---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn't about wanting to die or having…"
description: "\"It wasn't about wanting to die or having nothing left to live for; it was about letting go. You live your life doing what you're supposed to do, follow..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/kelley-armstrong-581_armstrong_it-wasn-t-about-wanting-to-die-or-having_2523856.png"
---

#  It wasn't about wanting to die or having nothing left to…

![“It wasn't about wanting to die or having nothing left to live for; it was about letting go. You live your life doing what you're supposed to do, following the rules, following your conscience no matter what your gut tells you - and most times, that's okay. Control is good. It allows you to believe…” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/kelley-armstrong-581_armstrong_it-wasn-t-about-wanting-to-die-or-having_2523856.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/kelley-armstrong-581_armstrong_it-wasn-t-about-wanting-to-die-or-having_2523856.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/kelley-armstrong-581_armstrong_it-wasn-t-about-wanting-to-die-or-having_2523856.png)

> “It wasn't about wanting to die or having nothing left to live for; it was about letting go. You live your life doing what you're supposed to do, following the rules, following your conscience no matter what your gut tells you - and most times, that's okay. Control is good. It allows you to believe in certainty and absolutes, like lining up the perfect shot. But when you hold on for so long, and hold on so tight, every once in a while you have to close your eyes and jump." Kelley Armstrong - Exit Strategy”

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

## About This Quote

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

The passage describes the tension between strict adherence to rules and the necessity of taking bold, uncertain risks to achieve growth.

**In simple terms:** Rules give certainty, but sometimes you must jump into the unknown.

Key Takeaway

Balance structure with daring leaps.

Themes

self‑development risk conformity inner conflict growth

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career changes
- personal crises
- creative projects
- relationship decisions
- health challenges

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it wiser to follow your gut than the rules?
- What does “jumping” symbolize in your life?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on control can stifle intuition and flexibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Exit Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exit-strategy/) [Following The Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-the-rules/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/)

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> [Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent-free in your head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/holding-a-grudge-is-letting-someone-live-rent-free-in-your-head/)

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> [Fortune has played me a sad trick by letting me live on and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-boyd/fortune-has-played-me-a-sad-trick-by-letting-me-live-on-and-on/)

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> [Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent-free inside of your head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/holding-a-grudge-is-letting-someone-live-rent-free-inside-of-your-head/)

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> [Before you give up,think of ther reason why you hold on so long. Never makes permanent decision on temporary emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luphielia/before-you-give-up-think-of-ther-reason-why-you-hold-on-so-long-never/)

Luphielia

## More by Kelley Armstrong

> [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/)

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[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/)

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> [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/)

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> [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/)

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[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

[Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

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> [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. There's a case of someone ruining a generation of saxophonists, as Louis Armstrong may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/i-think-we-ve-all-had-enough-of-coltrane-saxophonists-there-s-a-case/)

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> [What we will have attained when Neil Armstrong steps down upon the moon is a completely new step in the evolution of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/what-we-will-have-attained-when-neil-armstrong-steps-down-upon-the/)

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Browse all 180 Armstrong quotes

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