--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The duration of our mortality is spent…" description: "\"“The duration of our mortality is spent having instances transform us, whether we want them to or not. We're molded into some form of us only to have a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/lindy-zart-8722_change_the-duration-of-our-mortality-is-spent-h_2591058.jpg" --- # The duration of our mortality is spent having instances… ![“The duration of our mortality is spent having instances transform us, whether we want them to or not. We're molded into some form of us only to have another moment morph us into another variation of us. It is endless. When someone asks what made someone change, I always ask, What didn't?” quote by Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/lindy-zart-8722_change_the-duration-of-our-mortality-is-spent-h_2591058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/lindy-zart-8722_change_the-duration-of-our-mortality-is-spent-h_2591058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/lindy-zart-8722_change_the-duration-of-our-mortality-is-spent-h_2591058.jpg) > ““The duration of our mortality is spent having instances transform us, whether we want them to or not. We're molded into some form of us only to have another moment morph us into another variation of us. It is endless. When someone asks what made someone change, I always ask, What didn't?”” [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life constantly reshapes us; change is endless, and asking what didn’t change reveals deeper transformation. **In simple terms:** We are always changing; ask what stays same. Key Takeaway Embrace continual evolution and self‑inquiry. Themes self‑development change identity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career shifts - relationship evolution - spiritual growth - habit formation Key Concepts personal narrative psychology Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself remain constant? - How do you measure growth? A Different Perspective Focusing only on change can overlook stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Duration Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duration-mortality-1862168/) [Having Instances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-instances-1862170/) [Life and living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-living/) [Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality/) [Mortality Spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality-spent-1862169/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Becoming a mother really put me in touch with not just my mortality but also my baby's mortality. You spent nine months working on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-buckman/becoming-a-mother-really-put-me-in-touch-with-not-just-my-mortality/) [Zoe Buckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-buckman/) > [Men don't just rise up from the dead, though, no matter how angry they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin/men-don-t-just-rise-up-from-the-dead-though-no-matter-how-angry-they/) [Merlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin/) > [“Over the years, I have developed a visceral reaction to families and victims expressing surprise at tragedy. Why are we surprised? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-perry/over-the-years-i-have-developed-a-visceral-reaction-to-families-and/) [Michael Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-perry/) > [Plague has hung over human history. The biggest human extinction was after 1492 in North and South America when the mortality rate was 95…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/plague-has-hung-over-human-history-the-biggest-human-extinction-was/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The fundamental fact about all of us is that we’re alive for a while but will die before long. This fact is the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/the-fundamental-fact-about-all-of-us-is-that-we-re-alive-for-a-while/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [I know mortality exists, but I cannot do anything about it. So it does not make me anxious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renato-dulbecco/i-know-mortality-exists-but-i-cannot-do-anything-about-it-so-it-does/) [Renato Dulbecco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renato-dulbecco/) > [The infant mortality rates are insanely high. The obesity epidemic is on the rise. It is all related.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-williams-paisley/the-infant-mortality-rates-are-insanely-high-the-obesity-epidemic-is/) [Kimberly Williams-Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-williams-paisley/) > [knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest gift God ever gives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/knowledge-of-our-own-mortality-is-the-greatest-gift-god-ever-gives-us/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“I know what's wrong with me - I could never stand still for death! Which you've got to do by a certain age, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-know-what-s-wrong-with-me-i-could-never-stand-still-for-death-which/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Mortality applies to every aspect of life. The fear of death is the driving fear of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-tosches/mortality-applies-to-every-aspect-of-life-the-fear-of-death-is-the/) [Nick Tosches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-tosches/) > [I think mortality makes you live a fuller existence. When I was a kid I was scared of death, and maybe that's what made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/i-think-mortality-makes-you-live-a-fuller-existence-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [“There is nothing serious in mortality! Solomon in all his glory was Solomon with the elements of the contemptible lurking in every fold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/there-is-nothing-serious-in-mortality-solomon-in-all-his-glory-was/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [I am simply looking for a companion with whom to spend my days, a companion who will cherish as much as I the stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-am-simply-looking-for-a-companion-with-whom-to-spend-my-days-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [The reason some men fear older women is they fear their own mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-lear/the-reason-some-men-fear-older-women-is-they-fear-their-own-mortality/) [Frances Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-lear/) ## More by Lindy Zart > [“No one could control the length of their life, but they could control how they lived it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/no-one-could-control-the-length-of-their-life-but-they-could-control/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“I saw you first, but you never saw me. Never have. Not even now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/i-saw-you-first-but-you-never-saw-me-never-have-not-even-now/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“PICTURE A CREAM-COLORED couch. 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Love was strong and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/love-was-forever-love-was-not-lost-when-a-life-was-love-did-not-fall/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“We always think we have more time and that is the wrong way to think, because time is something we never have enough of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/we-always-think-we-have-more-time-and-that-is-the-wrong-way-to-think/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“Why are you in my room?” “Because I can be.” “You shouldn’t be.” “Save it, Rochester. You broke my nose.” “Does it hurt?” He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/why-are-you-in-my-room-because-i-can-be-you-shouldn-t-be-save-it/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“Why do you need a recipe book?” “So I can cook?” I raise my eyebrows. A frown twists his lips. “Pretty sure my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/why-do-you-need-a-recipe-book-so-i-can-cook-i-raise-my-eyebrows-a/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“I’m messy and a slob and I like beer a little too much. I work long hours and I like to be outside more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/i-m-messy-and-a-slob-and-i-like-beer-a-little-too-much-i-work-long/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“When you want something so bad, when you deny yourself it, day after day, for so long, after a while, you ask yourself why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/when-you-want-something-so-bad-when-you-deny-yourself-it-day-after/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“Maybe strength wasn't decided by what you could do but, by what you could do without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/maybe-strength-wasn-t-decided-by-what-you-could-do-but-by-what-you/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) [Explore all 78 Lindy Zart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. 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On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The duration of our mortality is spent having instances transform us, whether we want them to or not. 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