--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why are people more appalled at what they…" description: "\"Why are people more appalled at what they term an unnatural form of dying than by an unnatural form of living?\" — Norman Cousins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/norman-cousins-2488_death_why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-the_2999130.png" --- # Why are people more appalled at what they term an… ![“Why are people more appalled at what they term an unnatural form of dying than by an unnatural form of living?” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/norman-cousins-2488_death_why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-the_2999130.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/norman-cousins-2488_death_why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-the_2999130.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/norman-cousins-2488_death_why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-the_2999130.png) > “Why are people more appalled at what they term an unnatural form of dying than by an unnatural form of living?” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People react more strongly to unnatural death than to unnatural life, revealing a cultural bias that fears loss of life more than fear of abnormal existence. **In simple terms:** Society fears death more than weird living. Key Takeaway Examine our fear of mortality versus novelty. Themes mortality cultural norms ethics Mood thoughtful provocative Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - medical decisions - end‑of‑life care - technological enhancement - cultural debates Key Concepts death anxiety life extension bioethics Questions to Reflect On - Why do we dread death more than radical life changes? - What ethical limits should we set on life extension? A Different Perspective May overlook legitimate concerns about quality of life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appalled Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appalled-term-4752753/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Dying Unnatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying-unnatural-4752750/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-dying-2715497/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Unnatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-unnatural-4752751/) [Unnatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnatural/) [Unnatural Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnatural-form-4752752/) ## Related quotes > [Having reached the term of his natural life"; Mwould it not be truer to say, Having reached the term of his unnatural life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/having-reached-the-term-of-his-natural-life-mwould-it-not-be-truer-to/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Interpretive thinking, as an art form, is dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/interpretive-thinking-as-an-art-form-is-dying/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [I have a lot of stuff that I never published because I always had a sense that novels were not finally going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-have-a-lot-of-stuff-that-i-never-published-because-i-always-had-a/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [Pure dance form is not dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hema-malini/pure-dance-form-is-not-dying/) [Hema Malini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hema-malini/) > [“I even gave up, for a while, stopping by the window of the room to look out at the lights and deep, illuminated streets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-even-gave-up-for-a-while-stopping-by-the-window-of-the-room-to-look/) [Philip K. 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I mean here is natural instinct and here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-ideal-is-unnatural-naturalness-or-natural-unnaturalness-i-mean-it/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The most unnatural of the sexual pleasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-unnatural-of-the-sexual-pleasures/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is unnatural for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/it-is-unnatural-for-a-christian-not-to-have-an-appetite-for-the/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“Either that’s your mobile buzzing in your room, or there’re sex toys you haven’t told us about having a party in there without you.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-belfield/either-that-s-your-mobile-buzzing-in-your-room-or-there-re-sex-toys/) [J.A. 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Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [For the most part, improvising while cameras are rolling is very difficult. 99% of people you should never ask to do that, because they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/for-the-most-part-improvising-while-cameras-are-rolling-is-very/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [... the unnatural ways we substitute for the natural prove not enough and soon there must be more and more unnaturalness, more and more violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-freeman/the-unnatural-ways-we-substitute-for-the-natural-prove-not-enough-and/) [Lucy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-freeman/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [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/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why are people more appalled at what they term an unnatural form of dying than by an unnatural form of living?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Cousins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-they-term-an-unnatural-form-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-they-term-an-unnatural-form-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/norman-cousins-2488_death_why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-the_2999130.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/norman-cousins-2488_death_why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-the_2999130.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/norman-cousins-2488_death_why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-the_2999130.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why are people more appalled at what they term an unnatural form of dying than by an unnatural form of living?” — Norman Cousins", "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": "Norman Cousins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why are people more appalled at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-they-term-an-unnatural-form-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/why-are-people-more-appalled-at-what-they-term-an-unnatural-form-of/#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 } } ] } ```