--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wise man once told me no man can escape…" description: "\"“A wise man once told me no man can escape death, but it’s how we run that defines us. And if I have to run, I think I’d like to go where she’s going.”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/michael-j-sullivan-3113_death_a-wise-man-once-told-me-no-man-can-escap_2525276.png" --- # A wise man once told me no man can escape death, but it’s… ![“A wise man once told me no man can escape death, but it’s how we run that defines us. And if I have to run, I think I’d like to go where she’s going.” quote by Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/michael-j-sullivan-3113_death_a-wise-man-once-told-me-no-man-can-escap_2525276.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/michael-j-sullivan-3113_death_a-wise-man-once-told-me-no-man-can-escap_2525276.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/michael-j-sullivan-3113_death_a-wise-man-once-told-me-no-man-can-escap_2525276.png) > ““A wise man once told me no man can escape death, but it’s how we run that defines us. And if I have to run, I think I’d like to go where she’s going.”” [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s meaning is shaped by how we confront inevitable death, and our choices in that struggle define us. **In simple terms:** How we face death defines us. Key Takeaway Choose purposeful action despite mortality. Themes mortality purpose identity Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - career decisions - relationship choices - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts existentialism agency legacy Questions to Reflect On - What does “run” symbolize for you? - How can you act meaningfully now? A Different Perspective Emphasis on fate may overlook agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [I run a lot. If I don't have time to go to the gym or don't have time to work out properly, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-run-a-lot-if-i-don-t-have-time-to-go-to-the-gym-or-don-t-have-time/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [When I'm running and I think I can't run any more, I also think that my dad can't run at all, and it keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzen-wright/when-i-m-running-and-i-think-i-can-t-run-any-more-i-also-think-that/) [Lorenzen Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzen-wright/) > [As a woman candidate myself, I know how important it was to be encouraged to run, to think outside of the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-stefanik/as-a-woman-candidate-myself-i-know-how-important-it-was-to-be/) [Elise Stefanik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-stefanik/) > [Walk with those seeking truth... RUN FROM THOSE WHO THINK THEY'VE FOUND IT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/walk-with-those-seeking-truth-run-from-those-who-think-they-ve-found/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-run-not-because-we-think-it-is-doing-us-good-but-because-we-enjoy-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel like in New York, we could of course open up more bike lanes, but I think it's even more important to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cain/i-feel-like-in-new-york-we-could-of-course-open-up-more-bike-lanes/) [Mary Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cain/) > [Have no time to look around, just run around, run around and think why?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chicago-band/have-no-time-to-look-around-just-run-around-run-around-and-think-why/) [Chicago (Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chicago-band/) > [We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/we-run-not-because-we-think-it-is-doing-us-good-but-because-we-enjoy/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [The great thing about living in America is anybody can run for anything they want to run for. And I think that's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-reeves/the-great-thing-about-living-in-america-is-anybody-can-run-for/) [Tate Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-reeves/) > [“The Flash: I often come here to run and to think. But, today, I don’t want to think—I just want to run.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-taylor/the-flash-i-often-come-here-to-run-and-to-think-but-today-i-don-t/) [Tom Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-taylor/) > [Lets not let times bitter flood rise before my thoughts begin to run. I think I'm getting older now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-flowers/lets-not-let-times-bitter-flood-rise-before-my-thoughts-begin-to-run/) [Brandon Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-flowers/) > [“I guess the basic reason I run is that I think a body, like a brain, should be used, stretched, forced to its limits...I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-collins/i-guess-the-basic-reason-i-run-is-that-i-think-a-body-like-a-brain/) [Michael Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-collins/) > [“Walk with those who are looking for the truth, run from those who think they have found it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepack-chopra/walk-with-those-who-are-looking-for-the-truth-run-from-those-who/) Deepack Chopra > [When I run, I think about everything: physics, family problems, plans for the weekend. I haven't made any big discoveries on a run, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-ketterle/when-i-run-i-think-about-everything-physics-family-problems-plans-for/) [Wolfgang Ketterle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-ketterle/) > [Run, we think, as buildings crumble. Run, as people perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/run-we-think-as-buildings-crumble-run-as-people-perish/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) ## More by Michael J. Sullivan > [“Bah!” Magnus scoffed. “Humans always blame dwarves. A baby goes missing and it was a dwarf that stole it. A princess runs off with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/bah-magnus-scoffed-humans-always-blame-dwarves-a-baby-goes-missing/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“Hands could be such expressive things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/hands-could-be-such-expressive-things/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Stealing swords,” Royce muttered mostly to himself. “Okay, let’s take a look at this tower. The sooner I see it, the sooner I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/stealing-swords-royce-muttered-mostly-to-himself-okay-let-s-take-a/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/happiness-comes-from-moving-toward-something-when-you-run-away/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“I notice you didn’t include a blade with your new attire,” Royce said. “Not even a little jeweled dagger.” “Lords no.” Albert looked appalled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/i-notice-you-didn-t-include-a-blade-with-your-new-attire-royce-said/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“You're not going to charge us for the tower, I hope," Hadrian said. "But if you are, it was Royce's fault and should come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/you-re-not-going-to-charge-us-for-the-tower-i-hope-hadrian-said-but/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“Verily, for nine hundred years have I lost. Everyone I knew is dead, the empire gone, and who knows in what state the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/verily-for-nine-hundred-years-have-i-lost-everyone-i-knew-is-dead-the/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“Your Majesty?” Alric looked up at the thief with a scowl. “I just want to say for the record that as far as royal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/your-majesty-alric-looked-up-at-the-thief-with-a-scowl-i-just-want-to/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“There always seemed to be a better way, except when it came to people. Once broken, people couldn't be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/there-always-seemed-to-be-a-better-way-except-when-it-came-to-people/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Another last-minute, good-deed job,” Royce grumbled as he stuffed supplies into his saddlebag. “True,” Hadrian said, slinging his sword belt over his shoulder, “but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/another-last-minute-good-deed-job-royce-grumbled-as-he-stuffed/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [If this hast been done to language, I fear to know the fate of all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/if-this-hast-been-done-to-language-i-fear-to-know-the-fate-of-all-else/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“When going forward doesn't get you where you need to be, going back will at least keep you moving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/when-going-forward-doesn-t-get-you-where-you-need-to-be-going-back/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“A lot can be determined by the choices we make, even if the action is initiated by self-preservation. Many ... no, most ... of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/a-lot-can-be-determined-by-the-choices-we-make-even-if-the-action-is/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Hadrian leapt to his feet. Royce was already up. “Don’t bother,” Esrahaddon told them. “She’s dead, and there’s nothing you can do. The monster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/hadrian-leapt-to-his-feet-royce-was-already-up-don-t-bother/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Royce cast a harsh and anxious look at the prince. “What?” Alric asked. “I thought we discussed the importance of keeping a low profile.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/royce-cast-a-harsh-and-anxious-look-at-the-prince-what-alric-asked-i/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) [Explore all 138 Michael J. Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) ## 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. 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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 > [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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