--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To philosophize is nothing else than to…" description: "\"To philosophize is nothing else than to prepare oneself for death.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to_675552.jpg" --- # To philosophize is nothing else than to prepare oneself… ![“To philosophize is nothing else than to prepare oneself for death.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to_675552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to_675552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to_675552.jpg) > “To philosophize is nothing else than to prepare oneself for death.” [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. Contemplating mortality prepares the mind for the inevitable end. **In simple terms:** Thinking about death readies you. Key Takeaway Reflect on mortality to value life. Themes philosophy mortality preparation Mood reflective serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - ethical decisions - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism stoicism Questions to Reflect On - How does mortality awareness shape choices? - What comforts you about life's impermanence? A Different Perspective Avoiding death thoughts may cause denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oneself Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-death-2773898/) [Philosophize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophize-231193/) [Philosophize Prepare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophize-prepare-784787/) [Prepare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare/) [Prepare Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare-oneself-2773901/) ## Related quotes > [The point is that only one thing matters in this world, to prepare oneself for death. One can try to be as comfortable as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/the-point-is-that-only-one-thing-matters-in-this-world-to-prepare/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [Plato dramatically puts the detachment of the philosopher from his time this way: to philosophize is to prepare to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-goldstein/plato-dramatically-puts-the-detachment-of-the-philosopher-from-his/) [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) > [Your manner of life now is already determining your life in those years of old age and retirement, without your realizing it even, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tournier/your-manner-of-life-now-is-already-determining-your-life-in-those/) [Paul Tournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tournier/) > [To philosophize is to doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/to-philosophize-is-to-doubt/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [To philosophize is to learn to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/to-philosophize-is-to-learn-to-die/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Let it be understood, then, that to self-empty does prepare oneself for the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. We, Elohim of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearls-of-wisdom/let-it-be-understood-then-that-to-self-empty-does-prepare-oneself-for/) [Pearls Of Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearls-of-wisdom/) > [It is best and easiest not to discredit others but to prepare oneself to be as good as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/it-is-best-and-easiest-not-to-discredit-others-but-to-prepare-oneself/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Life is hardly more than a fraction of a second. Such a little time to prepare oneself for eternity!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/life-is-hardly-more-than-a-fraction-of-a-second-such-a-little-time-to/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [“To philosophize truth is unphilosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/to-philosophize-truth-is-unphilosophy/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [In Russia there is no philosophy, but philosophize everything, even the small fry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-russia-there-is-no-philosophy-but-philosophize-everything-even-the/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“We just philosophize, complain of boredom, or drink vodka. It's so clear, you see, that if we're to begin living in the present, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/we-just-philosophize-complain-of-boredom-or-drink-vodka-it-s-so-clear/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [To philosophize with open eyes is to philosophize in the dark. Only the blind can look straight at the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-althusser/to-philosophize-with-open-eyes-is-to-philosophize-in-the-dark-only/) [Louis Althusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-althusser/) > [Whether we will philosophize or we won't philosophize, we must philosophize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/whether-we-will-philosophize-or-we-won-t-philosophize-we-must/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The world exists to let Man philosophize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/the-world-exists-to-let-man-philosophize/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [I won't try to philosophize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boys-like-girls/i-won-t-try-to-philosophize/) [Boys Like Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boys-like-girls/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "To philosophize is nothing else than to prepare oneself for death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to-prepare-oneself-for-death/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to-prepare-oneself-for-death/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to_675552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to_675552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/michel-de-montaigne-142_death_to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to_675552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To philosophize is nothing else than to prepare oneself for death.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To philosophize is nothing else than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to-prepare-oneself-for-death/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/to-philosophize-is-nothing-else-than-to-prepare-oneself-for-death/#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 } } ] } ```