--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dying is a matter of slapstick and…" description: "\"Dying is a matter of slapstick and pratfalls. The ageing process is not gradual or gentle. It rushes up, pushes you over and runs off laughing. No one ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-mortimer-7362_ageing_dying-is-a-matter-of-slapstick-and-pratf_160980.jpg" --- # Dying is a matter of slapstick and pratfalls. The ageing… ![“Dying is a matter of slapstick and pratfalls. The ageing process is not gradual or gentle. It rushes up, pushes you over and runs off laughing. No one should grow old who isn't ready to appear ridiculous.” quote by John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-mortimer-7362_ageing_dying-is-a-matter-of-slapstick-and-pratf_160980.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-mortimer-7362_ageing_dying-is-a-matter-of-slapstick-and-pratf_160980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-mortimer-7362_ageing_dying-is-a-matter-of-slapstick-and-pratf_160980.jpg) > “Dying is a matter of slapstick and pratfalls. The ageing process is not gradual or gentle. It rushes up, pushes you over and runs off laughing. No one should grow old who isn't ready to appear ridiculous.” [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging is portrayed as abrupt, chaotic, and absurd, emphasizing that growing old can feel like a comic mishap if unprepared. **In simple terms:** Aging can feel sudden and ridiculous. Key Takeaway Accept aging with humor and readiness. Themes aging humor life cycle acceptance absurdity Mood reflective wry Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - public speaking Key Concepts existential comedy social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for aging? - What humor helps you face life's abrupt changes? A Different Perspective Aging can also be a dignified, graceful process. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ageing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ageing/) [Ageing Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ageing-process-1765656/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Grow Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-old/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Pratfalls Ageing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pratfalls-ageing-1765655/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Slapstick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slapstick/) ## Related quotes > [When I look in the mirror, I see the ageing process at full pelt, the hairline in retreat, the bags under the eyes growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/when-i-look-in-the-mirror-i-see-the-ageing-process-at-full-pelt-the/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [I don't dislike anything, but I am definitely finding the ageing process 'interesting' and not wholly comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/i-don-t-dislike-anything-but-i-am-definitely-finding-the-ageing/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [Everyone is going through this ageing process. Whether in their minds or they are discussing it with their friends, they all want to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neelam-kothari/everyone-is-going-through-this-ageing-process-whether-in-their-minds/) [Neelam Kothari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neelam-kothari/) > [I just don't like the idea of having an operation to hold up the ageing process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-moore/i-just-don-t-like-the-idea-of-having-an-operation-to-hold-up-the/) [Demi Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-moore/) > [For healthy adult people, the really big thing we can foresee are ways of intervening in the ageing process, either by slowing or reversing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bostrom/for-healthy-adult-people-the-really-big-thing-we-can-foresee-are-ways/) [Nick Bostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bostrom/) > [Getting older is a struggle. I always feel that just under the surface of acceptance and enjoyment of the ageing process is a terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/getting-older-is-a-struggle-i-always-feel-that-just-under-the-surface/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [Ageing is a process of exchanging hope for insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-hay/ageing-is-a-process-of-exchanging-hope-for-insight/) [Sheridan Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-hay/) > [After 40, you want to reverse the ageing process. That's complicated for me because I spent so many years wanting to be older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/after-40-you-want-to-reverse-the-ageing-process-that-s-complicated/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [Writing about the indignities of old age: the daunting stairway to the restaurant restroom, the benefits of a wheelchair in airports and its disadvantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/writing-about-the-indignities-of-old-age-the-daunting-stairway-to-the/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Most people grow old, but not everybody grows up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/most-people-grow-old-but-not-everybody-grows-up/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I don't want someone who promises me the world, I want someone to sit on the porch with me and watch it go by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammi-post/i-don-t-want-someone-who-promises-me-the-world-i-want-someone-to-sit/) [Tammi Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammi-post/) > [A farce, or slapstick humor, does well universally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/a-farce-or-slapstick-humor-does-well-universally/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [“This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart As greet as it had been a thonder-dent, That with the strook he was almoost yblent; And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/this-nicholas-anon-leet-fle-a-fart-as-greet-as-it-had-been-a-thonder/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > ['Fawlty Towers' was a huge influence on me. I mean, it was so slapstick, too. 