---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of course you're dying. We're all dying…"
description: "\"“Of course you're dying. We're all dying. Where the devil else do you think you're heading?”\" — Joseph Heller"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/joseph-heller-601_death_of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-w_278912.png"
---

#  Of course you're dying. We're all dying. Where the devil…

![“Of course you're dying. We're all dying. Where the devil else do you think you're heading?” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/joseph-heller-601_death_of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-w_278912.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/joseph-heller-601_death_of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-w_278912.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/joseph-heller-601_death_of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-w_278912.png)

> ““Of course you're dying. We're all dying. Where the devil else do you think you're heading?””

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

## About This Quote

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

Facing mortality forces us to confront the absurdity of life and the inevitability of death.

**In simple terms:** Death is inevitable and absurd.

Key Takeaway

Embrace life’s absurdity and live fully.

Themes

mortality absurdity existence

Mood

darkly humorous reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- war
- personal crisis
- everyday decisions
- health scares

Key Concepts

existentialism nihilism dark humor

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you find purpose when death is certain?
- What absurd truths can you acknowledge?

A Different Perspective

Life’s meaning may remain unclear despite acceptance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Course Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course-dying-2709113/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Devil Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-think-922607/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Dying Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying-devil-2709112/) [Dying Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying-dying-839308/)

## Related quotes

> [“But of course DYING is renamed and classified by the Medical Establishment as a negative patient outcome. Words, marketing, and advertising can be used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/but-of-course-dying-is-renamed-and-classified-by-the-medical/)

[Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/)

> [Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying And dying to me don't sound like all that much fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/growing-up-leads-to-growing-old-and-then-to-dying-and-dying-to-me-don/)

[John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/)

> [“We all have our demons, our weaknesses, our own crosses to bear. Often, we are closer to the devil than we think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-peach/we-all-have-our-demons-our-weaknesses-our-own-crosses-to-bear-often/)

[Hanna Peach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-peach/)

> [When I grew up, the Devil was a reason why I had a headache or the Devil was the reason I got mad today.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-i-grew-up-the-devil-was-a-reason-why-i-had-a-headache-or-the/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I don't think Vince McMahon is evil or the devil. I think he's a very shrewd business man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/i-don-t-think-vince-mcmahon-is-evil-or-the-devil-i-think-he-s-a-very/)

[Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/)

> [“Some people think the devil is one being. I think the devil is when many beings come together to do terrible things. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-elisabeth/some-people-think-the-devil-is-one-being-i-think-the-devil-is-when/)

[Ellie Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-elisabeth/)

> [“Is he good? Or is he bad? That's the only thing I ask nowadays. And as I grow older—I'd swear this on the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/is-he-good-or-is-he-bad-that-s-the-only-thing-i-ask-nowadays-and-as-i/)

[Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/)

> [The devil take me, if I think anything but love to be the object of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-devil-take-me-if-i-think-anything-but-love-to-be-the-object-of/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [ You know, Mick Jagger's "Sympathy for the Devil." I think it was inspired by that \[H.P.Lovecraft stories\]. You don't know who's reading what, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/you-know-mick-jagger-s-sympathy-for-the-devil-i-think-it-was-inspired/)

[Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/)

> [“I'm dying. I am dying. I have finally achieved what I set out to do. My heart is splitting open and I breathe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-summers/i-m-dying-i-am-dying-i-have-finally-achieved-what-i-set-out-to-do-my/)

[Courtney Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-summers/)

> [Do you understand the difference between dying for something and dying for nothing? The only reason I fought so hard to stay alive in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-bauer/do-you-understand-the-difference-between-dying-for-something-and/)

[Jack Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-bauer/)

> [“Much worse than dying would be dying without a soul around who was interested in your death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-trent/much-worse-than-dying-would-be-dying-without-a-soul-around-who-was/)

[Christine Trent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-trent/)

> [Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying, and dying to me doesn't sound like all that much fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cougar-mellencamp/growing-up-leads-to-growing-old-and-then-to-dying-and-dying-to-me/)

[John Cougar Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cougar-mellencamp/)

> [I might smile, but am sad. I might laugh, but am crying. I might live on, but inside am dying, dying to be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-might-smile-but-am-sad-i-might-laugh-but-am-crying-i-might-live-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“If it's a matter of dying here or dying there, I think I'd like to at least see the world first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/if-it-s-a-matter-of-dying-here-or-dying-there-i-think-i-d-like-to-at/)

[Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/)

## More by Joseph Heller

> [“Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. "That's some catch, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-very-deeply-by-the-absolute-simplicity-of-this/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“They think that they’re smart and that the rest of us are dumb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/they-think-that-they-re-smart-and-that-the-rest-of-us-are-dumb/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-was-only-one-catch-and-that-was-catch-22-which-specified-that-a/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“Captain Flume was obsessed with the idea that Chief White Halfoat would tiptoe up to his cot one night when he was sound asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/captain-flume-was-obsessed-with-the-idea-that-chief-white-halfoat/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“Depreciating motels, junked automobiles, and quick-food joints grow like amber waves of grain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/depreciating-motels-junked-automobiles-and-quick-food-joints-grow/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“That was where he wanted to be if he had to be there at all, instead of hung out there in front like some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/that-was-where-he-wanted-to-be-if-he-had-to-be-there-at-all-instead/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [I had examined myself pretty thoroughly and discovered that I was unfit for military service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-had-examined-myself-pretty-thoroughly-and-discovered-that-i-was/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“Yossarian was moved by such intense pity for his poverty that he wanted to smash his pale. sad, sickly face with his fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-by-such-intense-pity-for-his-poverty-that-he/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate." "Consciously, sir, consciously,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/you-have-deep-seated-survival-anxieties-and-you-don-t-like-bigots/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/his-specialty-was-alfalfa-and-he-made-a-good-thing-out-of-not-growing/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [Every writer I know has trouble writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/every-writer-i-know-has-trouble-writing/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“No such private nights of ecstasy or hushed-up drinking and sex orgies ever occurred. They might have occurred if either General Dreedle or General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/no-such-private-nights-of-ecstasy-or-hushed-up-drinking-and-sex/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

[Explore all 420 Joseph Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [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/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

[J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/)

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

[Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/)

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Of course you're dying. We're all dying. Where the devil else do you think you're heading?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joseph Heller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-where-the-devil-else-do-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-where-the-devil-else-do-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/joseph-heller-601_death_of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-w_278912.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/joseph-heller-601_death_of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-w_278912.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/joseph-heller-601_death_of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-w_278912.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Of course you're dying. We're all dying. Where the devil else do you think you're heading?” — Joseph Heller",
                "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": "Joseph Heller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Of course you're dying. We're all...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-where-the-devil-else-do-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/of-course-you-re-dying-we-re-all-dying-where-the-devil-else-do-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
