--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the first living thing existed, I…" description: "\"When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/neil-gaiman-29_behinds_when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-wa_1581793.jpg" --- # When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting… ![“When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/neil-gaiman-29_behinds_when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-wa_1581793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/neil-gaiman-29_behinds_when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-wa_1581793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/neil-gaiman-29_behinds_when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-wa_1581793.jpg) > “When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave.” [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. The narrator describes an eternal caretaker role, present at the beginning and end of existence, who will close the universe when finished. **In simple terms:** He will be there from start to finish, then shut everything down. Key Takeaway Recognize the fleeting nature of existence. Themes existence finality responsibility Mood thoughtful melancholic Type metaphorical existential When to use this quote - philosophical contemplation - creative writing - life planning Key Concepts cosmology eternity purpose Questions to Reflect On - What does “closing the universe” symbolize for you? - How do you view your role in the larger story? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be overly dramatic for everyday life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Chairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairs/) [Dies Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies-job-5976812/) [Existed Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existed-waiting-1211650/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Living thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-thing/) [Locks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locks/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) [Tables Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables-turn/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-leave-1727171/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-living-1964289/) ## Related quotes > [It seems to me then as if all the moments of our life occupy the same space, as if future events already existed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-seems-to-me-then-as-if-all-the-moments-of-our-life-occupy-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you stay as yourself, you will exist only as yourself in the universe; but if you leave yourself, you will be the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-stay-as-yourself-you-will-exist-only-as-yourself-in-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The universe, when you leave it alone, is going to be beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/the-universe-when-you-leave-it-alone-is-going-to-be-beautiful/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [You create your own universe as you go along. The stronger your imagination, the more variegated your universe. When you leave off dreaming, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/you-create-your-own-universe-as-you-go-along-the-stronger-your/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Leave it to the Indians to have meditated upon and figured out the laws of the Universe. Leave it to the Americans to either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaurav-dagaonkar/leave-it-to-the-indians-to-have-meditated-upon-and-figured-out-the/) [Gaurav Dagaonkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaurav-dagaonkar/) > [A library is a place where you can live a thousand lives. So why are you waiting when you could be living? Visit your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/a-library-is-a-place-where-you-can-live-a-thousand-lives-so-why-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I am waiting for you in the living room... the very pink living room. I do hope that when we acquire a home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-humphreys/i-am-waiting-for-you-in-the-living-room-the-very-pink-living-room-i/) [Sara Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-humphreys/) > [Some people do wait their whole lives for something, and it's only when that thing arrives that they find out that they've been waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/some-people-do-wait-their-whole-lives-for-something-and-it-s-only/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [“Life isn't about what you're waiting for ..It's about what you're living for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdel-halim/life-isn-t-about-what-you-re-waiting-for-it-s-about-what-you-re/) [Abdel Halim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdel-halim/) > [Life is not just waiting for some one who is made for u,its living for some one who lives because of u.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-b/life-is-not-just-waiting-for-some-one-who-is-made-for-u-its-living/) [Ella B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-b/) > [Sometimes when you least expect it, the tables turn and that scary feeling that has taken hold of you for so long somehow turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-archuleta/sometimes-when-you-least-expect-it-the-tables-turn-and-that-scary/) [David Archuleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-archuleta/) > [You never know when the tables will turn, so I think we should all just be kind to one another. It's really as simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/you-never-know-when-the-tables-will-turn-so-i-think-we-should-all/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [Many people have an attitude of getting closer to others only when they see material benefit for themselves. Suddenly, when the tables turn they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/many-people-have-an-attitude-of-getting-closer-to-others-only-when/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [Tables turn, bridges burn, you live and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/tables-turn-bridges-burn-you-live-and-learn/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [ He \[D'Artangnan\] succumbs to her \[Miledy Winter\] level of seduction and gives into it. It's only when the series starts to progress that he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-pasqualino/he-d-artangnan-succumbs-to-her-miledy-winter-level-of-seduction-and/) [Luke Pasqualino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-pasqualino/) ## 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 Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-was-there-waiting-when-the-last/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-was-there-waiting-when-the-last/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/neil-gaiman-29_behinds_when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-wa_1581793.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/neil-gaiman-29_behinds_when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-wa_1581793.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/neil-gaiman-29_behinds_when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-wa_1581793.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be…” — Neil Gaiman", "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": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the first living thing existed,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-was-there-waiting-when-the-last/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-the-first-living-thing-existed-i-was-there-waiting-when-the-last/#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 } } ] } ```