--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great problem of humanity is life and…" description: "\"The great problem of humanity is life and death. Every person dreams of becoming invisible one day.\" — Marcel Marceau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/marcel-marceau-16545_death_the-great-problem-of-humanity-is-life-an_2182199.jpg" --- # The great problem of humanity is life and death. Every… ![“The great problem of humanity is life and death. Every person dreams of becoming invisible one day.” quote by Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/marcel-marceau-16545_death_the-great-problem-of-humanity-is-life-an_2182199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/marcel-marceau-16545_death_the-great-problem-of-humanity-is-life-an_2182199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/marcel-marceau-16545_death_the-great-problem-of-humanity-is-life-an_2182199.jpg) > “The great problem of humanity is life and death. Every person dreams of becoming invisible one day.” [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human existence is defined by the paradox of life and death; invisibility is a universal desire. **In simple terms:** Life and death define humanity; invisibility is a wish. Key Takeaway Accept mortality while embracing visible impact. Themes existence paradox desire Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - Philosophical debates - artistic performances - personal contemplation Key Concepts Existentialism human condition Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting mortality shape your actions? - What does invisibility symbolize for you? A Different Perspective Invisibility is unattainable, may cause escapism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-death/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [“This is humanity. This is life and death in one room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-sutton/this-is-humanity-this-is-life-and-death-in-one-room/) [Kelsey Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-sutton/) > [. . . the weal of the race, and the cause of humanity, here and now, are enough To give life meaning and death as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-weal-of-the-race-and-the-cause-of-humanity-here-and-now-are/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [So long as you are ready to die for humanity, the life of your country is immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-mazzini/so-long-as-you-are-ready-to-die-for-humanity-the-life-of-your-country/) [Giuseppe Mazzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-mazzini/) > [“With humanity, life has ended up with a living creature that never quite finds itself in the right place, a living creature destined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/with-humanity-life-has-ended-up-with-a-living-creature-that-never/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [Humanity and life are reflected in the stars, and the Universe itself is poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-plait/humanity-and-life-are-reflected-in-the-stars-and-the-universe-itself/) [Phil Plait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-plait/) > [“We live in one of the few epochs of humanity where life isn't just a painful cycle of toil, fatigue, and collapse. Now pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bauvard/we-live-in-one-of-the-few-epochs-of-humanity-where-life-isn-t-just-a/) [Bauvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bauvard/) > [The body of the human world is sick. Its remedy and healing will be the oneness of the kingdom of humanity. Its life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/the-body-of-the-human-world-is-sick-its-remedy-and-healing-will-be/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [“Making the choice to exercise compassion is an expression of Love for Humanity and Life itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/making-the-choice-to-exercise-compassion-is-an-expression-of-love-for/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [When all humanity works for humanity, when the life-business of men and women becomes one united partnership in all matters which concern each, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/when-all-humanity-works-for-humanity-when-the-life-business-of-men/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [When even those who should be happy by any reasonable measure are also not happy, there's got to be a serious systemic problem in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/when-even-those-who-should-be-happy-by-any-reasonable-measure-are/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“The problem of Palestine was that everyone wanted things simple: everyone was an extremist because everyone wanted things simple. It was the problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-wilentz/the-problem-of-palestine-was-that-everyone-wanted-things-simple/) Amy Wilentz > [“It's TRUTH That Humanity Really Needs To Hear.Problem Is...Few In Humanity Really Want To Hear It!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/it-s-truth-that-humanity-really-needs-to-hear-problem-is-few-in/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Anything which is a huge problem for humanity we'll sign up for, if we can find a way to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astro-teller/anything-which-is-a-huge-problem-for-humanity-we-ll-sign-up-for-if-we/) [Astro Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astro-teller/) > [I believe that the biggest problem that humanity faces is an ego sensitivity to finding out whether one is right or wrong and identifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-believe-that-the-biggest-problem-that-humanity-faces-is-an-ego/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [When we see that our problem is so complicated and so all-encompassing in its intent and content, then we realize that it is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/when-we-see-that-our-problem-is-so-complicated-and-so-all/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Marcel Marceau > [I have designed my style pantomimes as white ink drawings on black backgrounds, so that man's destiny appears as a thread lost in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-have-designed-my-style-pantomimes-as-white-ink-drawings-on-black/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [I was brought up in a Jewish home, but I was brought up to be human - not fanatical, which is something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-was-brought-up-in-a-jewish-home-but-i-was-brought-up-to-be-human/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [All wars are criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/all-wars-are-criminal/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [To communicate through silence is a link between the thoughts of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/to-communicate-through-silence-is-a-link-between-the-thoughts-of-man/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [A mime is a terrible thing to waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/a-mime-is-a-terrible-thing-to-waste/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [Mime is an art beyond words. It is the art of the essential. And you cannot lie. You have to show the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/mime-is-an-art-beyond-words-it-is-the-art-of-the-essential-and-you/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [I wouldn't imagine I would become famous in America for my talk shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-wouldn-t-imagine-i-would-become-famous-in-america-for-my-talk-shows/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [I started under my master, Etienne Decroux, who taught me a new grammar for mime he called statuary mime. This grammar brings style creations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-started-under-my-master-etienne-decroux-who-taught-me-a-new-grammar/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [Mime makes the invisible, visible and the visible, invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/mime-makes-the-invisible-visible-and-the-visible-invisible/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [In a clown, we see what we do that makes us laugh and cry. I kept the white face, the tradition of the Pierrot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/in-a-clown-we-see-what-we-do-that-makes-us-laugh-and-cry-i-kept-the/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [Mime, like music, knows neither borders nor nationalities,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/mime-like-music-knows-neither-borders-nor-nationalities/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [A magician makes the visible invisible. A mime makes the invisible visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/a-magician-makes-the-visible-invisible-a-mime-makes-the-invisible/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [I am a company in myself. My repertoire has become a bible for all mimes in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-am-a-company-in-myself-my-repertoire-has-become-a-bible-for-all/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [When you're in a play, 50 percent is the genius of the actor, 50 percent is the genius of the author. When a mime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/when-you-re-in-a-play-50-percent-is-the-genius-of-the-actor-50/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [I don't want our youth to become anti-romantic. We have to make room for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-don-t-want-our-youth-to-become-anti-romantic-we-have-to-make-room/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) [Explore all 39 Marcel Marceau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) ## 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": "The great problem of humanity is life and death. 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