--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is when we are faced with death that…" description: "\"It is when we are faced with death that we turn most bookish.\" — Jules Renard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/jules-renard-3609_bookish_it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that_2968270.jpg" --- # It is when we are faced with death that we turn most… ![“It is when we are faced with death that we turn most bookish.” quote by Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/jules-renard-3609_bookish_it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that_2968270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/jules-renard-3609_bookish_it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that_2968270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/jules-renard-3609_bookish_it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that_2968270.jpg) > “It is when we are faced with death that we turn most bookish.” [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faced with mortality, people become more scholarly, seeking meaning through books. **In simple terms:** Death makes us turn to books for comfort. Key Takeaway Embrace learning when confronting mortality. Themes mortality learning comfort Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - end‑of‑life reflection - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism bibliophilia Questions to Reflect On - How does mortality influence your reading choices? - What deeper needs does bookishness fulfill? A Different Perspective Reading alone cannot replace living fully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bookish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookish/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-turn-4555954/) [Faced Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faced-death-342733/) [Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn/) [Turn Bookish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-bookish-4555953/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [“The truth was that we all faced death here. For my part I was somewhat fatalistic - if it happened, then so be it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-delaney/the-truth-was-that-we-all-faced-death-here-for-my-part-i-was-somewhat/) [Joseph Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-delaney/) > [It was like Percy had faced death before, like he knew about grief. What mattered was listening. You didn’t need to say you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-was-like-percy-had-faced-death-before-like-he-knew-about-grief/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“I have faced death this night, and I have called his bluff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-lacroix/i-have-faced-death-this-night-and-i-have-called-his-bluff/) [Lucien LaCroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-lacroix/) > [This isn’t the first time I’ve faced death, and I don’t intend for it to be the last,” I said, repeating the same words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/this-isn-t-the-first-time-i-ve-faced-death-and-i-don-t-intend-for-it/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Through the centuries, we faced down death by daring to hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/through-the-centuries-we-faced-down-death-by-daring-to-hope/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Well, I thought, last night I paid my dues. I faced death. Now I can stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/well-i-thought-last-night-i-paid-my-dues-i-faced-death-now-i-can-stay/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“But in reality, when faced with death and the great unknown that came after, my survival instinct snatched wildly at whatever lifeline was offered.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/but-in-reality-when-faced-with-death-and-the-great-unknown-that-came/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“Listen to me. I will spill my insides for you once only. We were three—I am the green, the growing, the day. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/listen-to-me-i-will-spill-my-insides-for-you-once-only-we-were-three/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“A man faced death, but when death drew back forgot it until the next time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/a-man-faced-death-but-when-death-drew-back-forgot-it-until-the-next/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“maybe only those who faced death daily were able to recognize that courages could be as quiet as a man's thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/maybe-only-those-who-faced-death-daily-were-able-to-recognize-that/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [I told myself, Malala, you have already faced death. This is your second life. Don't be afraid — if you are afraid, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-told-myself-malala-you-have-already-faced-death-this-is-your-second/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [“Differences disappear when faced with death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/differences-disappear-when-faced-with-death/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [I have faced Death. I have been caught in the wild weed tangles of Her hair, seen the gleam of her jade eyes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-hulme/i-have-faced-death-i-have-been-caught-in-the-wild-weed-tangles-of-her/) [Keri Hulme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-hulme/) > [“In a life threatening situation, whether terrorism or a rockslide, what kills most people is slowness to react. Regular lives are so safe, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/in-a-life-threatening-situation-whether-terrorism-or-a-rockslide-what/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“To those who have faced death with courage, and lived life to its fullest, eternity is but a moment in time, of complete and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kali-willows/to-those-who-have-faced-death-with-courage-and-lived-life-to-its/) [Kali Willows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kali-willows/) ## More by Jules Renard > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Words are the small change of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/words-are-the-small-change-of-thought/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [There is nothing like literature: I lose a cow, I write about her death, and my writing pays me enough to buy another cow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/there-is-nothing-like-literature-i-lose-a-cow-i-write-about-her-death/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [There is a justice, but we do not always see it. Discreet, smiling, it is there, at one side, a little behind injustice, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/there-is-a-justice-but-we-do-not-always-see-it-discreet-smiling-it-is/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [There are no friends; only moments of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/there-are-no-friends-only-moments-of-friendship/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [In morals, always do as others do; in art, never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/in-morals-always-do-as-others-do-in-art-never/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [The only man who is really free is the one