--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is death, after all? We leave only…" description: "\"What is death, after all? We leave only mortals behind us.\" — Ninon de L'Enclos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_behinds_what-is-death-after-all-we-leave-only-mo_605084.png" --- # What is death, after all? We leave only mortals behind us. ![“What is death, after all? We leave only mortals behind us.” quote by Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_behinds_what-is-death-after-all-we-leave-only-mo_605084.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_behinds_what-is-death-after-all-we-leave-only-mo_605084.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_behinds_what-is-death-after-all-we-leave-only-mo_605084.png) > “What is death, after all? We leave only mortals behind us.” [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplates mortality, suggesting death leaves only the living behind. **In simple terms:** Death leaves the living behind. Key Takeaway Remember the impact of your life on others. Themes mortality legacy reflection Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - funerals - memorials - personal introspection Key Concepts existentialism human condition Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of death shape your daily actions? - What legacy do you wish to leave? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of life itself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to say something different: the pictures are also a leave-taking, in several respects. Factually: these specific persons are dead; as a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/i-wanted-to-say-something-different-the-pictures-are-also-a-leave/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Could we forbear dispute, and practice love, We should agree as angels do above. Where love presides, not vice alone does find, No entrance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/could-we-forbear-dispute-and-practice-love-we-should-agree-as-angels/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [To live in the hearts of others is to never die in those we leave behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/to-live-in-the-hearts-of-others-is-to-never-die-in-those-we-leave/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [It's a sad fact of modern life that if you drive long enough, sooner or later you must leave London behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/it-s-a-sad-fact-of-modern-life-that-if-you-drive-long-enough-sooner/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [Know that you will eventually have to leave everything behind; the writing will demand it of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/know-that-you-will-eventually-have-to-leave-everything-behind-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [In a portrait, you always leave part of yourself behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/in-a-portrait-you-always-leave-part-of-yourself-behind/) [Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/) > [We civilizations now know ourselves mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/we-civilizations-now-know-ourselves-mortal/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Happy (if mortals can be) is the man,Who, not by priest but Reason, rules his span:Reason, to its possessor a sure guide,Reason, a thorn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton/happy-if-mortals-can-be-is-the-man-who-not-by-priest-but-reason-rules/) [Thomas Chatterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Only two kinds of people exit in this world, those who steal and those who are stolen from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciel-phantomhive/only-two-kinds-of-people-exit-in-this-world-those-who-steal-and-those/) [Ciel Phantomhive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciel-phantomhive/) ## More by Ninon de L'Enclos > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The resistance of a woman is not always a proof of her virtue, but more frequently of her experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-resistance-of-a-woman-is-not-always-a-proof-of-her-virtue-but/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [One must choose between loving women and knowing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/one-must-choose-between-loving-women-and-knowing-them/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Equality is the share of every one at their advent upon earth, and equality is also theirs when placed beneath it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/equality-is-the-share-of-every-one-at-their-advent-upon-earth-and/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Novelty is the storehouse of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/novelty-is-the-storehouse-of-pleasure/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Hatred is nearly always honest--rarely, if ever, assumed. So much cannot be said for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/hatred-is-nearly-always-honest-rarely-if-ever-assumed-so-much-cannot/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A woman should not take a lover without the consent of her heart, nor a husband without the consent of her reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-should-not-take-a-lover-without-the-consent-of-her-heart-nor/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Wit is a dangerous talent in friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/wit-is-a-dangerous-talent-in-friendship/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [When our desires are fulfilled, we never fail to realize the wealth of imagination and the paucity of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/when-our-desires-are-fulfilled-we-never-fail-to-realize-the-wealth-of/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A cunning woman is her own mistress because she confides in no one. She who deceives others anticipates deceit, and guards herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-cunning-woman-is-her-own-mistress-because-she-confides-in-no-one/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The joy of the mind is the measure of its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-joy-of-the-mind-is-the-measure-of-its-strength/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Gossip, like ennui, is born of idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/gossip-like-ennui-is-born-of-idleness/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [There is a certain time of life, when we value a good stomach more than the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/there-is-a-certain-time-of-life-when-we-value-a-good-stomach-more/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/today-a-new-sun-rises-for-me-everything-lives-everything-is-animated/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) [Explore all 61 Ninon de L'Enclos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is death, after all? 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