--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s…" description: "\"It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” ~spoken by Augustus McCrae\" — Larry Mc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/larry-mcmurtry-2540_augustus_it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-li_2083692.jpg" --- # It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it… ![“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” ~spoken by Augustus McCrae” quote by Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/larry-mcmurtry-2540_augustus_it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-li_2083692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/larry-mcmurtry-2540_augustus_it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-li_2083692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/larry-mcmurtry-2540_augustus_it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-li_2083692.jpg) > “It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” ~spoken by Augustus McCrae” [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s value lies in where you live, not where you die; existence matters more than death. **In simple terms:** Where you live matters more than where you die. Key Takeaway Focus on enriching your present life. Themes life death meaning Mood thoughtful philosophical Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - urban planning - community building - personal fulfillment Key Concepts existentialism place attachment Questions to Reflect On - What makes a place meaningful to you? - How does environment shape identity? A Different Perspective Some may argue death defines legacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ain Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ain-dying-2977233/) [Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus/) [Augustus Mccrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus-mccrae-228650/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Die Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-matters-2977232/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matters Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-die-1125181/) [Matters Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-live-1410804/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Where you live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where-you-live/) ## Related quotes > [“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” ~spoken by Augustus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-living-i-doubt-it-matters-where/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [You know Deets is like me - he's not one to quit on a garment just because it's got a little age - spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/you-know-deets-is-like-me-he-s-not-one-to-quit-on-a-garment-just/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Listening to women ain't the fashion in this part of the country."--Augustus McCrae”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/listening-to-women-ain-t-the-fashion-in-this-part-of-the-country-2/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“But, if one cuts more deeply, the lonesome dove is Newt, a lonely teenager who is the unacknowledged son of Captain Call and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/but-if-one-cuts-more-deeply-the-lonesome-dove-is-newt-a-lonely/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Dern, I hate cooking with shit. -- Augustus McCrae to Lorena Wood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/dern-i-hate-cooking-with-shit-augustus-mccrae-to-lorena-wood/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [It doesn't matter. What matters is that you're about to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franco-nero/it-doesn-t-matter-what-matters-is-that-you-re-about-to-die/) [Franco Nero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franco-nero/) > [“That's animals, same thing doesn't happen to people does it? That's gonna happen to me someday, too? No, not me. I ain't dying. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/that-s-animals-same-thing-doesn-t-happen-to-people-does-it-that-s/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“I don't understand people who are obsessed with making things last. We don't even last! Don't we all die? But is that what matters?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-don-t-understand-people-who-are-obsessed-with-making-things-last-we/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [People have hearts, they have kids, they get jobs, they get sick, they cry, they dance. They live, they love, and they die. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/people-have-hearts-they-have-kids-they-get-jobs-they-get-sick-they/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [In the end it's not how we die that matters, but it's what dies that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limnd/in-the-end-it-s-not-how-we-die-that-matters-but-it-s-what-dies-that/) [Jeremy LimnD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limnd/) > [It is not what you say that matters. It is what you are and how you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-caddy/it-is-not-what-you-say-that-matters-it-is-what-you-are-and-how-you/) [Eileen Caddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-caddy/) > [It doesn't matter much where you live. It only matters how well you live when you're there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-doesn-t-matter-much-where-you-live-it-only-matters-how-well-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not how long you live that matters. It's what you live for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-not-how-long-you-live-that-matters-it-s-what-you-live-for/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“The people who matter most will see.  What matters is that you live your life for you, not by what somebody else says is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-gargasz/the-people-who-matter-most-will-see-what-matters-is-that-you-live/) [Miranda Gargasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-gargasz/) > [“It's not how long you live for that matters. It's what you live for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-not-how-long-you-live-for-that-matters-it-s-what-you-live-for/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More by Larry McMurtry > [“if you repeat a temporary answer often enough, it acquires a degree of permanency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/if-you-repeat-a-temporary-answer-often-enough-it-acquires-a-degree-of/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“The first difference Newt noticed about being grown up was that time didn't pass as slow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/the-first-difference-newt-noticed-about-being-grown-up-was-that-time/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [-she remembered them kindly, for there was a sweetness in boys that didn't last long, once they became men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/she-remembered-them-kindly-for-there-was-a-sweetness-in-boys-that/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough. --Augustus "Gus" McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/a-man-who-wouldn-t-cheat-for-a-poke-don-t-want-one-bad-enough/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Ride with an outlaw, die with him," he added. "I admit it's a harsh code. But you rode on the other side long enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/ride-with-an-outlaw-die-with-him-he-added-i-admit-it-s-a-harsh-code/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [WHEN AUGUSTUS CAME OUT