--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death is not natural for a state as it is…" description: "\"Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_death_death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-i_1480436.jpg" --- # Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human… ![“Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_death_death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-i_1480436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_death_death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-i_1480436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_death_death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-i_1480436.jpg) > “Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cicero argues that the state’s death is an unnatural, undesirable event unlike human mortality, which can be purposeful and even welcomed. **In simple terms:** State death is unnatural, human death can be purposeful. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of natural cycles. Themes politics philosophy life death ethics Mood reflective serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government collapse - personal crisis - end of era - ethical debates Key Concepts natural order state vs individual Questions to Reflect On - How do societies cope with inevitable decline? - Can state death be justified ethically? A Different Perspective State death may still be inevitable despite ideals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-natural-343859/) [Death Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-necessary-587613/) [Desirable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desirable/) [Human Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-death-2165220/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-state/) [State Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-human-348238/) ## Related quotes > [The natural state of a human being is dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/the-natural-state-of-a-human-being-is-dignity/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [I am afraid of death. You are young, so presumably you're more afraid of it than I am. Obviously we shall put if off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/i-am-afraid-of-death-you-are-young-so-presumably-you-re-more-afraid/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“If we have been given the vocation and grace to die with Christ then the everyday and banal occurrence which we call human death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rahner/if-we-have-been-given-the-vocation-and-grace-to-die-with-christ-then/) [Karl Rahner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rahner/) > [So long as human beings stay human, death and life are the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/so-long-as-human-beings-stay-human-death-and-life-are-the-same-thing/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“A skeleton, even a walking one, is at least human; Death of a sort lurks inside every living creature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman-terry-pratchett/a-skeleton-even-a-walking-one-is-at-least-human-death-of-a-sort-lurks/) [Neil Gaiman Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman-terry-pratchett/) > [Biology includes the study of the human death which began when you took your first breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/biology-includes-the-study-of-the-human-death-which-began-when-you/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [Death is an old friend; I know him well. I lived with him, ate with him, slept with him; to meet him again does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/death-is-an-old-friend-i-know-him-well-i-lived-with-him-ate-with-him/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“If man must himself die, after first losing his most beloved ones by death, he would prefer that his life be forfeit to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/if-man-must-himself-die-after-first-losing-his-most-beloved-ones-by/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. 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It seems to me most strange that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-coward-dies-a-thousand-times-before-his-death-but-the-valiant-taste/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Death, a necessary end, will come when it will come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/death-a-necessary-end-will-come-when-it-will-come/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-all-the-wonders-that-i-yet-have-heard-it-seems-to-me-most-strange/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never tastes of death but once, it seems to me most strange that men should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jaquavis-dirty-money/cowards-die-many-times-before-their-deaths-the-valiant-never-tastes/) [Ashley & JaQuavis (Dirty Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jaquavis-dirty-money/) > [I look upon death to be as necessary to our constitution as sleep. We shall rise refreshed in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-look-upon-death-to-be-as-necessary-to-our-constitution-as-sleep-we/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## 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](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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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": "Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-is-for-a-human-being-for-whom/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-is-for-a-human-being-for-whom/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_death_death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-i_1480436.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_death_death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-i_1480436.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_death_death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-i_1480436.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but…” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Death is not natural for a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-is-for-a-human-being-for-whom/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/death-is-not-natural-for-a-state-as-it-is-for-a-human-being-for-whom/#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 } } ] } ```