--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live our lives, do whatever we do, and…" description: "\"“We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep. It's as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out windows, or drown themselves, or take pil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/michael-cunningham-1120_death_we-live-our-lives-do-whatever-we-do-and_2368993.png" --- # We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep… ![“We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep. It's as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out windows, or drown themselves, or take pills; more die by accident; and most of us are slowly devoured by some disease, or, if we're very fortunate, by time itself. There's just this for…” quote by Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/michael-cunningham-1120_death_we-live-our-lives-do-whatever-we-do-and_2368993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/michael-cunningham-1120_death_we-live-our-lives-do-whatever-we-do-and_2368993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/michael-cunningham-1120_death_we-live-our-lives-do-whatever-we-do-and_2368993.png) > ““We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep. It's as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out windows, or drown themselves, or take pills; more die by accident; and most of us are slowly devoured by some disease, or, if we're very fortunate, by time itself. There's just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds & expectations, to burst open & give us everything we've ever imagined, though everyone but children (and perhaps even they) know these hours will inevitably be followed by others, far darker and more difficult. Still, we cherish the city, the morning, we hope, more than anything for more. Heaven only knows why we love it so.”” [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is ordinary yet fragile; moments of profound insight break through routine, offering fleeting hope amid inevitable decline. **In simple terms:** Life is ordinary, but rare moments bring deep meaning. Key Takeaway Seek and cherish those moments of clarity. Themes mortality hope ordinary life epiphany Mood contemplative hopeful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - daily routine - personal crisis - creative inspiration - health challenges Key Concepts existentialism human condition Questions to Reflect On - What small moments have changed your perspective? - How do you balance routine with seeking meaning? A Different Perspective Such moments are rare and may be overlooked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consolation Hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation-hour-1080380/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Hope Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-heaven/) [Hour Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hour-lives-439932/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-lives/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) ## Related quotes > [“We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep - it's as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/we-live-our-lives-do-whatever-we-do-and-then-we-sleep-it-s-as-simple-2/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep. It’s as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out windows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/we-live-our-lives-do-whatever-we-do-and-then-we-sleep-it-s-as-simple/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“We throw our parties; we abandon our families to live alone in Canada; we struggle to write books that do not change the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/we-throw-our-parties-we-abandon-our-families-to-live-alone-in-canada-2/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [There is just this for consolation: an hour here or there, when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/there-is-just-this-for-consolation-an-hour-here-or-there-when-our/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“There's just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/there-s-just-this-for-consolation-an-hour-here-or-there-when-our-3/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“There's just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lived seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/there-s-just-this-for-consolation-an-hour-here-or-there-when-our/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [There's just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/there-s-just-this-for-consolation-an-hour-here-or-there-when-our-2/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Every hour spent on the Caine was a great hour in all our lives-if you don't think so now you will later on, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-wouk/every-hour-spent-on-the-caine-was-a-great-hour-in-all-our-lives-if/) [Herman Wouk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-wouk/) > [You may be sure that of all the moments of your life, the time you spend before the divine Sacrament will be that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/you-may-be-sure-that-of-all-the-moments-of-your-life-the-time-you/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [“Dead and still in the world was worse than dead and in the ground. 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I got a feelin' I got to see them. They gonna need help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-gotta-see-them-folks-that-s-gone-out-on-the-road-i-got-a-feelin-i/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I hope you're at peace. I hope you... I hope you're in heaven, and you fell in love with someone who treats you better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirkman/i-hope-you-re-at-peace-i-hope-you-i-hope-you-re-in-heaven-and-you/) [Robert Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kirkman/) ## More by Michael Cunningham > [“Mizzy has wandered into the garden. Carole looks contemplatively at him, says, "Lovely boy." "My wife's insanely younger brother. He's one of those kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/mizzy-has-wandered-into-the-garden-carole-looks-contemplatively-at/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“Zoe loved Trancas's mother. 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Not now. Not today. Not when he needs... more. More than this well-executed idea. 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