on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake—not a very big one. It had probably just been crawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/when-augustus-came-out-on-the-porch-the-blue-pigs-were-eating-a/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [Books can accommodate the proximity of computers but it doesn't seem to work the other way around. Computers now literally drive out books from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/books-can-accommodate-the-proximity-of-computers-but-it-doesn-t-seem/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [The reason men are so awful is because some woman has spoiled them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/the-reason-men-are-so-awful-is-because-some-woman-has-spoiled-them/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Sometimes Sonny felt like he was the only human creature in the town. It was a bad feeling, and it usually came on him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/sometimes-sonny-felt-like-he-was-the-only-human-creature-in-the-town/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“. . . he had learned in his years of tracking Indians that things which seemed impossible often weren't. They only became so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/he-had-learned-in-his-years-of-tracking-indians-that-things-which/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [It's a fine world, though rich in hardships at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/it-s-a-fine-world-though-rich-in-hardships-at-times/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [Nobody run off with her,” Roscoe said. "She just run off with herself, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/nobody-run-off-with-her-roscoe-said-she-just-run-off-with-herself-i/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [Americans' lack of passion for history is well known. History may not quite be bunk, as Henry Ford suggested, but there's no denying that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/americans-lack-of-passion-for-history-is-well-known-history-may-not/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [I never met a soul in this world as normal as me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/i-never-met-a-soul-in-this-world-as-normal-as-me/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“I figured out something, Lorie,” he said. “I figured out why you and me get along so well. You know more than you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/i-figured-out-something-lorie-he-said-i-figured-out-why-you-and-me/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) [Explore all 162 Larry McMurtry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) ## More Augustus quotes > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [That pipe, just so happens to lead to the room where I make the most delicious flavored chocolate covered fudge." Then he will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/that-pipe-just-so-happens-to-lead-to-the-room-where-i-make-the-most/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Christianity has carried civilization along with it, whithersoever it has gone; and, as if to show that the latter does not depend on physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/christianity-has-carried-civilization-along-with-it-whithersoever-it/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [I am in the midst of a soliloquy! I wrote this out and memorized it and if you interrupt me I will completely screw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-am-in-the-midst-of-a-soliloquy-i-wrote-this-out-and-memorized-it/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Ma'am," Augustus said, nodding toward her, "Your daughter's car has just been deservingly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/ma-am-augustus-said-nodding-toward-her-your-daughter-s-car-has-just/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough. --Augustus "Gus" McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/a-man-who-wouldn-t-cheat-for-a-poke-don-t-want-one-bad-enough/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“As quick as boiled asparagus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-quick-as-boiled-asparagus/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [WHEN AUGUSTUS CAME OUT on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake—not a very big one. It had probably just been crawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/when-augustus-came-out-on-the-porch-the-blue-pigs-were-eating-a/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Six times during my life has this tomb of my soul led me to the brink of that eternal darkness into which all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/six-times-during-my-life-has-this-tomb-of-my-soul-led-me-to-the-brink/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [According to the conventions of the genre, Augustus Waters kept his sense of humor till the end, did not for a moment waiver in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/according-to-the-conventions-of-the-genre-augustus-waters-kept-his/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“His excitement was adorable. I couldn't resist. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. -Hazel Grace Lancaster, The Fault In Our Stars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/his-excitement-was-adorable-i-couldn-t-resist-i-leaned-over-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Out of nowhere, Augustus asked, "do you believe in an after life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/out-of-nowhere-augustus-asked-do-you-believe-in-an-after-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ He \[Caesar Augustus\] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble. \[Lat., Urbem lateritiam accepit, mamoream relinquit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suetonius/he-caesar-augustus-found-a-city-built-of-brick-he-left-it-built-of/) [Suetonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suetonius/) > [“Augustus was amazing, but he’d overdone everything at the picnic, right down to the sandwiches that were metaphorically resonant but tasted terrible and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-was-amazing-but-he-d-overdone-everything-at-the-picnic-right/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Browse all 137 Augustus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” ~spoken by Augustus McCrae", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Larry McMurtry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-living-i-doubt-it-matters-where-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Augustus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-living-i-doubt-it-matters-where-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/larry-mcmurtry-2540_augustus_it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-li_2083692.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/larry-mcmurtry-2540_augustus_it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-li_2083692.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/larry-mcmurtry-2540_augustus_it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-li_2083692.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you…” — Larry McMurtry", "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": "Larry McMurtry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It ain’t dying I’m talking about,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-living-i-doubt-it-matters-where-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/it-ain-t-dying-i-m-talking-about-it-s-living-i-doubt-it-matters-where-2/#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 } } ] } ```