--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And for this imperfect immortality, what…" description: "\"“And for this imperfect immortality, what prices have been paid? How many livers, lungs, and veins? Shredded, polluted, shot? How many children deserte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/kristopher-jansma-34482_death_and-for-this-imperfect-immortality-what_3190740.jpg" --- # And for this imperfect immortality, what prices have been… ![“And for this imperfect immortality, what prices have been paid? How many livers, lungs, and veins? Shredded, polluted, shot? How many children deserted, family secrets betrayed, sordid trysts laid out for strangers to see? How many wives and husbands shoved to the side? How many ovens scorched…” quote by Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/kristopher-jansma-34482_death_and-for-this-imperfect-immortality-what_3190740.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/kristopher-jansma-34482_death_and-for-this-imperfect-immortality-what_3190740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/kristopher-jansma-34482_death_and-for-this-imperfect-immortality-what_3190740.jpg) > ““And for this imperfect immortality, what prices have been paid? How many livers, lungs, and veins? Shredded, polluted, shot? How many children deserted, family secrets betrayed, sordid trysts laid out for strangers to see? How many wives and husbands shoved to the side? How many ovens scorched with our hair? Gun barrels slid between our lips? Bathtubs slowly reddened by our blood and twisting drowned that drowned us? How many flawed pages burned in disgust and reduced to ashes? How many flawless moments observed from just a slight distance so that, later, we might reduce them to words? All with an unspoken prayer that these hard-won truths might outlast the brief years of our lives.”” [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) ## 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 reflects on the human cost of seeking lasting truth, noting sacrifice, betrayal, and suffering endured for enduring ideas. **In simple terms:** Seeking truth demands great personal sacrifice. Key Takeaway Recognize the hidden costs of your pursuits. Themes sacrifice truth human cost betrayal suffering Mood somber reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - activism - journalism - artistic creation - personal relationships - historical research Key Concepts existentialism ethical dilemma mortality Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to sacrifice for truth? - How do we balance truth with compassion? A Different Perspective The pursuit of truth can justify harmful actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Immortality Prices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality-prices-5884031/) [Imperfect Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfect-immortality-5884030/) [Truths Outlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths-outlast-5884032/) [Words Unspoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-unspoken-544428/) [Years Of Our Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-of-our-lives/) ## Related quotes > [It's easier to leave angry words unspoken, than to mend a heart those words have broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz/it-s-easier-to-leave-angry-words-unspoken-than-to-mend-a-heart-those/) [Naz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz/) > [“In friendship, words can go unspoken yet you still understand. 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Who was I to tell a genius it was time to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/the-best-thing-to-do-usually-was-to-let-him-play-these-things-out-who/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“Each time it goes around a little bit, a second goes away.” “Where?” I asked, as the pendulum swung again. And again. He winked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/each-time-it-goes-around-a-little-bit-a-second-goes-away-where-i/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“After I charge their brains with my own brand of skeptical electricity, I unleash them—the New Cynics—upon a world that is slowly and happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/after-i-charge-their-brains-with-my-own-brand-of-skeptical/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“We couldn’t stop following the news. 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