--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone…" description: "\"Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone else is going to die, but not me,' then you realize death is certain for everyone.\" — Ol Parker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/ol-parker-16489_death_before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-el_307549.jpg" --- # Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone else is going to… ![“Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone else is going to die, but not me,' then you realize death is certain for everyone.” quote by Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/ol-parker-16489_death_before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-el_307549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/ol-parker-16489_death_before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-el_307549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/ol-parker-16489_death_before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-el_307549.jpg) > “Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone else is going to die, but not me,' then you realize death is certain for everyone.” [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often feel invincible in youth, but later recognize mortality is universal and unavoidable. **In simple terms:** Youthful invincibility fades with age. Key Takeaway Accept mortality to live meaningfully. Themes mortality humility life perspective Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - health decisions - relationship building - legacy planning Key Concepts existentialism psychology aging Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging death change daily choices? - What can you do now to honor your finite time? A Different Perspective Life’s unpredictability can cause anxiety and paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Is Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-is-certain/) ## Related quotes > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [To that which is born, death is certain; to that which is dead, birth is certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/to-that-which-is-born-death-is-certain-to-that-which-is-dead-birth-is/) [L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/) > [Death is certain. Life is uncertain. Be AWARE. Be good. Be Kind Hearted. Be Grateful. Be Compassionate. Be Loving. Be Gentle. Be Helpful. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-certain-life-is-uncertain-be-aware-be-good-be-kind-hearted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you fight with all your might, there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-you-fight-with-all-your-might-there-is-a-chance-of-life-where-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Death is certain of that which is born. Birth is certain of that which is dead. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murali-iyengar/death-is-certain-of-that-which-is-born-birth-is-certain-of-that-which/) [Murali Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murali-iyengar/) > [Life is uncertain; death is certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/life-is-uncertain-death-is-certain/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Because, death is certain for the one who is born, and birth is certain for the one who dies. Therefore, you should not lament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagavad-gita/because-death-is-certain-for-the-one-who-is-born-and-birth-is-certain/) [Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagavad-gita/) > [We never stop reading, although every book comes to an end, just as we never stop living, although death is certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/we-never-stop-reading-although-every-book-comes-to-an-end-just-as-we/) [Roberto Bolano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [Life flows on over death as water closes over a stone dropped into a pool. ... Fate is certain; death is certain; but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/life-flows-on-over-death-as-water-closes-over-a-stone-dropped-into-a/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [Everything is possible but death is certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hqlinesme/everything-is-possible-but-death-is-certain/) HQLinesme > [“Change is automatic, but progress is not. Death is certain, but LIVING a good life is a CHOICE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/change-is-automatic-but-progress-is-not-death-is-certain-but-living-a/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [“Living is uncertain and death is certain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-price-billy/living-is-uncertain-and-death-is-certain/) [Ray Price Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-price-billy/) > [I think that, with age, people come to realize that death is inevitable. And we need to learn to face it with serenity, wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-think-that-with-age-people-come-to-realize-that-death-is-inevitable/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Before you were born, you were nothing more than an indistinguishable lump of unformed matter. After death, you simply will return to that nebulous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/before-you-were-born-you-were-nothing-more-than-an-indistinguishable/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Life is not a Race to Chase, but we realize it only when Death comes face-to-face.-RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/life-is-not-a-race-to-chase-but-we-realize-it-only-when-death-comes/) RVM ## More by Ol Parker > ['It could be better' is the only thing that anyone should write in the margins of their own script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/it-could-be-better-is-the-only-thing-that-anyone-should-write-in-the/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Meryl's Donna embodied the spirit of ABBA and 'Mamma Mia!' in the first film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/meryl-s-donna-embodied-the-spirit-of-abba-and-mamma-mia-in-the-first/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [And Cher, obviously, can never do anything other than go for it. She's all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/and-cher-obviously-can-never-do-anything-other-than-go-for-it-she-s/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I have two girls and one is now nearly a teenager - it is terrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-have-two-girls-and-one-is-now-nearly-a-teenager-it-is-terrifying/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > ['Dancing Queen' was the hardest to pull off, all those boats and all those people dancing around the street with boats coming around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/dancing-queen-was-the-hardest-to-pull-off-all-those-boats-and-all/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I wrote the 'Marigold Hotel' series and with the first one, people hated it in the U.K. but in America they really liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-wrote-the-marigold-hotel-series-and-with-the-first-one-people-hated/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I have a brilliant memory of being driven back to school when 'Super Trouper' was number one in the charts in 1980. When it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-have-a-brilliant-memory-of-being-driven-back-to-school-when-super/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [You can only shoot in India for three months a year, otherwise it's very inhospitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/you-can-only-shoot-in-india-for-three-months-a-year-otherwise-it-s/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [There's a sports saying, if you aren't playing offense, you're playing defense, so if you are coming back for a sequel not be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/there-s-a-sports-saying-if-you-aren-t-playing-offense-you-re-playing/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Richard Curtis has an encyclopedic knowledge of ABBA, which defeats even mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/richard-curtis-has-an-encyclopedic-knowledge-of-abba-which-defeats/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [It's the easiest thing in the world, when you're 80, to not go to India to make a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/it-s-the-easiest-thing-in-the-world-when-you-re-80-to-not-go-to-india/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [The greatest moment of all was her on set, and she said, 'Would you mind if you change the order of the phrase?' Maggie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/the-greatest-moment-of-all-was-her-on-set-and-she-said-would-you-mind/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Look, I'd take a suggestion from my grandmother if I thought it would improve a film I was writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/look-i-d-take-a-suggestion-from-my-grandmother-if-i-thought-it-would/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I wrote a film for Tom Hanks and I wrote two films for Paul Greengrass that didn't actually happen. The paradox is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-wrote-a-film-for-tom-hanks-and-i-wrote-two-films-for-paul/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I think films are a really small target. They're really hard to make, and they're a really tiny target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-think-films-are-a-really-small-target-they-re-really-hard-to-make/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) [Explore all 39 Ol Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone else is going to die, but not me,' then you realize death is certain for everyone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ol Parker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-else-is-going-to-die-but-not-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-else-is-going-to-die-but-not-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/ol-parker-16489_death_before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-el_307549.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/ol-parker-16489_death_before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-el_307549.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/ol-parker-16489_death_before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-el_307549.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone else is going to die, but not me,' then you realize death is certain…” — Ol Parker", "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": "Ol Parker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before you turn 40 you think,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-else-is-going-to-die-but-not-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-else-is-going-to-die-but-not-me/#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 } } ] } ```