--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must make haste then, not only because…" description: "\"“We must make haste then, not only because we are daily nearer to death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/marcus-aurelius-139_death_we-must-make-haste-then-not-only-because_1009571.jpg" --- # We must make haste then, not only because we are daily… ![“We must make haste then, not only because we are daily nearer to death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first.” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/marcus-aurelius-139_death_we-must-make-haste-then-not-only-because_1009571.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/marcus-aurelius-139_death_we-must-make-haste-then-not-only-because_1009571.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/marcus-aurelius-139_death_we-must-make-haste-then-not-only-because_1009571.jpg) > ““We must make haste then, not only because we are daily nearer to death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first.”” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We should act swiftly because death approaches and our understanding of things fades over time. **In simple terms:** Time is short; knowledge erodes. Key Takeaway Act promptly while clarity remains. Themes stoicism mortality wisdom Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - learning pursuits - personal projects Key Concepts impermanence epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How to balance haste with deliberation? - What practices preserve understanding? A Different Perspective Urgency may cause rash decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-conception-2185210/) [Haste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haste/) [Haste Daily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haste-daily-2185209/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Make Haste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-haste-1087988/) [Nearer Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nearer-death-1821241/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [We must press on then, in haste; not simply because every hour brings us nearer to death, but because even before then our powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-must-press-on-then-in-haste-not-simply-because-every-hour-brings/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [You've got to make haste while it's still light of day. My godmother used to say, I don't want to rust out, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/you-ve-got-to-make-haste-while-it-s-still-light-of-day-my-godmother/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [Oh be swift to live, make haste to be kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/oh-be-swift-to-live-make-haste-to-be-kind/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Make haste” Jane added, just because she always wanted to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/make-haste-jane-added-just-because-she-always-wanted-to-say-that/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Festina lente. Make haste slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/festina-lente-make-haste-slowly/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [We are independent of the change we detect. The longer the lever, the less perceptible its motion. It is the slowest pulsation which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-independent-of-the-change-we-detect-the-longer-the-lever-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [My desire is to make what haste I can to be gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/my-desire-is-to-make-what-haste-i-can-to-be-gone/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Make haste therefore, sweet love, whilst it is prime, For none can call again the passed time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/make-haste-therefore-sweet-love-whilst-it-is-prime-for-none-can-call/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Make haste to live, and consider each day a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/make-haste-to-live-and-consider-each-day-a-life/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Make haste cautiously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus/make-haste-cautiously/) [Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus/) > [Dont make haste because it is the invention of the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/dont-make-haste-because-it-is-the-invention-of-the-devil/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [When your dawn theater sounds to clear your sinuses: don't delay. Jump. 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But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My true Self is free. 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But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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