimes even in the middle of a lease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/we-are-all-going-to-die-sometimes-even-in-the-middle-of-a-lease/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [“You've given her a new lease on life.' 'She didn't need one. She owns life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-airgood/you-ve-given-her-a-new-lease-on-life-she-didn-t-need-one-she-owns-life/) [Ellen Airgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-airgood/) > [Old age is a lease nature only signs as a particular favor, and it may be, to one, only in the space of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/old-age-is-a-lease-nature-only-signs-as-a-particular-favor-and-it-may/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Life is a secret lease from God and we should not allow ourselves to be bruised. Family life is our strength and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-losey/life-is-a-secret-lease-from-god-and-we-should-not-allow-ourselves-to/) Joseph Losey > [For too long, the system has been biased in favor of oil and gas developers: sweetheart lease deals, generous subsidies and a regulatory process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/for-too-long-the-system-has-been-biased-in-favor-of-oil-and-gas/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [When you get older, you learn certain life lessons. You apply that wisdom, and suddenly you say, 'Hey, I've got a new lease on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-you-get-older-you-learn-certain-life-lessons-you-apply-that/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I told myself I never wanted to rent again. Even though it's a battle, I'm lucky cause I'm living in a cheaper part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-told-myself-i-never-wanted-to-rent-again-even-though-it-s-a-battle/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [Lease terms don't fit start-up lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-hirschfeld/lease-terms-don-t-fit-start-up-lives/) [Alexa Hirschfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-hirschfeld/) > [When death gives us a long lease of life, it takes as hostages all those whom we have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/when-death-gives-us-a-long-lease-of-life-it-takes-as-hostages-all/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [The chief secret of comfort lies in not suffering trifles to vex us, and in prudently cultivating our undergrowth of small pleasures, since very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sharp/the-chief-secret-of-comfort-lies-in-not-suffering-trifles-to-vex-us/) Richard Sharp > [ I'd like to have a vote on it at the November \[owners'\] meetings. There's no reason why we can't announce who we intend to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dupuy/i-d-like-to-have-a-vote-on-it-at-the-november-owners-meetings-there-s/) Bob DuPuy > [There is a park that is known 4 the face it attracts colorful people whose hair On 1 side is swept back The smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/there-is-a-park-that-is-known-4-the-face-it-attracts-colorful-people/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) ## More by Jerold Panas > [Excellence is never an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerold-panas/excellence-is-never-an-accident/) [Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) > [Philanthropy is the rent we pay for the joy and privilege we have for our space on this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerold-panas/philanthropy-is-the-rent-we-pay-for-the-joy-and-privilege-we-have-for/) [Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) > [Few actions of consequence in the world have been accomplished without passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerold-panas/few-actions-of-consequence-in-the-world-have-been-accomplished/) [Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) > [What you do for yourself is fleeting and dies with you. What you do for others has unending benefit and is eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerold-panas/what-you-do-for-yourself-is-fleeting-and-dies-with-you-what-you-do/) [Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) > [Life is a wheel. The more you give, the more you get back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerold-panas/life-is-a-wheel-the-more-you-give-the-more-you-get-back/) [Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) > [It's hard to outdo the Lord in generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerold-panas/it-s-hard-to-outdo-the-lord-in-generosity/) [Jerold Panas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) [Explore all 7 Jerold Panas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-panas/) ## More Generosity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Businesses acting as businesses, not as charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing the pressing issues society face(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/businesses-acting-as-businesses-not-as-charitable-donors-are-the-most/) Tony Elumelu > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I think more and more people are becoming much more sensitive to what they do with their money when they die, especially if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-think-more-and-more-people-are-becoming-much-more-sensitive-to-what/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [Children must early learn the the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/children-must-early-learn-the-the-beauty-of-generosity-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always clear that I didn't want to just do pure charity. My thinking was definitely about looking at the levers in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/i-was-always-clear-that-i-didn-t-want-to-just-do-pure-charity-my/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Browse all 3,867 Generosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we come into this life, we don't really own anything. And we own nothing when we leave. 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