--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But what does it matter? It is not how…" description: "\"“But what does it matter? It is not how you die, but how you lived, that counts.”\" — Joe Abercrombie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/joe-abercrombie-791_counts_but-what-does-it-matter-it-is-not-how-yo_1943202.png" --- # But what does it matter? It is not how you die, but how… ![“But what does it matter? It is not how you die, but how you lived, that counts.” quote by Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/joe-abercrombie-791_counts_but-what-does-it-matter-it-is-not-how-yo_1943202.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/joe-abercrombie-791_counts_but-what-does-it-matter-it-is-not-how-yo_1943202.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/joe-abercrombie-791_counts_but-what-does-it-matter-it-is-not-how-yo_1943202.png) > ““But what does it matter? It is not how you die, but how you lived, that counts.”” [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s value is measured by how one lives, not how one dies. **In simple terms:** How you live matters more than how you die. Key Takeaway Focus on living meaningfully. Themes life legacy meaning Mood inspirational reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - relationships - health decisions Key Concepts existentialism ethical living personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What does a good life look like? - How do you define personal legacy? A Different Perspective Emphasis on living may overlook the impact of death circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counts/) [Die Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-lived-1072539/) [Does Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-matter/) [Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived/) [Lived Counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-counts-3109688/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not how you die, but how you lived, that counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/it-is-not-how-you-die-but-how-you-lived-that-counts/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Bah. What does it matter now? There are no certainties let in the world. That was the age of great men, doing what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/bah-what-does-it-matter-now-there-are-no-certainties-let-in-the-world/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Color does matter, even though people don't see it. I've lived it my whole life. It's just what I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-brown/color-does-matter-even-though-people-don-t-see-it-i-ve-lived-it-my/) [Kane Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-brown/) > [We die as we lived. Whatever was most important in life, will consume us at death. Whatever attachments we had will become evident then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/we-die-as-we-lived-whatever-was-most-important-in-life-will-consume/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Live to die. Or die to have lived ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-morin/live-to-die-or-die-to-have-lived/) [Mindy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-morin/) > [In the end, all men die. How you lived will be far more important to the Almighty than what you accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/in-the-end-all-men-die-how-you-lived-will-be-far-more-important-to/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [It's easier to die when you have lived, than it is to die when you haven't. So I say to all young people, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-doc-paskowitz/it-s-easier-to-die-when-you-have-lived-than-it-is-to-die-when-you/) [Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-doc-paskowitz/) > [Jesus died as He had lived-praying, forgiving, loving, sacrificing, trusting, quoting Scripture. If I die as I have lived, how will I die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/jesus-died-as-he-had-lived-praying-forgiving-loving-sacrificing/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [Everything seems to me to pass so quickly that we must concentrate on how to die rather than on how to live. How sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/everything-seems-to-me-to-pass-so-quickly-that-we-must-concentrate-on/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“It seems as if no man had ever died in America before, for in order to die you must first have lived. These men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-seems-as-if-no-man-had-ever-died-in-america-before-for-in-order-to/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It's not like I ever thought I'd live forever - or wanted to - but it had never occurred to me that I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-byrne/it-s-not-like-i-ever-thought-i-d-live-forever-or-wanted-to-but-it-had/) [Tanya Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-byrne/) > [Have I caught thee, my heavenly jewel? Why, now let me die, for I have lived long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-i-caught-thee-my-heavenly-jewel-why-now-let-me-die-for-i-have/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I would like to die as I have lived disappear among the tundra winds be transformed into birdsong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/i-would-like-to-die-as-i-have-lived-disappear-among-the-tundra-winds/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [How sweet it is to die if one has lived on the Cross!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vianney/how-sweet-it-is-to-die-if-one-has-lived-on-the-cross/) [John Vianney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vianney/) > [she would die as she had lived, with an axe in her hand and a laugh upon her lips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/she-would-die-as-she-had-lived-with-an-axe-in-her-hand-and-a-laugh/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) ## More by Joe Abercrombie > [“She shrugged. “I fell. I’m a clumsy fool.” “I know how you feel. I’m such a fool I knocked half my teeth out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/she-shrugged-i-fell-i-m-a-clumsy-fool-i-know-how-you-feel-i-m-such-a/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/things-aren-t-what-they-used-to-be-is-the-rallying-cry-of-small-minds/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Mercy and weakness are the same thing in war, and there's no prize for nice behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/mercy-and-weakness-are-the-same-thing-in-war-and-there-s-no-prize-for/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“The lowly have small ambitions, and are satisfied with small indulgences. They need not get fair treatment. They need only think that they do... ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-lowly-have-small-ambitions-and-are-satisfied-with-small/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“What do the dice say?" Dice say nothing. They are dice." Why roll'em, then?" They are dice. What else would I do with them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-they-are-dice-why-roll-em-then/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“You have to realistic about these things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/you-have-to-realistic-about-these-things/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“That was the difference between a hero and a villain, a soldier and a murderer, a victory and a crime. Which side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-villain-a-soldier-and-a/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Nostalgia was becoming a favoured hobby of his. Strange, how the best moments of our lives we scarcely notice except in looking back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/nostalgia-was-becoming-a-favoured-hobby-of-his-strange-how-the-best/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“The only difference between war and murder is the number of dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-only-difference-between-war-and-murder-is-the-number-of-dead/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Names turned over by time, like the plough turning the soil. Bringing up the new while the old were buried in the mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/names-turned-over-by-time-like-the-plough-turning-the-soil-bringing/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Knives,’ muttered Calder, ‘and threats, and bribes, and war?’ Bayaz’ eyes shone with the lamplight. ‘Yes?’ ‘What kind of a fucking wizard are you?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/knives-muttered-calder-and-threats-and-bribes-and-war-bayaz-eyes/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Straining and straining, getting nowhere, but unable to stop pushing in case the rock should fall and crush him. Meanwhile, arrogant bastards who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/straining-and-straining-getting-nowhere-but-unable-to-stop-pushing-in/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Yarvi: 'If we had known the hardship of it, we might have chosen another.' Shidwala: 'So it is with many choices.' Yarvi: 'All we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/yarvi-if-we-had-known-the-hardship-of-it-we-might-have-chosen-another/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“A bitter ending' said Yarvi. 'Many sweet stories have them', said Jaud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/a-bitter-ending-said-yarvi-many-sweet-stories-have-them-said-jaud/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) [Explore all 364 Joe Abercrombie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## More Counts quotes > [Experience counts in government even more than in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/experience-counts-in-government-even-more-than-in-business/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [I like to think that my works flow like music. That may be one reason I work in large groups versus one picture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-eggleston/i-like-to-think-that-my-works-flow-like-music-that-may-be-one-reason/) [William Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-eggleston/) > [There's nothing wrong with pitch counts. But not when it's spit out by a computer, and the computer does not look at an individual's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-seaver/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-pitch-counts-but-not-when-it-s-spit-out-by/) [Tom Seaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-seaver/) > [If you start out trying to achieve a specific thing - like doing stadium shows or going into the studio and doing an album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/if-you-start-out-trying-to-achieve-a-specific-thing-like-doing/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [I like to smile a lot before going in the car. I make jokes, even on the grid, and then I can still manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/i-like-to-smile-a-lot-before-going-in-the-car-i-make-jokes-even-on/) [Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/) > [Oh, Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson. And no matter if he sold 40 million records off of one record and sold 15 off his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-jackson/oh-michael-jackson-is-michael-jackson-and-no-matter-if-he-sold-40/) [Tito Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-jackson/) > [The Term Paper Artist' represents two models of writing, one of the little boy bouncing his ball, generating stories for the sheer pleasure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leavitt/the-term-paper-artist-represents-two-models-of-writing-one-of-the/) [David Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leavitt/) > [Right now counts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/right-now-counts-forever/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Looks, health and elegance are what counts. Someone can look wonderful in a sweatsuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleg-cassini/looks-health-and-elegance-are-what-counts-someone-can-look-wonderful/) [Oleg Cassini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleg-cassini/) > [Ultimately, it's your talent that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armaan-malik/ultimately-it-s-your-talent-that-counts/) [Armaan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armaan-malik/) > [In a painting, what counts is the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-braque/in-a-painting-what-counts-is-the-unexpected/) [Georges Braque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-braque/) > [Germany is not like Ireland or Denmark. 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In no other subject that I know of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/every-writing-teacher-gives-the-subliminal-message-every-time-they/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) [Browse all 274 Counts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But what does it matter? 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