---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate that her headstone has a year on…"
description: "\"“I hate that her headstone has a year on it for when she was born and another for when she died but only a dash for the life she lived in between.”\" — ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/juliann-garey-29194_death_i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on_2514362.jpg"
---

#  I hate that her headstone has a year on it for when she…

![“I hate that her headstone has a year on it for when she was born and another for when she died but only a dash for the life she lived in between.” quote by Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/juliann-garey-29194_death_i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on_2514362.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/juliann-garey-29194_death_i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on_2514362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/juliann-garey-29194_death_i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on_2514362.jpg)

> ““I hate that her headstone has a year on it for when she was born and another for when she died but only a dash for the life she lived in between.””

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker mourns the brevity of a life, noting that only birth and death dates are recorded, while the lived experience is reduced to a dash.

**In simple terms:** Life’s richness is often omitted from simple records.

Key Takeaway

Remember the full story beyond dates.

Themes

mortality memory legacy time human experience

Mood

somber reflective poetic

Type

literary memorial

When to use this quote

- obituary writing
- memorial services
- personal journaling
- historical research

Key Concepts

existential reflection grief biographical omission

Questions to Reflect On

- What stories would you add to a simple obituary?
- How can we honor the lived experiences of the departed?

A Different Perspective

Focusing on dates can diminish personal narratives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Died Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/died-dash-1187957/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Headstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-headstone-1187955/) [Headstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headstone/) [Headstone Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headstone-year-1187956/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [Speak to Him, thou, for He hears, and Spirit with Spirit can meet- Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/speak-to-him-thou-for-he-hears-and-spirit-with-spirit-can-meet-closer/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [I told you I was ill. (On his headstone)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/i-told-you-i-was-ill-on-his-headstone/)

[Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/)

> [An angel visited the green earth, and took a flower away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/an-angel-visited-the-green-earth-and-took-a-flower-away/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/good-men-must-die-but-death-cannot-kill-their-names/)

[Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/)

> [Every man's life is a plan of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/every-man-s-life-is-a-plan-of-god/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [“He didn’t scream hysterically or stand up and kick the headstone or any of that. He put his face on his knees and listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/he-didn-t-scream-hysterically-or-stand-up-and-kick-the-headstone-or/)

[Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/)

> [When we die, no one remembers us for what we weighed. Our weight isn't etched into our headstones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-klein/when-we-die-no-one-remembers-us-for-what-we-weighed-our-weight-isn-t/)

[Stephanie Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-klein/)

> [The dutifulness of children is the foundation of all virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-dutifulness-of-children-is-the-foundation-of-all-virtues/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, in every gesture dignity and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/grace-was-in-all-her-steps-heaven-in-her-eye-in-every-gesture-dignity/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sleep-undisturbed-within-this-peaceful-shrine-till-angels-wake-thee/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity, and reflect how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. Of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-majella/consider-the-shortness-of-time-the-length-of-eternity-and-reflect-how/)

[Gerard Majella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-majella/)

> [Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch, what make you go beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cicely-tyson/challenges-make-you-discover-things-about-yourself-that-you-never/)

[Cicely Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cicely-tyson/)

> [But still I dream that somewhere there must be The spirit of a child that waits for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/but-still-i-dream-that-somewhere-there-must-be-the-spirit-of-a-child/)

[Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/)

> [Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/whoever-brought-me-here-will-have-to-take-me-home/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

## More by Juliann Garey

> [“Willa. Ellen. A world in two words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/willa-ellen-a-world-in-two-words/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“All the major players were our clients. I had handled the conflicting demands, pacified the volatile tempers, and anticipated and circumvented the irrational tantrums.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/all-the-major-players-were-our-clients-i-had-handled-the-conflicting/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“Because every day when I wake up, the clouds gather, a little darker each day, and I feel less and less equipped to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/because-every-day-when-i-wake-up-the-clouds-gather-a-little-darker/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“I do not believe in God. Instead I believe in the power of Family. And occasionally, when I’m feeling optimistic, in free will. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/i-do-not-believe-in-god-instead-i-believe-in-the-power-of-family-and/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“No, not just because it’s okay for boys to cry too. But because, Greyson, you are very lucky. Not everyone can feel things as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/no-not-just-because-it-s-okay-for-boys-to-cry-too-but-because-greyson/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“I cannot pretend to be the person they think I am for one more day. Slowly, over time, like wallpaper, the face I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/i-cannot-pretend-to-be-the-person-they-think-i-am-for-one-more-day/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“Everybody’s gotta have somebody to step on. Makes ’em feel important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/everybody-s-gotta-have-somebody-to-step-on-makes-em-feel-important/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“The truth is technical, clinical, not well understood. Essentially, somewhere behind my overactive, often dysfunctional frontal lobe, my hippocampus is getting hot, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/the-truth-is-technical-clinical-not-well-understood-essentially/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“I do not believe in God. Instead I believe in the power of Family. And occasionally, when I'm feeling optimistic, in free will. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/i-do-not-believe-in-god-instead-i-believe-in-the-power-of-family-and-2/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“Everybody's gotta have somebody to step on. Makes 'em feel important.' 'But there have to be better, more productive ways of proving your worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/everybody-s-gotta-have-somebody-to-step-on-makes-em-feel-important-2/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“Not everyone can feel things as deeply as you. Most people, their feelings are ... bland, tasteless. They'll never understand what it's like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/not-everyone-can-feel-things-as-deeply-as-you-most-people-their/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“Okay, Pop. Well, I’ll call you tonight then.” I walked out of the room backward, smiling cheerfully until I was sure he couldn’t see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/okay-pop-well-i-ll-call-you-tonight-then-i-walked-out-of-the-room/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“We are all of us - well, with the exception of people who have just fallen in love and those lucky demented few who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/we-are-all-of-us-well-with-the-exception-of-people-who-have-just/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“Despite all the drugs, I do not sleep. Instead, I ruminate. Which is both what cows do to their cud and the bad habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/despite-all-the-drugs-i-do-not-sleep-instead-i-ruminate-which-is-both/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [“You think you should have an answer to the question, 'What's wrong?' You wish you knew. No one can understand how much you wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/you-think-you-should-have-an-answer-to-the-question-what-s-wrong-you/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

[Explore all 18 Juliann Garey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

## 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": "“I hate that her headstone has a year on it for when she was born and another for when she died but only a dash for the life she lived in between.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Juliann Garey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on-it-for-when-she-was-born-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on-it-for-when-she-was-born-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/juliann-garey-29194_death_i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on_2514362.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/juliann-garey-29194_death_i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on_2514362.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/juliann-garey-29194_death_i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on_2514362.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I hate that her headstone has a year on it for when she was born and another for when she died but only a…” — Juliann Garey",
                "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": "Juliann Garey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I hate that her headstone has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on-it-for-when-she-was-born-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/i-hate-that-her-headstone-has-a-year-on-it-for-when-she-was-born-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