who can turn down an invitation to dinner without giving an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/the-only-man-who-is-really-free-is-the-one-who-can-turn-down-an/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Don't tell a woman she's pretty; tell her there's no other woman like her, and all roads will open to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/don-t-tell-a-woman-she-s-pretty-tell-her-there-s-no-other-woman-like/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [“There are moments when everything goes well; don't be frightened, it won't last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/there-are-moments-when-everything-goes-well-don-t-be-frightened-it/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [We are ignorant of the Beyond because this ignorance is the condition of our own life. Just as ice cannot know fire except by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/we-are-ignorant-of-the-beyond-because-this-ignorance-is-the-condition/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Some people are so boring that they make you waste an entire day in five minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/some-people-are-so-boring-that-they-make-you-waste-an-entire-day-in/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [An optimist is a driver who thinks that empty space at the curb won't have a hydrant beside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/an-optimist-is-a-driver-who-thinks-that-empty-space-at-the-curb-won-t/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [The bourgeois are other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/the-bourgeois-are-other-people/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Somewhere in the shadow cast by every famous man is a feminine victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/somewhere-in-the-shadow-cast-by-every-famous-man-is-a-feminine-victim/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/the-ideal-of-calm-exists-in-a-sitting-cat/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) [Explore all 121 Jules Renard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) ## More Bookish quotes > [I was studious and bookish. Not just as a child but also as a teenager. I took myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-was-studious-and-bookish-not-just-as-a-child-but-also-as-a-teenager/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [“There had been a time when words had been the only place he could find solace. No book ever lost patience with him or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-had-been-a-time-when-words-had-been-the-only-place-he-could/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“...but one can't be irredeemable who shows reverence for books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/but-one-can-t-be-irredeemable-who-shows-reverence-for-books/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [I was a bookish nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-bream/i-was-a-bookish-nerd/) [Shannon Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-bream/) > [To read great books does not mean one becomes ‘bookish’; it means that something of the terrible insight of Dostoyevsky, of the richly-charged imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/to-read-great-books-does-not-mean-one-becomes-bookish-it-means-that/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“The cats are asleep at the end of my bed and all around me, the thundery silence of L'Escarènere, caught at last in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-duncker/the-cats-are-asleep-at-the-end-of-my-bed-and-all-around-me-the/) [Patricia Duncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-duncker/) > [I've always been the bookish type, and I've never really hidden that about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/i-ve-always-been-the-bookish-type-and-i-ve-never-really-hidden-that/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [“To whom do books belong? The books we read and the books we write are both ours and not ours. They're also theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/to-whom-do-books-belong-the-books-we-read-and-the-books-we-write-are/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“The pen provides a pathway for the musings of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-forbes/the-pen-provides-a-pathway-for-the-musings-of-the-heart/) [Erin Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-forbes/) > [“And so we became who we are: gentle and bookish and ever so slightly confused. It is not a bad way to be, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/and-so-we-became-who-we-are-gentle-and-bookish-and-ever-so-slightly/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [“I have grown to realize that there are very few impossibilities in our world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-forbes/i-have-grown-to-realize-that-there-are-very-few-impossibilities-in/) [Erin Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-forbes/) > [No matter how tiny you look, you can lead huge men if you have what the huge men don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-tiny-you-look-you-can-lead-huge-men-if-you-have-what/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“All of us are writers reading other people's writing, turning pages or clicking to the next screen with pleasure and admiration. All of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/all-of-us-are-writers-reading-other-people-s-writing-turning-pages-or/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [I was a bookish kid, not really athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-de-luca/i-was-a-bookish-kid-not-really-athletic/) [Michael De Luca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-de-luca/) > [“Whenever one of us introduced an old favorite, we savored the other's first delight like a shared meal eaten with a newly acquired gusto,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/whenever-one-of-us-introduced-an-old-favorite-we-savored-the-other-s/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) [Browse all 39 Bookish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is when we are faced with death that we turn most bookish.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jules Renard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that-we-turn-most-bookish/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bookish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that-we-turn-most-bookish/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/jules-renard-3609_bookish_it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that_2968270.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/jules-renard-3609_bookish_it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that_2968270.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/jules-renard-3609_bookish_it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that_2968270.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is when we are faced with death that we turn most bookish.” — Jules Renard", "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": "Jules Renard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is when we are faced...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that-we-turn-most-bookish/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/it-is-when-we-are-faced-with-death-that-we-turn-most-bookish/#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 } } ] } ```