--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a pity we do not die when our lives…" description: "\"It is a pity we do not die when our lives are finished.\" — Mary Borden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/mary-borden-53433_death_it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-live_1382485.jpg" --- # It is a pity we do not die when our lives are finished. ![“It is a pity we do not die when our lives are finished.” quote by Mary Borden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/mary-borden-53433_death_it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-live_1382485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/mary-borden-53433_death_it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-live_1382485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/mary-borden-53433_death_it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-live_1382485.jpg) > “It is a pity we do not die when our lives are finished.” [Mary Borden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the tragedy of life ending before death, especially in war. **In simple terms:** Life can end before death, a tragic waste. Key Takeaway Cherish life’s moments. Themes mortality war existentialism Mood somber reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - veteran counseling - peace advocacy - personal reflection Key Concepts human fragility meaning of life war trauma Questions to Reflect On - What gives life meaning? - How to cope with premature loss? A Different Perspective May be overly bleak for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) ## Related quotes > [Women of the Gallagher Academy, who comes here?" she asked. Just then, every girl at every table (even the newbies) stood and said in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/women-of-the-gallagher-academy-who-comes-here-she-asked-just-then/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [I pity you all... Most of you will die---scratch that---ALL of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-pity-you-all-most-of-you-will-die-scratch-that-all-of-you/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/what-pity-is-it-that-we-can-die-but-once-to-serve-our-country/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“..it would be a real pity to die when I’d finally put tabs on who had gotten me into this mess—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-would-be-a-real-pity-to-die-when-i-d-finally-put-tabs-on-who-had/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [That which we die for lives as wholly as that which we live for dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-which-we-die-for-lives-as-wholly-as-that-which-we-live-for-dies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We shall all die, and our lives will be irrelevant then. If we make anything that lasts, it outlives us, and it outlives its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/we-shall-all-die-and-our-lives-will-be-irrelevant-then-if-we-make/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [We shall all die, and our lives will be irrelevant then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/we-shall-all-die-and-our-lives-will-be-irrelevant-then/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“I used to toy with the notion that when we die we find out what our lives have amounted to, finally. I'd never imagined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/i-used-to-toy-with-the-notion-that-when-we-die-we-find-out-what-our/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [It’s never quite right, all the things we are taught, all the loves we chase, all the deaths we die, all the lives we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-s-never-quite-right-all-the-things-we-are-taught-all-the-loves-we/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I say at the very end of "Winter Journal" that I do dream about my father often. I think I have a tremendous compassion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/i-say-at-the-very-end-of-winter-journal-that-i-do-dream-about-my/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“What a pity it is that we've lived the lives that we've lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ewell/what-a-pity-it-is-that-we-ve-lived-the-lives-that-we-ve-lived/) [Katherine Ewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ewell/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [When you begin your work, nothing exists. When it is finished it looks as if it just happened, spontaneously, effortlessly, convincingly. It looks as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-zeisel/when-you-begin-your-work-nothing-exists-when-it-is-finished-it-looks/) [Eva Zeisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-zeisel/) > [When you do a voice in an animated film, you don't see the finished product at all. You're not animating. You're not doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/when-you-do-a-voice-in-an-animated-film-you-don-t-see-the-finished/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) ## More by Mary Borden > [I see no reason why I should not live on indefinitely just as I have done, and on the whole I am more comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/i-see-no-reason-why-i-should-not-live-on-indefinitely-just-as-i-have/) [Mary Borden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/) > [children had no place in love affairs. Children ought to be born to widows and old maids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/children-had-no-place-in-love-affairs-children-ought-to-be-born-to/) [Mary Borden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/) > [One wants more time, more youth. That is it. That is all one asks for - nothing but that, a little more time. Hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/one-wants-more-time-more-youth-that-is-it-that-is-all-one-asks-for/) [Mary Borden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/) > [I am a woman. My life is a long, strong, twisted rope, made up of a number of human relationships, nothing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/i-am-a-woman-my-life-is-a-long-strong-twisted-rope-made-up-of-a/) [Mary Borden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/) > [Love, is it? First you lose your appetite, then you lose your tongue, then you take leave of your senses, and that's love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/love-is-it-first-you-lose-your-appetite-then-you-lose-your-tongue/) [Mary Borden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/) [Explore all 6 Mary Borden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/) ## 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": "It is a pity we do not die when our lives are finished.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Borden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-lives-are-finished/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-lives-are-finished/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/mary-borden-53433_death_it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-live_1382485.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/mary-borden-53433_death_it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-live_1382485.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/mary-borden-53433_death_it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-live_1382485.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a pity we do not die when our lives are finished.” — Mary Borden", "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": "Mary Borden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-borden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a pity we do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-lives-are-finished/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-borden/it-is-a-pity-we-do-not-die-when-our-lives-are-finished/#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 } } ] } ```