--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you understand that you will die…" description: "\"“When you understand that you will die tomorrow, if not today, and nothing will be left, then everything is so unimportant!... So one goes on living, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leo-tolstoy-55_death_when-you-understand-that-you-will-die-to_377433.jpg" --- # When you understand that you will die tomorrow, if not… ![“When you understand that you will die tomorrow, if not today, and nothing will be left, then everything is so unimportant!... So one goes on living, amusing oneself with hunting, with work - anything so as not think of death” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leo-tolstoy-55_death_when-you-understand-that-you-will-die-to_377433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leo-tolstoy-55_death_when-you-understand-that-you-will-die-to_377433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leo-tolstoy-55_death_when-you-understand-that-you-will-die-to_377433.jpg) > ““When you understand that you will die tomorrow, if not today, and nothing will be left, then everything is so unimportant!... So one goes on living, amusing oneself with hunting, with work - anything so as not think of death”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing mortality makes daily concerns seem trivial, prompting a focus on living fully despite fear. **In simple terms:** Death makes life feel less important. Key Takeaway Live meaningfully despite fear. Themes mortality meaning existentialism Mood reflective philosophical Type literary existential When to use this quote - personal crises - creative pursuits - spiritual reflection Key Concepts nihilism authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What does “unimportant” truly mean? - How can one balance awareness of death with daily duties? A Different Perspective May ignore practical responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [When you understand that you will die to-morrow, if not to-day, and nothing will be left, then everything is so unimportant!... So one goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/when-you-understand-that-you-will-die-to-morrow-if-not-to-day-and/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [If I die tomorrow, why not Today ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-die-tomorrow-why-not-today/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And you know, there's less charm in life when you think about death--but it's more peaceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/and-you-know-there-s-less-charm-in-life-when-you-think-about-death/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [If I die tomorrow, I've done the two hardest things anybody can do in this life with the least amount of security - music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yul-vazquez/if-i-die-tomorrow-i-ve-done-the-two-hardest-things-anybody-can-do-in/) [Yul Vazquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yul-vazquez/) > [“We could have died just now. We didn't. Maybe we'll die tomorrow. I don't know. What matters is that we're alive now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/we-could-have-died-just-now-we-didn-t-maybe-we-ll-die-tomorrow-i-don/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [If I die tomorrow, somebody quote me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/if-i-die-tomorrow-somebody-quote-me/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [“We need to live in the now of life, it can't be about how much we suffered yesterday or what we might face tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-leon/we-need-to-live-in-the-now-of-life-it-can-t-be-about-how-much-we/) Bonnie Leon > [Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today -- for tomorrow's gonna be bad enough as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gobel/never-put-off-until-tomorrow-what-you-can-do-today-for-tomorrow-s/) [George Gobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gobel/) > [Definitely I know that every negative condition of the past is cleared away from my consciousness. I no longer think about it, see it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/definitely-i-know-that-every-negative-condition-of-the-past-is/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Each morning is a new beginning,but what we do at the moment matters most.Know the true value of time,snatch the moment & make use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/each-morning-is-a-new-beginning-but-what-we-do-at-the-moment-matters/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [We have to carry through to the next day and hope that we will be okay tomorrow as we are today and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/we-have-to-carry-through-to-the-next-day-and-hope-that-we-will-be/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“I would rather have a month, or a week, or even a day with you than no time at all. There is something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-cooper/i-would-rather-have-a-month-or-a-week-or-even-a-day-with-you-than-no/) [J.S. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-cooper/) > [“We thought there was no more behind But such a day tomorrow as today And to be a boy eternal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-meade-falkner/we-thought-there-was-no-more-behind-but-such-a-day-tomorrow-as-today/) [John Meade Falkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-meade-falkner/) > [“Work as if you were to live a thousand years, play as if you were to die tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-franklin/work-as-if-you-were-to-live-a-thousand-years-play-as-if-you-were-to/) [Ben Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-franklin/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "“When you understand that you will die tomorrow, if not today, and nothing will be left, then everything is so unimportant!... 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