--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easier to miss her at a cemetery…" description: "\"It's easier to miss her at a cemetery, where she's never been anything but dead, than to miss her at all the places where she was alive.\" — John Scalzi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/john-scalzi-2071_alive_it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-wh_2058716.png" --- # It's easier to miss her at a cemetery, where she's never… ![“It's easier to miss her at a cemetery, where she's never been anything but dead, than to miss her at all the places where she was alive.” quote by John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/john-scalzi-2071_alive_it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-wh_2058716.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/john-scalzi-2071_alive_it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-wh_2058716.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/john-scalzi-2071_alive_it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-wh_2058716.png) > “It's easier to miss her at a cemetery, where she's never been anything but dead, than to miss her at all the places where she was alive.” [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Missing someone is easier when they’re dead, but harder when they’re alive and present. **In simple terms:** We overlook the living. Key Takeaway Cherish those who are still with you. Themes loss presence memory Mood somber thoughtful Type emotional philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - friendship - health care Key Concepts mortality absence appreciation Questions to Reflect On - What relationships do you take for granted? - How can you honor the living more? A Different Perspective Denial can mask true grief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Cemetery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cemetery/) ## Related quotes > [“For as much as I hate the cemetery, IŌĆÖve been grateful itŌĆÖs here, too. I miss my wife. ItŌĆÖs easier to miss her at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/for-as-much-as-i-hate-the-cemetery-i-ve-been-grateful-it-s-here-too-i/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Science is a cemetery of dead ideas, even though life may issue from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-is-a-cemetery-of-dead-ideas-even-though-life-may-issue-from/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Science is a cemetery of dead ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-is-a-cemetery-of-dead-ideas/) [Miguel De Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [“May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/may-i-cut-off-the-head-of-dead-miss-lucy/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [L.A. is only where you live, because otherwise it's just a sprawling mass of everything, and I think if you live in L.A., you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/l-a-is-only-where-you-live-because-otherwise-it-s-just-a-sprawling/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“All these people dead, and I miss pretty things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/all-these-people-dead-and-i-miss-pretty-things/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“If a bomb has your name on it, you are dead whatever you do; and if not, it will miss you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lingard/if-a-bomb-has-your-name-on-it-you-are-dead-whatever-you-do-and-if-not/) James Lingard > [“By looking at only one place, you miss everything in all the other places! Look everywhere to see everything!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/by-looking-at-only-one-place-you-miss-everything-in-all-the-other/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“You can miss places. You can miss people. Just know that what you’re really missing is the way things were. And even if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranata-suzuki/you-can-miss-places-you-can-miss-people-just-know-that-what-you-re/) [Ranata Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranata-suzuki/) > [“This is the last time I would ever visit the cemetery or my wife's grave, but I didn't want to expend too much effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/this-is-the-last-time-i-would-ever-visit-the-cemetery-or-my-wife-s/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-founders-of-a-new-colony-whatever-utopia-of-human-virtue-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [I am surprised that many people disregard the fact that the end for almost all drug dealers ends up being the cemetery or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-escobar/i-am-surprised-that-many-people-disregard-the-fact-that-the-end-for/) [Juan Pablo Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-escobar/) > [If it wasn't for baseball, I'd be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/if-it-wasn-t-for-baseball-i-d-be-in-either-the-penitentiary-or-the/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [“In the middle of the cemetery is a grassy plane, strangely vacant. There are no granite tombs or crumbling concrete, just a sun-washed treeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-caldwell-crosby/in-the-middle-of-the-cemetery-is-a-grassy-plane-strangely-vacant/) Molly Caldwell Crosby > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) ## More by John Scalzi > [“To everyone who thinks writing a sequel should be easy because you've already clreated the universe: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! Heh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/to-everyone-who-thinks-writing-a-sequel-should-be-easy-because-you-ve/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [When you're a kid all you want to do is be somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/when-you-re-a-kid-all-you-want-to-do-is-be-somewhere-else/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/being-poor-is-people-wondering-why-you-didn-t-leave/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It’s a hell of a thing to say good-bye to your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-a-hell-of-a-thing-to-say-good-bye-to-your-whole-life/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“That as far as I can tell,” Jenkins said, “it’s not actually a very good show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/that-as-far-as-i-can-tell-jenkins-said-it-s-not-actually-a-very-good/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I both love and am terrified by Greg Van Eekhout's vision of Los Angeles. 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They were beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/the-diagnostics-and-modifications-screens-ugly-and-utilitarian-just/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“You can’t afford anthropomorphic biases when some of the aliens most like us would rather make human hamburgers than peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/you-can-t-afford-anthropomorphic-biases-when-some-of-the-aliens-most/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Ultimately the first, best step in getting your work noticed is to write good work. If people don't engage in your writing, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/ultimately-the-first-best-step-in-getting-your-work-noticed-is-to/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It was this philosophy that had Harvey taking the hovercraft Sagan had stolen, mounting it, and, after a few moments to glean the fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-was-this-philosophy-that-had-harvey-taking-the-hovercraft-sagan/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I tell people the first time I decided to write a novel I was in my mid-20s, and it was, 'Well, it's time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-tell-people-the-first-time-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-i-was-in-my/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I don't think food safety laws are going to protect you from a third carnitas burrito," Hanson said. "That's not about food safety. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-don-t-think-food-safety-laws-are-going-to-protect-you-from-a-third/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife's grave. Then I joined the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-did-two-things-on-my-seventy-fifth-birthday-i-visited-my-wife-s/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) [Explore all 187 John Scalzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's easier to miss her at a cemetery, where she's never been anything but dead, than to miss her at all the places where she was alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Scalzi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-where-she-s-never-been-anything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-where-she-s-never-been-anything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/john-scalzi-2071_alive_it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-wh_2058716.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/john-scalzi-2071_alive_it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-wh_2058716.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/john-scalzi-2071_alive_it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-wh_2058716.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's easier to miss her at a cemetery, where she's never been anything but dead, than to miss her at all the…” — John Scalzi", "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 Scalzi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's easier to miss her at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-where-she-s-never-been-anything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-easier-to-miss-her-at-a-cemetery-where-she-s-never-been-anything/#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 } } ] } ```