--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people die before their time so that…" description: "\"Some people die before their time so that others can live. It's a cornerstone of civilization.\" — John Malkovich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/john-malkovich-2387_civilization_some-people-die-before-their-time-so-tha_2196666.jpg" --- # Some people die before their time so that others can live… ![“Some people die before their time so that others can live. It's a cornerstone of civilization.” quote by John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/john-malkovich-2387_civilization_some-people-die-before-their-time-so-tha_2196666.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/john-malkovich-2387_civilization_some-people-die-before-their-time-so-tha_2196666.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/john-malkovich-2387_civilization_some-people-die-before-their-time-so-tha_2196666.jpg) > “Some people die before their time so that others can live. It's a cornerstone of civilization.” [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some lives end early, allowing others to benefit, suggesting a grim view of sacrifice as societal foundation. **In simple terms:** Early deaths benefit others. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of progress. Themes sacrifice society ethics Mood somber critical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - war - public health crises - economic inequality - historical events Key Concepts utilitarianism social contract Questions to Reflect On - Is sacrifice always justified? - Who decides whose life is expendable? A Different Perspective This view can justify harmful policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [To us the family is the cornerstone of civilization and must ever be. It is the foundation of proper human relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-petersen/to-us-the-family-is-the-cornerstone-of-civilization-and-must-ever-be/) [Mark E. Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-petersen/) > [The family dinner table is the cornerstone of civilization and those who 'graze' from refrigerators or in front of the television sets are doomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-family-dinner-table-is-the-cornerstone-of-civilization-and-those/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [People die all the time. It's just that you're not around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/people-die-all-the-time-it-s-just-that-you-re-not-around/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [People die all the time, just like that. Why, you could wake up dead tomorrow. Well, goodnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-simpson/people-die-all-the-time-just-like-that-why-you-could-wake-up-dead/) [Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-simpson/) > [“Liberty limited by law is the cornerstone of civilization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/liberty-limited-by-law-is-the-cornerstone-of-civilization/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I know that I will not die until my time comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-know-that-i-will-not-die-until-my-time-comes/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [People die, but money never does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/people-die-but-money-never-does/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [I don't believe people die. They just go uptown. To Bloomingdales. They just take longer to get back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-don-t-believe-people-die-they-just-go-uptown-to-bloomingdales-they/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [But mad people never die. That's a well-known fact. They've nothing to trouble them, and they live for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/but-mad-people-never-die-that-s-a-well-known-fact-they-ve-nothing-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Some people would rather die than think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/some-people-would-rather-die-than-think/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Nearly two and a half million people die every year that are on the voter rolls. So it takes time to get dead people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/nearly-two-and-a-half-million-people-die-every-year-that-are-on-the/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [“There is always time to die, but never time to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/there-is-always-time-to-die-but-never-time-to-live/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“To every thig there is a season,a time for every purpose under the sun. A time to be born, and a time to die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-every-thig-there-is-a-season-a-time-for-every-purpose-under-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People don't just die when their time comes. They gradually die away, from the inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/people-don-t-just-die-when-their-time-comes-they-gradually-die-away/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by John Malkovich > [Films take too long. There's too much BS, too much nonsense. If I want to do a play, I just call the theater, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/films-take-too-long-there-s-too-much-bs-too-much-nonsense-if-i-want/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I don't want a trillion-dollar empire to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-don-t-want-a-trillion-dollar-empire-to-run/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [Reviews are destructive by their very nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/reviews-are-destructive-by-their-very-nature/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I can see how, given a certain degree of sensitivities, proclivities and rage, I could have ended up differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-can-see-how-given-a-certain-degree-of-sensitivities-proclivities/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [Most filmmakers' entire body of knowledge is of other movies. When they describe things, they describe them in relation to other movies. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/most-filmmakers-entire-body-of-knowledge-is-of-other-movies-when-they/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I wouldn't say anything I ever did in film would be something I'd use the word proud about. I've done better work in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-wouldn-t-say-anything-i-ever-did-in-film-would-be-something-i-d-use/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I have driven school buses, sold egg rolls and painted houses, and I have often wondered what my life would have been like if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-have-driven-school-buses-sold-egg-rolls-and-painted-houses-and-i/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [You have to play your characters, not like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/you-have-to-play-your-characters-not-like-them/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [One doesn't know if one had a happy childhood or not. I don't really know what it means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/one-doesn-t-know-if-one-had-a-happy-childhood-or-not-i-don-t-really/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I'm more comfortable with whatever's wrong with me than my father was whenever he felt he failed or didn't measure up to the standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-m-more-comfortable-with-whatever-s-wrong-with-me-than-my-father-was/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I was a very good baseball and football player, but my father always told me I was much more interested in how I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-was-a-very-good-baseball-and-football-player-but-my-father-always/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I think people seem to sort of associate me with danger. And I don't see that at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-think-people-seem-to-sort-of-associate-me-with-danger-and-i-don-t/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I like to direct movies, but I don't like to goof around for eight years talking about it. And it's pretty irritating to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-like-to-direct-movies-but-i-don-t-like-to-goof-around-for-eight/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I love to watch good actors who surprise and amuse me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-love-to-watch-good-actors-who-surprise-and-amuse-me/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I find it hard to pre-plan every element of everything I do. It's not my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-find-it-hard-to-pre-plan-every-element-of-everything-i-do-it-s-not/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) [Explore all 169 John Malkovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) ## More Civilization quotes > [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/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/our-laws-and-our-institutions-must-necessarily-be-based-upon-and/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) [Browse all 4,084 Civilization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people die before their time so that others can live. It's a cornerstone of civilization.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Malkovich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/some-people-die-before-their-time-so-that-others-can-live-it-s-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civilization" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/some-people-die-before-their-time-so-that-others-can-live-it-s-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/john-malkovich-2387_civilization_some-people-die-before-their-time-so-tha_2196666.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/john-malkovich-2387_civilization_some-people-die-before-their-time-so-tha_2196666.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/john-malkovich-2387_civilization_some-people-die-before-their-time-so-tha_2196666.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some people die before their time so that others can live. It's a cornerstone of civilization.” — John Malkovich", "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": "John Malkovich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some people die before their time...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/some-people-die-before-their-time-so-that-others-can-live-it-s-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/some-people-die-before-their-time-so-that-others-can-live-it-s-a/#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 } } ] } ```