---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We shrink from the contemplation of our…"
description: "\"We shrink from the contemplation of our dead bodies, forgetting that when dead they are no longer ours, and concern us as little as the hairs that have..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_body_we-shrink-from-the-contemplation-of-our_2031267.jpg"
---

#  We shrink from the contemplation of our dead bodies…

![“We shrink from the contemplation of our dead bodies, forgetting that when dead they are no longer ours, and concern us as little as the hairs that have fallen from our heads.” quote by John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_body_we-shrink-from-the-contemplation-of-our_2031267.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_body_we-shrink-from-the-contemplation-of-our_2031267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_body_we-shrink-from-the-contemplation-of-our_2031267.jpg)

> “We shrink from the contemplation of our dead bodies, forgetting that when dead they are no longer ours, and concern us as little as the hairs that have fallen from our heads.”

[John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/)

## About This Quote

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

We avoid thinking about our dead bodies, treating them as detached from us, similar to how we ignore fallen hair.

**In simple terms:** People distance themselves from death and bodily decay.

Key Takeaway

Accept mortality as part of life.

Themes

mortality philosophy detachment

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- grief counseling
- medical ethics
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

existentialism body image death awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- How does ignoring death affect our living choices?
- What practices help integrate awareness of mortality?

A Different Perspective

Denial can hinder healthy processing of loss.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Forgetting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetting/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks/)

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