--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And there is no question that we are…" description: "\"“And there is no question that we are preoccupied by dying. But why? It is because when we die, we leave behind not only the world but also death. That..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/maurice-blanchot-12571_death_and-there-is-no-question-that-we-are-pre_2548807.jpg" --- # And there is no question that we are preoccupied by dying… ![“And there is no question that we are preoccupied by dying. But why? It is because when we die, we leave behind not only the world but also death. That is the paradox of the last hour. Death works with us in the world; it is a power that humanizes nature, that raises existence to being, and it is…” quote by Maurice Blanchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/maurice-blanchot-12571_death_and-there-is-no-question-that-we-are-pre_2548807.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/maurice-blanchot-12571_death_and-there-is-no-question-that-we-are-pre_2548807.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/maurice-blanchot-12571_death_and-there-is-no-question-that-we-are-pre_2548807.jpg) > ““And there is no question that we are preoccupied by dying. But why? It is because when we die, we leave behind not only the world but also death. That is the paradox of the last hour. Death works with us in the world; it is a power that humanizes nature, that raises existence to being, and it is within each one of us as our most human quality; it is death only in the world - man only knows death because he is man, and he is only man because he is death in the process of becoming. But to die is to shatter the world; it is the loss of person, the annihilation of the being; and so it is also the loss of death, the loss of what in it and for me made it death. As long as I live, I am a mortal man, but when I die, by ceasing to be man I also cease to be mortal, I am no longer capable of dying, and my impending death horrifies me because I see it as it is: no longer death, but the impossibility of dying.”” [Maurice Blanchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blanchot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explores the paradoxical relationship between life, death, and humanity, suggesting death both defines and transcends human existence. **In simple terms:** Death defines humanity but also ends it. Key Takeaway Accept mortality, reflect on its meaning. Themes existentialism death humanity paradox mortality Mood thoughtful introspective somber Type philosophical reflective literary When to use this quote - contemplating mortality - writing about existential themes - psychological therapy - spiritual practice Key Concepts ontological paradox philosophical inquiry identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing death shape your life choices? - Can mortality be both a defining and ending force? A Different Perspective The view may overlook cultural variations in death perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Why now? Why not? 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It always means to give up a secure state, which was relatively known, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/each-new-step-into-his-new-human-existence-is-frightening-it-always/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Both life and death manifest in every moment of existence. Our human body appears and disappears moment by moment, without cease, and this ceaseless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/both-life-and-death-manifest-in-every-moment-of-existence-our-human/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [We have reached the end of the road that is built on the set of traits held out for male identity--advance at any cost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-reached-the-end-of-the-road-that-is-built-on-the-set-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Peace is not a luxury. It's not an option. 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If I hid it from you, you would find it again a little farther on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-blanchot/but-my-silence-is-real-if-i-hid-it-from-you-you-would-find-it-again-a/) [Maurice Blanchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blanchot/) > [“As the German expression has it, the last judgement is the youngest day, and it is a day surpassing all days. 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Himself, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-blanchot/the-journal-is-not-essentially-a-confession-a-story-about-oneself-it/) [Maurice Blanchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blanchot/) > [We can never put enough distance between ourselves and what we love. To think that God is, is still to think of him as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-blanchot/we-can-never-put-enough-distance-between-ourselves-and-what-we-love/) [Maurice Blanchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blanchot/) > [A writer never reads his work. For him, it is the unreadable, a secret, and he cannot remain face to face with it. 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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": "“And there is no question that we are preoccupied by dying. But why? It is because when we die, we leave behind not only the world but also death. That is the paradox of the last hour. 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