---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks…"
description: "\"Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying life, of making it tolerable and acceptable, w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_acceptable_science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the_260559.png"
---

#  Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of…

![“Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying life, of making it tolerable and acceptable, wisdom says: 'We must die,' and seeks how to make us die well.” quote by Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_acceptable_science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the_260559.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_acceptable_science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the_260559.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_acceptable_science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the_260559.png)

> “Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying life, of making it tolerable and acceptable, wisdom says: 'We must die,' and seeks how to make us die well.”

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life seeks longevity and comfort, while wisdom embraces mortality and a good death.

**In simple terms:** Life wants to live; wisdom accepts death.

Key Takeaway

Embrace both vitality and mortality.

Themes

mortality wisdom life purpose

Mood

philosophical contemplative

Type

thought‑provoking somber

When to use this quote

- healthcare decisions
- end‑of‑life planning
- personal growth

Key Concepts

existentialism human condition

Questions to Reflect On

- What does a “good death” mean to you?
- How can you honor life while accepting death?

A Different Perspective

Focusing on longevity may neglect meaning.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prolonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prolonging/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

## Related quotes

> [“Solomon’s advice to us is to stop trying to solve our problems alone, but to seek God’s help and wisdom. He says, “If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/solomon-s-advice-to-us-is-to-stop-trying-to-solve-our-problems-alone/)

[Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/)

> [Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wisdom-says-we-are-nothing-love-says-we-are-everything-between-these/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

> [“Cultural wisdom says 'Don't quit your day job.' Yet I think these desires represent our psyche's stretch toward wholeness. And to be whole, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-rose-o-reilley/cultural-wisdom-says-don-t-quit-your-day-job-yet-i-think-these/)

[Mary Rose O'Reilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-rose-o-reilley/)

> [“Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing.' Between the two, my life flows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/love-says-i-am-everything-wisdom-says-i-am-nothing-between-the-two-my/)

[Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/)

> [“The plan was pretty much based on that bit of New Age wisdom which says the word "fear" stands for Face Everything And Recover.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-plan-was-pretty-much-based-on-that-bit-of-new-age-wisdom-which/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Science says the first word on everything, and the last word on nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/science-says-the-first-word-on-everything-and-the-last-word-on-nothing/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [“You’re a scientist. And there is no greater expression of sheer stupid human hope than the study of science. We’re born groping around in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-best/you-re-a-scientist-and-there-is-no-greater-expression-of-sheer-stupid/)

Jessica Best

> [Science "says" nothing. People say things and knowledge changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/science-says-nothing-people-say-things-and-knowledge-changes/)

[Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/)

> [It's really quite astounding to see what the science says we can actually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/it-s-really-quite-astounding-to-see-what-the-science-says-we-can/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [“science says that nobody is ever made happy by getting a promotion, winning the lottery or even finding true love. People are made happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/science-says-that-nobody-is-ever-made-happy-by-getting-a-promotion/)

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

> [Modern science says: 'The sun is the past, the earth is the present, the moon is the future.' From an incandescent mass we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/modern-science-says-the-sun-is-the-past-the-earth-is-the-present-the/)

[Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/)

> [“We underestimate the power of science, and overestimate the power of personal observation. A peer-reviewed, journal-published, replicated report is worth far more than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/we-underestimate-the-power-of-science-and-overestimate-the-power-of/)

[Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/)

> [If we do destroy most life on this planet, science says it won't be the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/if-we-do-destroy-most-life-on-this-planet-science-says-it-won-t-be/)

[Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/)

> [“This barricade is made neither of paving stones, nor of timbers, nor of iron; it is made of two mounds, a mound of ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/this-barricade-is-made-neither-of-paving-stones-nor-of-timbers-nor-of/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [“Rumi says: ‘die before you die’. It means live each moment fully. Then, when the moment dies, there is no pain or regret because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/rumi-says-die-before-you-die-it-means-live-each-moment-fully-then/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

## More by Miguel de Unamuno

> [The pessimism that protests and defends itself cannot be truly said to be pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-pessimism-that-protests-and-defends-itself-cannot-be-truly-said/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [We should try to be the parents of our future rather than the offspring of our past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-should-try-to-be-the-parents-of-our-future-rather-than-the/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [We never know, believe me, when we have succeeded best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-never-know-believe-me-when-we-have-succeeded-best/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/a-lot-of-good-arguments-are-spoiled-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Philosophy fulfills the need to create for ourselves a single and complete concept of the world and of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/philosophy-fulfills-the-need-to-create-for-ourselves-a-single-and/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [None are so likely to believe too little as those who have begun by believing too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/none-are-so-likely-to-believe-too-little-as-those-who-have-begun-by/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [The devil is an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-devil-is-an-angel-too/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [My work...is to shatter the faith of men here, there, and everywhere, faith in affirmation, faith in negation, and faith in abstention from faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/my-work-is-to-shatter-the-faith-of-men-here-there-and-everywhere/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [“I must not throw away my village to win my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/i-must-not-throw-away-my-village-to-win-my-soul/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Everything that exalts and expands consciousness is good, while that which depresses and diminishes it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/everything-that-exalts-and-expands-consciousness-is-good-while-that/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Was man made for science, or was science made for man?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/was-man-made-for-science-or-was-science-made-for-man/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [We need God, not in order to understand the why, but in order to feel and sustain the ultimate wherefore, to give a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-need-god-not-in-order-to-understand-the-why-but-in-order-to-feel/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [To love with the spirit is to pity, and he who pities most loves most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/to-love-with-the-spirit-is-to-pity-and-he-who-pities-most-loves-most/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [These terrible sociologists, who are the astrologers and alchemists of our twentieth century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/these-terrible-sociologists-who-are-the-astrologers-and-alchemists-of/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Men shout to avoid listening to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/men-shout-to-avoid-listening-to-one-another/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

[Explore all 153 Miguel de Unamuno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

## More Acceptable quotes

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/)

[Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/)

> [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/)

[Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/)

> [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/)

[Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/)

> [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/)

Harold Covington

> [The government has once again made the right socially acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-government-has-once-again-made-the-right-socially-acceptable/)

[Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/)

> [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/)

[William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/)

> [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/)

[Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/)

> [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/)

Sally Struthers

> [We cannot guess the outcome of our actions... Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/)

[Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/)

> [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/)

[William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/)

> [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/)

[Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/)

> [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/)

[Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/)

Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying life, of making it tolerable and acceptable, wisdom says: 'We must die,' and seeks how to make us die well.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Miguel de Unamuno"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the-means-of-prolonging/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acceptable"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the-means-of-prolonging/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_acceptable_science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the_260559.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_acceptable_science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the_260559.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_acceptable_science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the_260559.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying…” — Miguel de Unamuno",
                "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": "Miguel de Unamuno",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Science says: 'We must live,' and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the-means-of-prolonging/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the-means-of-prolonging/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
