--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We lived so long and so self-consciously…" description: "\"“We lived so long and so self-consciously that we assumed we must live forever, and we buried our dead with enough talismans and spare change for etern..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/natalie-angier-21271_change_we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously_2580542.jpg" --- # We lived so long and so self-consciously that we assumed… ![“We lived so long and so self-consciously that we assumed we must live forever, and we buried our dead with enough talismans and spare change for eternity.” quote by Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/natalie-angier-21271_change_we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously_2580542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/natalie-angier-21271_change_we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously_2580542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/natalie-angier-21271_change_we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously_2580542.jpg) > ““We lived so long and so self-consciously that we assumed we must live forever, and we buried our dead with enough talismans and spare change for eternity.”” [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We act as if life is endless, surrounding death with rituals and objects to feel permanence. **In simple terms:** We pretend death isn’t final, using symbols to feel eternal. Key Takeaway Recognize mortality, cherish present moments. Themes mortality ritual impermanence Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - funeral planning - legacy building - daily mindfulness Key Concepts existentialism symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How do rituals shape your view of death? - What does “eternity” mean to you? A Different Perspective We may cling to symbols, ignoring deeper acceptance of death. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Forever Buried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever-buried-1773162/) [Live forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-forever/) [Long Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-self-1773161/) [Talismans Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talismans-spare-1773160/) ## Related quotes > [You're the treasure forever buried in my heart's sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-the-treasure-forever-buried-in-my-heart-s-sea/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I remember thinking that the rest of my life would be solo. 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I may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-weiner/oh-my-god-for-most-of-eternity-i-won-t-exist-that-leaves-two-options/) [Zach Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-weiner/) > [“People may have to die, but morbidity will live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/people-may-have-to-die-but-morbidity-will-live-forever/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [“death is predestined for all mortals. Souls live forever, but the body does not. Unless you are immortal, both the soul and body are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelle-hughes/death-is-predestined-for-all-mortals-souls-live-forever-but-the-body/) [Yelle Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelle-hughes/) > [We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-a-lawson/we-exist-temporarily-through-what-we-take-but-we-live-forever-through/) [Douglas A. 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You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) ## More by Natalie Angier > [What is wrong with looking muscular? Muscles are beautiful. Strength is beautiful. Muscle tissue is beautiful. It is metabolically, medically, and philosophically beautiful. Muscles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/what-is-wrong-with-looking-muscular-muscles-are-beautiful-strength-is/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [Science is not a body of facts. Science is a state of mind. It is a way of viewing the world, of facing reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/science-is-not-a-body-of-facts-science-is-a-state-of-mind-it-is-a-way/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [“Giving a girl the impression that girlhood is an extended bounce on Barney's knee is like prepping a young gazelle for life on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/giving-a-girl-the-impression-that-girlhood-is-an-extended-bounce-on/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [ \[On women:\] We are all yeses. We are worthy enough, we passed inspection, we survived the great fetal oocyte extinctions. 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In the multiple orgasm, we see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/the-clitoris-not-only-applauds-when-a-women-flaunts-her-mastery-it/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [“The brain is an organ of aggression, and there are many roads to this Rome of imagined conquests — so many that mental disorders,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/the-brain-is-an-organ-of-aggression-and-there-are-many-roads-to-this/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [Astronomers are pure of heart and appealingly puerile. They look into the midnight sky and ask big questions, just as we did when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/astronomers-are-pure-of-heart-and-appealingly-puerile-they-look-into/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [Among the more irritating consequences of our flagrantly religious society is the special dispensation that mainstream religions receive. We all may talk about religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/among-the-more-irritating-consequences-of-our-flagrantly-religious/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [“I'm an Atheist. I don't believe in God, Gods, Godlets or any sort of higher power beyond the universe itself, which seems quite high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/i-m-an-atheist-i-don-t-believe-in-god-gods-godlets-or-any-sort-of/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) [Explore all 29 Natalie Angier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We lived so long and so self-consciously that we assumed we must live forever, and we buried our dead with enough talismans and spare change for eternity.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Angier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously-that-we-assumed-we-must-live/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously-that-we-assumed-we-must-live/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/natalie-angier-21271_change_we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously_2580542.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/natalie-angier-21271_change_we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously_2580542.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/natalie-angier-21271_change_we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously_2580542.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We lived so long and so self-consciously that we assumed we must live forever, and we buried our dead with…” — Natalie Angier", "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": "Natalie Angier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We lived so long and so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously-that-we-assumed-we-must-live/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/we-lived-so-long-and-so-self-consciously-that-we-assumed-we-must-live/#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 } } ] } ```