'Are You Being Served?' was on 15 times a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/fawlty-towers-was-a-huge-influence-on-me-i-mean-it-was-so-slapstick/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [The word 'comedy' implies slapstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/the-word-comedy-implies-slapstick/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) ## More by John Mortimer > [“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-it-try-to-be/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [I knew nothing about farce until I read Puce a l'Oreille, and had no idea what a deadly serious business it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-knew-nothing-about-farce-until-i-read-puce-a-l-oreille-and-had-no/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Do we want blanks, asterisks and exclamation marks which people can fill in with their own imaginations, or are we prepared and strong enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/do-we-want-blanks-asterisks-and-exclamation-marks-which-people-can/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Voting Liberal is a non-thing. Historically, it might be a good idea to have a Conservative government, because change is a good thing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/voting-liberal-is-a-non-thing-historically-it-might-be-a-good-idea-to/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“I sent out words like soldiers to battle and they never returned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-sent-out-words-like-soldiers-to-battle-and-they-never-returned/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [No brilliance is required in law, just common sense and relatively clean fingernails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/no-brilliance-is-required-in-law-just-common-sense-and-relatively/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [The people look forbidding, solemn, marked by that impossible ideal, Communism, which, like Christianity, seemed to demand too much of humanity and, falling into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/the-people-look-forbidding-solemn-marked-by-that-impossible-ideal/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [There is always time for failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/there-is-always-time-for-failure/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Irritable Judges suffer from a bad case of premature adjudication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/irritable-judges-suffer-from-a-bad-case-of-premature-adjudication/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [I try and treat my children from the age of ten months as if they were totally grown up, which I think is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-try-and-treat-my-children-from-the-age-of-ten-months-as-if-they/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Check-ups are, in my experience, a grave mistake; all they do is allow the quack of your choice to tell you that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/check-ups-are-in-my-experience-a-grave-mistake-all-they-do-is-allow/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [I don't believe in children's books. I think after you've read Kidnapped, Treasure Island, and Huckleberry Finn, you're ready for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-don-t-believe-in-children-s-books-i-think-after-you-ve-read/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“The main aim of education should be to send children out into the world with a reasonably sized anthology in their heads so that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/the-main-aim-of-education-should-be-to-send-children-out-into-the/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [On the three pigs he and his wife own: "We acquired the pigs last year. My wife was born on a pig farm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/on-the-three-pigs-he-and-his-wife-own-we-acquired-the-pigs-last-year/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“On the cover of this publication a bikini-clad young woman disported herself with a medicine ball, both articles looking as though they had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/on-the-cover-of-this-publication-a-bikini-clad-young-woman-disported/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) [Explore all 92 John Mortimer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) ## More Ageing quotes > [“The whole idea of it makes me feel Like I’m coming down with something, Something worse than any stomach ache Or the headaches I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/the-whole-idea-of-it-makes-me-feel-like-i-m-coming-down-with/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [“They were people whose lives were slow, who did not see themselves growing old, or falling sick, or dying, but who disappeared little by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/they-were-people-whose-lives-were-slow-who-did-not-see-themselves/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [People's opinions don't interfere with me. Ageing gracefully is supposed to mean trying not to hide time passing and just looking a wreck. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/people-s-opinions-don-t-interfere-with-me-ageing-gracefully-is/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [“Ageing must be like wearing a heavy, itchy suit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cardamone/ageing-must-be-like-wearing-a-heavy-itchy-suit/) [Tom Cardamone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cardamone/) > [Ageing is, simply and clearly, the accumulation of damage in the body. That's all that ageing is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-de-grey/ageing-is-simply-and-clearly-the-accumulation-of-damage-in-the-body/) [Aubrey de Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-de-grey/) > [“She has built her whole life on the foundation of beauty: each chiseled plane, each sloping dimple, each soft curve as crucial as keystones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/she-has-built-her-whole-life-on-the-foundation-of-beauty-each/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“I've been 21 for many years now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/i-ve-been-21-for-many-years-now/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [Age doesn't define maturity. Some people will never grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/age-doesn-t-define-maturity-some-people-will-never-grow-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ageing is so many different things, and cells being able to self-renew is part of the picture but not all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-blackburn/ageing-is-so-many-different-things-and-cells-being-able-to-self-renew/) [Elizabeth Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-blackburn/) > [Anyone who stops learning is old — whether this happens at twenty or at eighty. Anyone who keeps on learning not only remains young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/anyone-who-stops-learning-is-old-whether-this-happens-at-twenty-or-at/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [All of my friends are my age and we are all ageing at the same time. We talk about it and moan, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-schiffer/all-of-my-friends-are-my-age-and-we-are-all-ageing-at-the-same-time/) [Claudia Schiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-schiffer/) > [You've got to get your head right about ageing. Taking care of diet and exercise and facing your fears about growing older will lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-garraway/you-ve-got-to-get-your-head-right-about-ageing-taking-care-of-diet/) [Kate Garraway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-garraway/) > [Ageing is very rare. We only see it in humans and laboratory animals and in zoo animals and in our pets. Basically, organisms that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/ageing-is-very-rare-we-only-see-it-in-humans-and-laboratory-animals/) [S. 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