--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The generations of living things pass in…" description: "\"The generations of living things pass in a short time, and like runners hand on the torch of life\" — Lucretius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/lucretius-1632_generations_the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in_3111942.png" --- # The generations of living things pass in a short time, and… ![“The generations of living things pass in a short time, and like runners hand on the torch of life” quote by Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/lucretius-1632_generations_the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in_3111942.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/lucretius-1632_generations_the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in_3111942.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/lucretius-1632_generations_the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in_3111942.png) > “The generations of living things pass in a short time, and like runners hand on the torch of life” [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is fleeting and successive generations quickly inherit existence like a relay race. **In simple terms:** Life passes fast, each generation inherits the torch. Key Takeaway Act responsibly with the brief time you have. Themes mortality inheritance continuity Mood reflective urgent Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - environmental activism - family planning - legacy projects - education curricula Key Concepts philosophy stoicism naturalism Questions to Reflect On - How will you use your brief time? - What legacy will you pass on? A Different Perspective Assumes a linear, unbroken succession, ignoring disruptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-things/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Thus the sum of things is ever being reviewed, and mortals dependent one upon another. Some nations increase, others diminish, and in a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/thus-the-sum-of-things-is-ever-being-reviewed-and-mortals-dependent/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Some species increase, others diminish, and in a short space the generations of living creatures are changed and, like runners, pass on the torch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/some-species-increase-others-diminish-and-in-a-short-space-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Older generations are living proof that younger generations can survive their lunacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/older-generations-are-living-proof-that-younger-generations-can/) [Cullen Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cullen-hightower/) > [It's not so weird that four generations are living together under the same roof and trying to make it work. It's how a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/it-s-not-so-weird-that-four-generations-are-living-together-under-the/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [Mother of Rome, delight of Gods and men, Dear Venus that beneath the gliding stars Makest to teem the many-voyaged main And fruitful lands-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/mother-of-rome-delight-of-gods-and-men-dear-venus-that-beneath-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/every-breath-is-a-sacrament-an-affirmation-of-our-connection-with-all/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“Yet, all things must pass, but especially time, and with the months and then the years, I came slowly to have a place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/yet-all-things-must-pass-but-especially-time-and-with-the-months-and/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we that pass and they that stay?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-away-or-is-it-we-that-pass-and/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Time is that in which all things pass away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/time-is-that-in-which-all-things-pass-away/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Things do not pass for what they are, but for what they seem. Most things are judged by their jackets. —Baltasar Gracian”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/things-do-not-pass-for-what-they-are-but-for-what-they-seem-most/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [Some things we must pass over in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/some-things-we-must-pass-over-in-silence/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [“When you’re surrounded by endless possibilities, one of the hardest things you can do is pass them up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-you-re-surrounded-by-endless-possibilities-one-of-the-hardest/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [You can count on time for two things. One is that it will pass. The other is that it will never shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/you-can-count-on-time-for-two-things-one-is-that-it-will-pass-the/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [Things never pass where you think, nor along the paths you think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/things-never-pass-where-you-think-nor-along-the-paths-you-think/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) > [All things must pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/all-things-must-pass/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) ## More by Lucretius > [The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-wailing-of-the-newborn-infant-is-mingled-with-the-dirge-for-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [First, then, I say, that the mind, which we often call the intellect, in which is placed the conduct and government of life, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/first-then-i-say-that-the-mind-which-we-often-call-the-intellect-in/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [See with what force yon river's crystal stream Resists the weight of many a massy beam. To sink the wood the more we vainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/see-with-what-force-yon-river-s-crystal-stream-resists-the-weight-of/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“...nothing is more blissful than to occupy the heights effectively fortified by the teaching of the wise, tranquil sanctuaries from which you can look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/nothing-is-more-blissful-than-to-occupy-the-heights-effectively/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [ ... deprived of pain, and also deprived of danger, able to do what it wants, \[Nature\] does not need us, nor understands our deserts,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/deprived-of-pain-and-also-deprived-of-danger-able-to-do-what-it-wants/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [It is a pleasure for to sit at ease Upon the land, and safely for to see How other folks are tossed on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/it-is-a-pleasure-for-to-sit-at-ease-upon-the-land-and-safely-for-to/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Even if I knew nothing of the atoms, I would venture to assert on the evidence of the celestial phenomena themselves, supported by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/even-if-i-knew-nothing-of-the-atoms-i-would-venture-to-assert-on-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Nothing from nothing ever yet was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/nothing-from-nothing-ever-yet-was-born/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [We plainly perceive that the mind strengthens and decays with the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/we-plainly-perceive-that-the-mind-strengthens-and-decays-with-the-body/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [For piety lies not in being often seen turning a veiled head to stones, nor in approaching every altar, nor in lying prostratebefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/for-piety-lies-not-in-being-often-seen-turning-a-veiled-head-to/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [No single thing abides; but all things flow. Fragment to fragment clings - the things thus grow Until we know them and name them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/no-single-thing-abides-but-all-things-flow-fragment-to-fragment/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [What came from the earth returns back to the earth, and the spirit that was sent from heaven, again carried back, is received into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/what-came-from-the-earth-returns-back-to-the-earth-and-the-spirit/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [For thee the wonder-working earth puts forth sweet flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/for-thee-the-wonder-working-earth-puts-forth-sweet-flowers/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [No matter how difficult a task may look.. Persistence and steady action will get you through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/no-matter-how-difficult-a-task-may-look-persistence-and-steady-action/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) [Explore all 221 Lucretius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) ## More Generations quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [“The fact that you are born means you have the potential of benefiting yourself and generations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abegunde-sunday-o/the-fact-that-you-are-born-means-you-have-the-potential-of-benefiting/) [Abegunde Sunday O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abegunde-sunday-o/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-every-nation-gets-the-government-it-deserves-every-generation/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [“Will this generation be able to turn things around and learn a valuable lesson from all of this? I hope so, but I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/will-this-generation-be-able-to-turn-things-around-and-learn-a/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) J. Hoberman > [The Next Generation Space Telescope, which will be located much further away from the Earth than the Hubble Space Telescope presently is, will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-nicollier/the-next-generation-space-telescope-which-will-be-located-much/) [Claude Nicollier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-nicollier/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [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/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [He removed several pages of death certificates, which were picked up by another breeze and sent into the trees. Some would fall with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-removed-several-pages-of-death-certificates-which-were-picked-up/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) [Browse all 5,661 Generations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The generations of living things pass in a short time, and like runners hand on the torch of life", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lucretius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in-a-short-time-and-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Generations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in-a-short-time-and-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/lucretius-1632_generations_the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in_3111942.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/lucretius-1632_generations_the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in_3111942.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/lucretius-1632_generations_the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in_3111942.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The generations of living things pass in a short time, and like runners hand on the torch of life” — Lucretius", "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": "Lucretius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The generations of living things pass...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in-a-short-time-and-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-generations-of-living-things-pass-in-a-short-time-and-like/#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 } } ] } ```