--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought, I'm going to die. And…" description: "\"I thought, I'm going to die. And, thinking that, I was determined to live.\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/neil-gaiman-29_determined_i-thought-i-m-going-to-die-and-thinking_673138.jpg" --- # I thought, I'm going to die. And, thinking that, I was… ![“I thought, I'm going to die. And, thinking that, I was determined to live.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/neil-gaiman-29_determined_i-thought-i-m-going-to-die-and-thinking_673138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/neil-gaiman-29_determined_i-thought-i-m-going-to-die-and-thinking_673138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/neil-gaiman-29_determined_i-thought-i-m-going-to-die-and-thinking_673138.jpg) > “I thought, I'm going to die. And, thinking that, I was determined to live.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing mortality can sharpen one's resolve to truly live and appreciate each moment. **In simple terms:** Thinking of death can motivate living fully. Key Takeaway Embrace urgency, act now. Themes mortality motivation living fully Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - career decisions - health challenges Key Concepts existential awareness psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does "living fully" look like for you? - How can you balance urgency with patience? A Different Perspective Life's meaning may still feel elusive despite urgency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Right when I was lying on the ground and saw my legs, I didn't think first, 'I'm going to die.' I was thinking, 'I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and-saw-my-legs-i-didn-t-think/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [“Someone who has a poverty consciousness, which is a mental disease, can change their habitual way of thinking if they are determined to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/someone-who-has-a-poverty-consciousness-which-is-a-mental-disease-can/) [Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/) > [The thinking of the one, therefore, will be determined by eternal truth, the actions of the other more by the practical reality of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-thinking-of-the-one-therefore-will-be-determined-by-eternal-truth/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I always thought I was going to die before I was 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-always-thought-i-was-going-to-die-before-i-was-60/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [I’ve never once thought about how I was going to die,” she said. “I can’t think about it. I don’t even know how I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-ve-never-once-thought-about-how-i-was-going-to-die-she-said-i-can-t/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [You're never so alive as after you thought you were going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/you-re-never-so-alive-as-after-you-thought-you-were-going-to-die/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [“I would like to die thinking that humanity has a bright future,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/i-would-like-to-die-thinking-that-humanity-has-a-bright-future/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [We live thinking we will never die, We die thinking we have never lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-becker/we-live-thinking-we-will-never-die-we-die-thinking-we-have-never-lived/) [Jason Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-becker/) > [The George Roop loss was a huge shock to me, and it really got me thinking about how I fight, and about life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-korean-zombie/the-george-roop-loss-was-a-huge-shock-to-me-and-it-really-got-me/) [The Korean Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-korean-zombie/) > [“My dream is to die thinking "Wow, that was fun! I'm tired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masami-tsuda/my-dream-is-to-die-thinking-wow-that-was-fun-i-m-tired/) Masami Tsuda > [“If the thing they were fighting for was important enough to die for then it was also important enough for them to be thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/if-the-thing-they-were-fighting-for-was-important-enough-to-die-for/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [“You are what you love. No? You are, completely and only, what you would die for without .. thinking twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/you-are-what-you-love-no-you-are-completely-and-only-what-you-would-2/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“Thinking! Thinking! The process should no longer be merely this feeble flurry of hailstones that raises a little dust. It should be something quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-g-le-cl-zio/thinking-thinking-the-process-should-no-longer-be-merely-this-feeble/) [J.M.G. Le Clézio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-g-le-cl-zio/) > [Learn to change your fears into your beautiful smiles,Don't ever afraid of giving a start, Because most of the people die in thinking instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/learn-to-change-your-fears-into-your-beautiful-smiles-don-t-ever/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I have been afraid all my life that I am going to die. All my life it has been stuffed in my imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-duke/i-have-been-afraid-all-my-life-that-i-am-going-to-die-all-my-life-it/) [Patty Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-duke/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Determined quotes > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ignorance is not bliss — it is oblivion. Determined ignorance is the hastiest kind of oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/ignorance-is-not-bliss-it-is-oblivion-determined-ignorance-is-the/) [Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/) > [I was determined to be an actor and make a name in the industry, and hence, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/i-was-determined-to-be-an-actor-and-make-a-name-in-the-industry-and/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > [Always remember, there is more strength in you than you ever realized or even imagined. Certainly nothing can keep you down if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/always-remember-there-is-more-strength-in-you-than-you-ever-realized/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [The more we sense...our ultimate potential, the more determined we become to achieve it. It's the difference between your mother hounding you to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/the-more-we-sense-our-ultimate-potential-the-more-determined-we/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/further-conceive-i-beg-that-a-stone-while-continuing-in-motion-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your success will be determined by the quality of your relationships with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/your-success-will-be-determined-by-the-quality-of-your-relationships/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, Our Flag will be recognized throughout the World as a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/we-are-determined-that-before-the-sun-sets-on-this-terrible-struggle/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) [Browse all 2,245 Determined quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought, I'm going to die. 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