--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want us to be doing things, prolonging…" description: "\"“I want us to be doing things, prolonging life's duties as much as we can. I want death to find me planting my cabbages, neither worrying about it nor ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_i-want-us-to-be-doing-things-prolonging_657495.jpg" --- # I want us to be doing things, prolonging life's duties as… ![“I want us to be doing things, prolonging life's duties as much as we can. I want death to find me planting my cabbages, neither worrying about it nor the unfinished gardening.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_i-want-us-to-be-doing-things-prolonging_657495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_i-want-us-to-be-doing-things-prolonging_657495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_i-want-us-to-be-doing-things-prolonging_657495.jpg) > ““I want us to be doing things, prolonging life's duties as much as we can. I want death to find me planting my cabbages, neither worrying about it nor the unfinished gardening.”” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living fully means engaging in simple, purposeful work until death, without fear of unfinished tasks. **In simple terms:** Find purpose in everyday work. Key Takeaway Cultivate meaningful daily habits. Themes purpose mortality simplicity Mood philosophical contemplative Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - gardening - craftsmanship - daily routines Key Concepts existentialism stoicism Questions to Reflect On - What simple task gives you purpose? - How do you confront the fear of incompleteness? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on work may neglect other life aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [And man's little Life has Duties that are great, that are alone great, and go up to Heaven and down to Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/and-man-s-little-life-has-duties-that-are-great-that-are-alone-great/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [This little life has its duties that are great-that are alone great, and that go up to heaven and down to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/this-little-life-has-its-duties-that-are-great-that-are-alone-great/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I want death to find me planting my cabbages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-want-death-to-find-me-planting-my-cabbages/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I want death to find me planting my cabbages, but careless of death, and still more of my unfinished garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-want-death-to-find-me-planting-my-cabbages-but-careless-of-death/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“Some people obsess about prolonging their life, but there are many who have lived long enough to have learned one can live without it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/some-people-obsess-about-prolonging-their-life-but-there-are-many-who/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [Over time, the welfare state has become dysfunctional in a surprising way. But in a way it became a victim of its own success:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-ferguson/over-time-the-welfare-state-has-become-dysfunctional-in-a-surprising/) [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) > [Marriage is not a process for prolonging the life of love, sir. It merely mummifies its corpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-is-not-a-process-for-prolonging-the-life-of-love-sir-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With modern medicine prolonging life no matter what condition you're in, it seems like we're working towards immortality by science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/with-modern-medicine-prolonging-life-no-matter-what-condition-you-re/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [What's the point of prolonging your life if you don't enjoy it? It's your body. Do whatever you want with it. Better to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/what-s-the-point-of-prolonging-your-life-if-you-don-t-enjoy-it-it-s/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [I just want to keep doing things completely different from the other. I just want to keep working with great people, great filmmakers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-egan/i-just-want-to-keep-doing-things-completely-different-from-the-other/) [Christopher Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-egan/) > [“Supplements and a low protein diet appear to be prolonging my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/supplements-and-a-low-protein-diet-appear-to-be-prolonging-my-life/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [The nanofibrillar scaffolds designed to guide the process of cellular repopulation is an important step towards prolonging life and enhancing the quality of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdi-yacoub/the-nanofibrillar-scaffolds-designed-to-guide-the-process-of-cellular/) [Magdi Yacoub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdi-yacoub/) > [“I want death to find me planting my cabbages, not concerned about it or—still less—my unfinished garden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-riggs/i-want-death-to-find-me-planting-my-cabbages-not-concerned-about-it/) [Nina Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-riggs/) > [I don't want death to suddenly interrupt what I'm doing. I don't like the idea of death at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/i-don-t-want-death-to-suddenly-interrupt-what-i-m-doing-i-don-t-like/) [Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/) > [I want death to find me planting my cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-want-death-to-find-me-planting-my-cabbage/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## 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": "“I want us to be doing things, prolonging life's duties as much as we can. 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