--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Living's heavy work, but off to one side…" description: "\"Living's heavy work, but off to one side, the way we are, it's useless, too. It don't make sense. If I knowed how to climb back on the wheel, I'd do it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/natalie-babbitt-7335_climbs_living-s-heavy-work-but-off-to-one-side_1435287.jpg" --- # Living's heavy work, but off to one side, the way we are… ![“Living's heavy work, but off to one side, the way we are, it's useless, too. It don't make sense. If I knowed how to climb back on the wheel, I'd do it in a minute. You can't have living without dying. So you can't call it living, what we got. We just are, we just be, like rocks beside the road.” quote by Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/natalie-babbitt-7335_climbs_living-s-heavy-work-but-off-to-one-side_1435287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/natalie-babbitt-7335_climbs_living-s-heavy-work-but-off-to-one-side_1435287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/natalie-babbitt-7335_climbs_living-s-heavy-work-but-off-to-one-side_1435287.jpg) > “Living's heavy work, but off to one side, the way we are, it's useless, too. It don't make sense. If I knowed how to climb back on the wheel, I'd do it in a minute. You can't have living without dying. So you can't call it living, what we got. We just are, we just be, like rocks beside the road.” [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels life's burdens are futile without purpose, recognizing that existence is intertwined with death, and that acceptance of this cycle is essential. **In simple terms:** Life feels pointless without purpose; death gives meaning. Key Takeaway Embrace the cycle, find purpose within existence. Themes existence purpose death acceptance meaninglessness Mood reflective resigned Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - Contemplation of purpose - grief processing - mindfulness practice Key Concepts Cyclical nature of life philosophical fatalism personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How can one find purpose amid perceived futility? - What role does death play in shaping how? A Different Perspective May ignore active pursuit of meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) ## Related quotes > [“You can't have living without dying. So you can't call it living, what we got. 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But I suppose we'll only know that we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lewis-smith/dying-well-is-part-of-living-well-and-one-day-our-society-will-surely/) Victor Lewis-Smith > [If you spend all your time worrying about dying, living isn't going to be much fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/if-you-spend-all-your-time-worrying-about-dying-living-isn-t-going-to/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [“Embrace the path your loved one's story has taken, and be part of the culture shift that acknowledges dying as part of living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-chavez-hansen/embrace-the-path-your-loved-one-s-story-has-taken-and-be-part-of-the/) Carrie Chavez Hansen > [I'm dying with you before I'm living without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/i-m-dying-with-you-before-i-m-living-without-you/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“Because being dead is indistinguishable – from a subjective perspective – from being unborn or from dreamless sleep, it can hold no terrors. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-clifford-grayling/because-being-dead-is-indistinguishable-from-a-subjective-perspective/) Anthony Clifford Grayling > [It is not dying, but living, that is a preparation for Death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/it-is-not-dying-but-living-that-is-a-preparation-for-death/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [“ The cure for fear of dying is living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurelin-paige/the-cure-for-fear-of-dying-is-living/) [Laurelin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurelin-paige/) > [Dying is a part of living, but only a very small part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/dying-is-a-part-of-living-but-only-a-very-small-part/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Spiritual process is not for the dead or the dying; it is for the living who want to become fully alive in all dimensions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/spiritual-process-is-not-for-the-dead-or-the-dying-it-is-for-the/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [I just want to see how long I can keep this thing going. The easiest thing is dying. Living is a a pain in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/i-just-want-to-see-how-long-i-can-keep-this-thing-going-the-easiest/) [Jack Lalanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [“Everything you see is in the process of making or unmaking or dying or living. Everything is in a state of change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-barnhill/everything-you-see-is-in-the-process-of-making-or-unmaking-or-dying/) [Kelly Barnhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-barnhill/) > [“We are not living in the land of the living and going to the land of the dying, but rather, we are living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zemba/we-are-not-living-in-the-land-of-the-living-and-going-to-the-land-of/) William Zemba > [“My decision to say no to the transplant wasn't about dying. It's about living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-jones/my-decision-to-say-no-to-the-transplant-wasn-t-about-dying-it-s-about/) Kirsty Jones ## More by Natalie Babbitt > [Like all magnificent things, it's very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/like-all-magnificent-things-it-s-very-simple/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“He knows you?” said Mae, her frown deepening. “But you didn’t call out to him, child. Why not?” “I was too scared to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/he-knows-you-said-mae-her-frown-deepening-but-you-didn-t-call-out-to/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“He wasn't crazy. How could he be? He was just -- amazing. But she was struck dumb. All she could do was stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/he-wasn-t-crazy-how-could-he-be-he-was-just-amazing-but-she-was/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [My mother was an artist, and I was fairly good at art as a child. I was always the best drawer in class, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/my-mother-was-an-artist-and-i-was-fairly-good-at-art-as-a-child-i-was/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Do not fear death... only the unlived life. You don't have to live forever; You just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/do-not-fear-death-only-the-unlived-life-you-don-t-have-to-live/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“You can't have living without dying. So you can't call it living, what we got. 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You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/don-t-be-afraid-of-death-be-afraid-of-an-unlived-life-you-don-t-have/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Readers are lucky - they will never be bored or lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/readers-are-lucky-they-will-never-be-bored-or-lonely/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“...with white dawns and glaring moons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/with-white-dawns-and-glaring-moons-and-sunsets-smeared-with-too-much/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [in reading ... stories, you can be many different people in many different places, doing things you would never have a chance to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/in-reading-stories-you-can-be-many-different-people-in-many-different/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Time is like a wheel. Turning and turning - never stopping. And the woods are the center; the hub of the wheel. It began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/time-is-like-a-wheel-turning-and-turning-never-stopping-and-the-woods/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) [Explore all 90 Natalie Babbitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) ## More Climbs quotes > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [The bumps are what you climb on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Early on a difficult climb, especially a solo climb, you’re hyper-aware of the abyss pulling at your back, constantly feeling its call, its immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/early-on-a-difficult-climb-especially-a-solo-climb-you-re-hyper-aware/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [You should climb around inside my brain, Dan. It's like this dark room surrounded by quicksand." "I know what you mean," her brother said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/you-should-climb-around-inside-my-brain-dan-it-s-like-this-dark-room/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [Some day I'm going to climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/some-day-i-m-going-to-climb-everest/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Every mountain needs someone to climb it, Every ocean needs someone to dive in, Every dream needs someone to wish it, Every adventure needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie-2/every-mountain-needs-someone-to-climb-it-every-ocean-needs-someone-to/) [India.Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie-2/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [I put a lot of emphasis on how to treat people. The reason for this is simple. The real success of our personal lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-put-a-lot-of-emphasis-on-how-to-treat-people-the-reason-for-this-is/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Ambition devours gold and drinks blood and climbs so high by other men's heads, that at the length in the fall, it breaks its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/ambition-devours-gold-and-drinks-blood-and-climbs-so-high-by-other/) Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford > [A part of me will always be unflyable, stuck in the climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/a-part-of-me-will-always-be-unflyable-stuck-in-the-climb/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [Yeah my money's so tall that my Barbie's gotta climb it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/yeah-my-money-s-so-tall-that-my-barbie-s-gotta-climb-it/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) Browse all 1,083 Climbs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Living's heavy work, but off to one side, the way we are, it's useless, too. 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